Main image of Ultra Fudgy Sea Salt Caramel Brownies

Ultra Fudgy Sea Salt Caramel Brownies

15 min

Snack

Dessert

Make-ahead

10 ingredients or less

Pantry-ready
These brownies are the BEST. Not only are they just 6 ingredients, but they are also super fast to make, and are the fudgiest, most delicious chocolate packed squares you might ever put into your mouth! Plus, they're made with some pretty wholesome ingredients!

Small squares

Total

15 min

Prep

5 min

Cook

10 min

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Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). In a food processor, blend the dates, coconut oil, cocoa powder, and water until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Alternatively, if you don't have a food processor, mash the dates with a fork and mix the ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Add the roasted pecans, chocolate, and a pinch of salt. Blend again, but let some chunks of pecans and chocolate remain.
  3. Transfer the mixture into a parchment-lined 9 x 9 inch (21 x 21 cm) baking dish, and spread evenly. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 10 minutes. Alternatively, skip the baking and put them straight into the fridge for chewy no-bake brownies.
  4. When removed from the oven, top with some more crushed pecans, chopped chocolate, and a sprinkle of sea salt if desired. Gently press these in to secure them.
  5. Let cool before cutting. These brownies are fudgiest if kept in the fridge. Enjoy!

Notes

  • †Refined coconut oil is coconut oil that doesn't smell or taste like coconuts. Using refined coconut oil is preferred to unrefined as the brownies retain a more neutral flavour.

Storage

  • Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
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Nutrition info

We believe that focusing on numbers can harm our relationship with food. Instead, our philosophy is to Nourish the Cells & the Soul. If you require specific nutrition information due to a medical condition, please consult with a dietitian or physician. The nutritional information provided is composed with the utmost care. However, we cannot guarantee the correctness of the displayed values, see also our disclaimer.

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Discussion & Rating

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Ems - Aug. 22, 2022, 3:01 p.m.

Can I ask a , I don’t use oil., do you think it would be ok without putting oil? Or can you recommend I can use alternative of oil? Thank you

PUL Team - Aug. 23, 2022, 8:16 p.m.

Hey Ems, the oil helps give the brownies their delicious fudgey flavour and texture so we'd recommend using it if possible. We haven't tested it out, but applesauce or mashed banana may work as an alternative. The end brownies may be crumbly though. We hope you enjoy the recipe if you're able to give it a try 🙂

Reply
Belinda - June 12, 2022, 5:02 a.m.

Brilliant recipe, thank you! I made these brownies for a work morning tea and all my non-vegan colleagues were amazed they tasted so good. One of them asked me for the recipe and has now made them more times than me!

PUL Team - June 15, 2022, 6:58 a.m.

Aw so nice of you to share the recipe, Belinda! It means so much to hear the brownies have been enjoyed ✨

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Jess - May 30, 2022, 7:18 p.m.

These brownies are incredible. I've been making them for years now and they never disappoint - as a treat for myself or as gifts for my friends and family :) I usually use the video or my memory as the recipe but I've come on here as it's been a while and I have to say, the strikethrough feature is so cool! Never noticed that before. Genuinely love all your recipes <3

PUL Team - May 31, 2022, 5:43 a.m.

Oh so kind of you to gift them, Jess, and thank you for the kind words! The support means so much 💛

Reply
Christina - May 6, 2022, 3:18 p.m.

Ive made these a couple of times no problem but today they turned out quite crumbly Sadia. I used hazelnuts&almonds, could this be why or maybe that I also switched to cacao nibs? Whats your thoughts? xxxx

PUL Team - May 7, 2022, 8:02 p.m.

Hey Christina, any nuts and cacao nibs in place of the chocolate should be fine. Were any other ingredients or portion sizes adjusted? Sometimes brownies crumble when cutting before they are fully cool, so perhaps that may have been one possibility 🙂

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Kim - March 22, 2022, 2:10 p.m.

These are sooo good made them yesterday and we’ve nearly finished them all. Such a good recipe thank you Sadia xx

PUL Team - March 23, 2022, 5:24 a.m.

Thank you, Kim, it means so much ❣️

Reply
Naeema - Feb. 19, 2022, 6:47 p.m.

Hi there 🌸
I absolutely adore these brownies and every other recipe on Pick Up Limes ❤️
They're pretty much my go to every single time. I'm oh so thankful to you for your recipes 💃🏻

I'd just like to find out what I've been doing wrong though 😂
I use a blender. When I blend it doesn't come out sticky it's just like a normal mixture 😭 so I don't have the whole fudgy sticky part of the brownies when I make mine 🙈 it comes out pretty good but I'd like to perfect it.

I was hoping you could help me figure out what I'm doing wrong 🙈🌈

PUL Team - Feb. 19, 2022, 10:28 p.m.

Aw you're too kind, Naeema, thank you for the support! It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong, although we'd love to help if possible. Are you using Medjool dates? We prefer this type of date over other varieties accessible to us as they tend to be chewier and sticker. In any case, for a smoother texture, we have three ideas:
1) Let it blend for longer. Sometimes the extra few minutes can make all the difference.
2) If this doesn't work, it could be that your blender isn't powerful enough, and that's okay. It'll make for slightly chunkier brownies which are equally delicious!
3) Try soaking the dates for a tad longer or adding a Tbsp or so of coconut oil. This can help to make the mixture a bit more creamy.

We hope this helps for now, Naeema, and happy baking 😃

Reply
Megan - Feb. 13, 2022, 3:18 a.m.

I come back to this recipe again and again - so decadent and indulgent feeling but still very nutritious! Also love how few ingredients there are and how quickly they come together. You definitely want to try these!

PUL Team - Feb. 14, 2022, 3:27 a.m.

We're smiling from ear to ear, Megan - thank you!

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Ashley - Jan. 27, 2022, 8:10 p.m.

Every warm gooey bite is pure bliss. I cannot believe how few ingredients these take and even more shocked their vegan, GF, and no added sugar. I will definitely be making these all the time to fill my chocolate cravings!

PUL Team - Jan. 27, 2022, 8:43 p.m.

So glad to hear, Ashley, they're one of our favourites!

Reply
Priyanka Patel - Dec. 9, 2021, 4:03 p.m.

Hi Sadia,
U hv brought revolution in cooking. I absolutely love all ur recipes and especially this new measurement features. I like fresh baking this really helps a lot in small portion cooking. I am a mother and I'm really satisfied feeding my son healthy and delicious food. Lots of love. Keep smiling always 😘

PUL Team - Dec. 9, 2021, 4:38 p.m.

Hi Priyanka, we appreciate the kind words so much! Sending you and your little one lots of love and thank you for being part of our PUL family 🤗

Reply
Vanshika - Nov. 23, 2021, 1:42 p.m.

Hey there !
I tried this recipe and I love it.
Really enjoy watching your videos and they always make me smile, plus they are educational as well.
May god bless you with all the happiness!
Love from India 🤗

PUL Team - Nov. 24, 2021, 7:45 p.m.

Aw thank you, Vanshika, it means so much! Sendings India lots of love in return ☺️

Reply
Jonna - Oct. 30, 2021, 6:15 p.m.

My 10-year-old made these today (with some assistance and guidance from me) and they are delcious, easy to make and more nutrient dense than most brownies. I'm almost bedbound since a couple of years (had to lie down on the floor in the kitchen while these were made) and I get full really fast because I use so little energy. Therefore, I need nutrient dense food. These kind of sweets are perfect.

PUL Team - Oct. 31, 2021, 7:54 p.m.

So kind of your 10-year old to make the brownies and for you to help out as able, Jonna! Wishing you both an abundance of health and wellness 💚

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Jordan - Oct. 19, 2021, 8:42 p.m.

I LOVE THESE BROWNIES!!! I make them anytime I need to take a dish to a gathering and they're always devoured. My Mother-in-Law had to get herself away from the dish because she couldn't stop eating them! My parents made them when they had friends over for dinner and their friends raved and asked for the recipe! This is always a sure winner. It can be a more expensive dish, but it's fairly simple (much easier if you have a food processor- I've always used a blender and it's not ideal) and tastes divine :) It's a nice dessert dish to keep on hand and just make once a week so you can grab one or two after dinner throughout the week. I buy organic Medjool dates (you must use Medjool- I've used other kinds and it's just not the same. Medjools have that perfect caramel flavor) at Costco, so they come in large containers for about $8 if I recall correctly. You can also order large containers of dates for a great price from Amazon. They're usually more expensive at regular grocery stores, so I recommend buying in bulk.

PUL Team - Oct. 20, 2021, 1:20 a.m.

HI there, Jordan, so kind of you to make the brownies for get-togethers! Thanks a bunch for sharing your experience and tips for this one 🙂

Reply
Carin - Oct. 12, 2021, 7:49 p.m.

Just got my first food processor (loving it!) and immediately tried the brownies. Loooove them! They are unbelievably gooey and chewey. I still can't believe they are made without flour or (added) sugar ! Looking forward to the next recipe :)

PUL Team - Oct. 13, 2021, 3:34 a.m.

Ooo so exciting to hear about the food processor! Glad the brownies were enjoyed as well, Carin🤗

Reply
SoberChick - Oct. 6, 2021, 1:13 p.m.

Deliciously fudgy! I subbed pecans for almonds and walnuts. Enjoyed warm from the oven with some warm blackberry jam . Yummy and filling.
Love watching your channel, I found you after looking for a plant cutting tutorial. I also love your recipes from Afghanistan, a good way of teaching us some of their culture and keeping awareness, especially when the media stop reporting on it. Not tried any dishes yet but will be making some soon!
Thanks for all you do. Namaste.
Wales, UK

PUL Team - Oct. 6, 2021, 5:42 p.m.

Mmm lovely substitutions, SoberChick. Thank YOU for being here and sharing your kind words. It means so much 😊 Lots of love to Wales!

Reply
Noelle - Sept. 25, 2021, 8:53 p.m.

Hi! I haven't made them yet but I know they will be delicious because I've made your almond brownie cookies and brownie bites and they were both amazing! But I was wondering, can you microwave the cold brownies taken out of the fridge?

PUL Team - Sept. 26, 2021, 1:59 a.m.

Hi there, Noelle! That's a lovely question. We haven't tested it out, although that sounds like a yummy way to make the brownies a tad gooier. We'd suggest heating the brownies up covered on a microwave-safe dish for 20-30 seconds intervals until the desired warmness. We hope you enjoy the brownies ☺️

Reply
Yum - Sept. 25, 2021, 2:05 a.m.

Yum

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Sarah - Sept. 21, 2021, 11:33 p.m.

This recipe was too good to be truth really it was so good and so helpful it was easy and understandable for someone who just started backing like me . The Brownies turned to be 100 times better than the one with old fashion flour.I can not say that enough I YOU HAVE TO TRY IT (:

PUL Team - Sept. 22, 2021, 4:57 a.m.

Aw you're too kind, Sarah! So happy the brownies were enjoyed 😃

Reply
SOWMYA VEERA - Sept. 15, 2021, 10:28 a.m.

I Substituted the pecans with almonds and Wow BEST BROWNIE EVER!! . I froze the rest and warmed them when I craved something sweet.

PUL Team - Sept. 15, 2021, 5:08 p.m.

Such a huge compliment, Sowmya! So thrilled the brownies were enjoyed 😃

Reply
Alisha - Sept. 7, 2021, 6:20 a.m.

I made these! They were easy and good! I forgot to roast the pecans and i used another oil but it was really good! Thanks

Reply
sal - Sept. 1, 2021, 10:16 p.m.

SO GOOD !!

Reply
Shivani - Aug. 19, 2021, 4:28 p.m.

So so perfect!!! Best brownies ever <3 Thank you PUL team for yet another gem of a recipe

Reply
Nahieli - July 31, 2021, 10:53 a.m.

I made these brownies, are they are absolutely delicious!!! They are really ultra fudgy :) . I think I even prefer these to the "original" brownies made with flour. I just swapped pecans for hazelnut, in France, pecas are more expense, like, almost 3x more expensive than hazelnuts.

PUL Team - Aug. 1, 2021, 8:58 a.m.

So glad you're enjoying the brownies, Nahieli! Love that you're able to sub the nuts for ones more accessible as well :)

Reply
Clare - July 29, 2021, 3:59 p.m.

So goooood! :D

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Natalie Taylor - July 24, 2021, 3:59 p.m.

Absolutely adore these and make them all the time.

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Natalia - July 23, 2021, 1:26 p.m.

I've made them multiple times and cannot possibly have enough of them. Incredibly easy to make, satisfying and sooo chocolatey!

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Cecy - July 22, 2021, 11:11 p.m.

Soooo goood!!! My son made them and used walnuts instead of pecans, we didn’t have any, and 1/2 less dates. Still delicious!!!. Thanks!!!

PUL Team - July 24, 2021, 2:25 a.m.

So nice of your son to make them, Cecy! We're thrilled the brownies were enjoyed 😃

Reply
Sailee - July 14, 2021, 3:21 a.m.

Love this recipe! It's so easy to make and satisfies any dessert cravings, without added sugar or gluten.

Reply
Bruna - July 13, 2021, 6:01 p.m.

Hi,

Can I omit the pecans if I'm not a fan of nuts in brownies or is it necessary for the recipe?

PUL Team - July 18, 2021, 12:51 a.m.

Hey Bruna! The pecans are in rather large proportion in this recipe, and when blended the remaining ingredients help to give it some structure. You can definitely omit it if you prefer, but the resulting texture will be more "gummy" and less firm. Without the nuts the mixture will also be much sweeter, as it'll largely be just blended dates. If you're able to tolerate seeds, such as sunflower seeds, it might be an idea to substitute it for this instead to balance the sweetness and to give it some form. I hope this helps for now 😊

Reply
Nahieli - July 12, 2021, 10:58 a.m.

These brownies are absolutely delicious and fudgy, and if you eat them as they come out of the oven, they are heavenly 😀.

PUL Team - July 16, 2021, 6:14 a.m.

Thank you for the lovely review, Nahieli!

Reply
Lorraine - July 10, 2021, 1:15 p.m.

Fondant, gourmand et se conserve au congélateur : parfait !

Reply
RM - July 9, 2021, 1:51 p.m.

This is so simple and delicious it makes me wonder why I didn’t think of this. Thanks, PUL. Has been my go-to healthy snack and dessert (and breakfast and dinner) for over a year now.

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Michaela - July 9, 2021, 12:24 p.m.

BEST BROWNIE RECIPE EVER! I'm never gonna stop making these! LOVE love them!

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Victoria - July 8, 2021, 9:47 p.m.

One of my absolute favorite recipes that I keep going back to again and again when I'm craving something ultra fudgy and chocolatey (this recipe was aptly named). I tried once with hazelnuts and I think I do prefer it with pecans instead.

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Lucie - July 8, 2021, 8:38 p.m.

These are so incredibly indulgent and so good that I wish I could give more than 5 stars! I have to share them with family and friends so that they can also experience this chocolatey perfection. I especially love how simple the ingredients are, perfect to bring to a gathering that has dietary restrictions.

PUL Team - July 11, 2021, 12:35 a.m.

We appreciate this so much, Lucie, thank you for the incredible review 💖

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Nikki Stratelak - July 8, 2021, 6:01 p.m.

These are literally EVERYTHING! 🙌🏻 If you add almond/coconut milk ice cream on top of hot brownie….you will be fooled into thinking it not a normal fatty brownie!

PUL Team - July 10, 2021, 2:59 p.m.

Mmmm we love the addition of almond or coconut milk ice cream on top, Nikki, thanks! 🤤

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Louise Magnusson🇸🇪 - July 5, 2021, 4:28 p.m.

OMG!! I was so excited whilst baking these brownies, especially when I saw liquid chocolate oozing from cavities🤩. One word: heaven🎊
So soft yet crunchy with surprises of semi-liquid chocolate. And I lack words to describe the flavour, but the combination of salt, bitter chocolate and cacao, and sweet dates is sincerely brilliant. I agree with a previous reviewer: this is the best brownie that I’ve ever tried. Who needs heavy eggs, flour, sugar, etc. when you can enjoy a light and pure treat😋

PUL Team - July 7, 2021, 7:03 a.m.

Oh wow, we're so thrilled to hear the brownies were enjoyed, Louise! Thank you so much for the wonderful review. Happy baking ✨🤗

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R - June 13, 2021, 4:03 p.m.

Hi,
If we buy Medjool dates with the stones in, should we remove the stones before putting the dates in the food processor?
Thank you!

PUL Team - June 13, 2021, 6:10 p.m.

Hello R, that's a great question! We've updated the ingredient list to make it a little more clear. We indeed need to remove the pits/stones from the dates to help get a smooth and sticky paste, and also make sure we don't break our food processor 🙂

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Cris S - June 5, 2021, 6:22 p.m.

I made the no-bake version and they came out like dried-fruit bars only more chocolaty. I think making it into balls would be good too!

PUL Team - June 6, 2021, 3:20 a.m.

Lovely ideas, Cris! Thank you for the review 😃

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Maria Mifsud - May 17, 2021, 2:20 p.m.

Made these brownies they are delicious me my daughter and husband love it. Thank you for the recipe difently would make again.

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Manon - April 17, 2021, 6:12 p.m.

Great recipe! I tried it for the first time and I didn't know what to expect but it was delicious! My family also loves it so I might need to make some more very soon.

PUL Team - April 19, 2021, 2:59 a.m.

We're so happy the recipe turned out well! Thank you for sharing, Manon :)

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Margaret - April 8, 2021, 4:03 a.m.

As a brownie connoisseur, I can honestly say these are some of the BEST brownies I've had!! I'm a little concerned they might not make it through the weekend 😂

PUL Team - April 8, 2021, 6:48 a.m.

An incredible review, Margaret! You can always make another batch 😉

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Laura - March 31, 2021, 12:21 p.m.

Best recipe ever! Loved it so much and will definitely keep it in my repertoire. I used the 2 cups for the dates even though I would normally go with grams... 720 g seemed way more than 2 cups, could that be typo? Thanks so much for this delightful recipe!

PUL Team - April 3, 2021, 1 a.m.

Hello Laura, thanks for the lovely review! Great catch with the grams per cup and apologies for any confusion that may have caused. The grams should be more accurate now 😃

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Rachelle - March 24, 2021, 7:58 p.m.

Hi made these and they are so delicious! I can’t believe how incredible they are, I love your recipes.

PUL Team - April 2, 2021, 4:41 a.m.

Hi Rachelle! Thank you so much for your kindness and support 😃

Vera - May 15, 2021, 4:58 p.m.

Can I ask
2 cup dates is how many grams?
Thank you

PUL Team - May 15, 2021, 8:57 p.m.

Hey Vera, thanks for pointing out that this was missing from the recipe and for your patience as we updated it! 2 cups of dates is around 380 grams 🙂

Vera - May 16, 2021, 1:41 a.m.

Thank you ❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰

Reply