No Sweat Vegan

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Free E-Books
  • Meal Planning Printables
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Free E-Books
  • Meal Planning Printables
  • Shop

subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Free E-Books
  • Meal Planning Printables
  • Shop

×
Home » Recipes

No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites

Published: 24 Apr 2020 · Updated: 22 Sep 2024 by Julianne Lynch · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 4 Comments

1253 shares
  • Facebook
  • Email
Jump to Recipe
No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites

These No-Bake Brownie Bites are quick, easy, and sugar-free! The dates add sweetness, the walnuts and pecans offer depth, while the Dutch-process cocoa gives a rich, chocolatey flavor. But the real surprise are the pretzels, which both bind the mixture and give these high-protein energy balls the perfect salty crunch.

No bake brownie bites in a bowl.

If I had to pick my favorite indulgent dessert, I think it would have to be brownies. I'm particularly fond of the dense, rich sort of brownie that's, um, not very healthy. And while those are fine for special occasions, they're not something I'd want to eat every day. What do I want to eat every day? These No-Bake Pretzel Brownies, of course.

The good news about these no-bake pretzel brownie bites is that they are (as far as super indulgent treats go) on the healthier end of the spectrum. Made with dates, walnuts, pecans, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and the special ingredient, pretzels, these high-protein bites of heaven manage to be amazingly delicious while surprisingly not so bad for you.

Another bonus--absolutely no baking is involved. Turn off your ovens, ladies and gentlemen, this chocolate treat needs no heat!

Jump to:
  • Why pretzels?
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • How to serve
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • More Vegan chocolate recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
Vegan no-bake pretzel brownie bites on a plate.

Why pretzels?

When I was developing this recipe, I didn't immediately think of pretzels as an ingredient. But I knew I needed SOMETHING to hold it all together. I didn't have any almond flour or coconut flour. I thought of using oats, pulsed into oat flour, and I'm sure it would have worked just fine--yet I found the idea underwhelming. But as I was literally scanning my kitchen for ideas, my eyes fell on a container of hard pretzels, the chosen snack of my children. And I knew I'd struck gold!

That punch of pretzel salt truly elevates these from okay to Ah-mazing. Don't believe me? Just try it for yourself. Plus, the little bits of pretzel pieces add a crunchy factor that's perfectly satisfying. As far as desserts go, these brownie bites definitely check all the boxes.


Ingredients for no-bake little brownie bites.

Ingredients

  • small hard pretzels -- Regular salted pretzels from the snack aisle. You could also use whole wheat pretzels.
  • dried, pitted dates -- This adds sweetness and helps the mixture stick together. In a pinch, raisins could be used as a substitute.
  • walnuts -- For protein and flavor.
  • pecans -- Same as above.
  • dutch-process cocoa powder -- For delicious chocolatey flavor!
  • maple syrup -- For a little more added sweetness.
  • water

*See recipe card for quantities

How to Make No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites

To make these brownie bites, you just combine the ingredients in a food processor and blend. I like to add the pretzels first to break them up, and then the other ingredients second. But that's really about it. (Check out the video below to see how I do it!)

Once you've made the mixture, just roll it into balls and chill in the fridge for an hour before serving. Technically you could even eat these right away (guess how I know that), but they get denser and more brownie-like once they've chilled a bit. Don't we all.

Variations

  • Girl Scout Cookie Bliss Balls
  • No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
  • No-Bake Pumpkin Bites
Closeup of a vegan no-bake pretzel brownie bites.

Equipment

For this recipe you'll need a food processor.

All of my favorite products and kitchen tools can be found in my Amazon shop.

How to serve

These mini brownie bites are perfect for a make-ahead grab-and-go treat. Add them to a lunchbox or refuel with this high-protein snack after a workout. You can even eat these chocolate energy balls for breakfast (shh, I won't tell). Or serve them as an easy dessert at your next cookout or holiday gathering.

Storage

You can store these Vegan Brownie Bites for up to 1 week in an air tight container in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. To defrost, simply place the container in the refrigerator for a few hours, or on the counter for 1 hour.

Vegan no-bake pretzel brownie bites in a bowl.

FAQs

Do I need a food processor?

You do need a full-sized food processor for this recipe. Here's a good mid-range food processor that I can recommend. The great thing about investing in a food processor is that if you utilize it properly, it will pay for itself (check out my almond butter tutorial to see what I mean.)

Why Dutch Process Cocoa Powder?

Regular cocoa powder is more acidic and lighter in color. Whereas Dutch process cocoa powder is darker and has a more pronounced "chocolatey" flavor. You can find Dutch Process Cocoa Powder online or in the baking section of most large grocery stores. You can also substitute with regular cocoa powder, but you might have a less pronounced flavor. I'd love to hear your experience in the comments below!

More Vegan chocolate recipes

  • Vegan double chocolate chip cookies.
    Vegan Double Chocolate Cookies
  • Hand lifting spoon of vegan chocolate sauce out of a jar surrounded by berries.
    Vegan Chocolate Sauce (3 Ingredients + WFPB)
  • Vegan chocolate tart on a cutting board and topped with raspberries, blueberries, and pistachios.
    Vegan Chocolate Tart (Easy + Oil-free)
  • Vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies stacked.
    Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (Healthy + Oil-Free!)

📖 Recipe

Bowl of vegan no-bake pretzel brownie bites.

No-Bake Pretzel Brownie Bites

These no-bake brownie bites are quick, easy, and sugar-free! The dates add sweetness, the walnuts and pecans offer depth, while the Dutch-process cocoa gives a rich chocolatey flavor. But the real surprise is the pretzels, which both bind the mixture and add the perfect salty crunch.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Share on Facebook Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Rolling Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 to 14 Brownie Bites

Equipment

Cuisinart 8 Cup Food Proces...Shop on Amazon
Food Processor

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup small hard pretzels
  • 1 cup dried, pitted dates
  • ½ cup walnuts
  • ½ cup pecans
  • ½ cup dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Add the pretzels to the food processor and blitz until the pretzels are mostly broken up.
  • Next, add the walnuts, pecans, and dates to the food processor. Turn onto the highest setting and blend for about 30 seconds, or until the dates and nuts are broken down.
  • Finally, add the cocoa powder, maple syrup, and water. Again, blitz on the highest setting until the mixture is fully combined. Blend shorter for a crunchier brownie bite and longer if you prefer something smoother.
  • Pour the mixture into a bowl. Use your hands to roll about 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture into a bite-sized ball. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.
  • For best result, cool for 1 hour before eating.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Prevent your screen from going dark
Save this RecipeSaved!

Notes

  • If your dates are on the harder side, you can soften them up by soaking in warm water for 5 minutes. (Be sure to drain before adding to the food processor).
  • If the mixture won't stay together when you try to form the balls, just add another tablespoon of water, combine, and everything should come together.
  • I love dutch-process cocoa powder for a deeper and richer taste, but any cocoa powder will work.
  • If you don't have walnuts, simply sub with pecans and vice versa.
  • Almonds could also be used in place of the other nuts in this recipe, but the flavor will be slightly different.
  • Raisins or prunes can be subbed if you don't have dates.
Keyword brownie bites, no bake brownie bites, no bake brownies
Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram @no_sweat_vegan or #nosweatvegan!

More Vegan Recipes

  • Strawberry rhubarb baked oatmeal on a plate.
    Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal (Vegan + No Banana!)
  • Hand dipping crostini into vegan spinach artichoke dip.
    Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip (Easy + Nut-Free!)
  • Vegan pumpkin baked oatmeal on a plate with toppings.
    Pumpkin Baked Oats (Vegan)
  • Closeup of hand picking up a spoonful of vegan pumpkin risotto.
    Vegan Pumpkin Risotto (With Sage!)
1253 shares
  • Facebook
  • Email

Comments

    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Susan says

    April 27, 2020 at 11:14 pm

    5 stars
    Love chocolates!

    Reply
    • Julianne Lynch says

      May 09, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      Thanks!!

      Reply
  2. Debbie says

    May 09, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    5 stars
    If you like Chocolate, Pretzels and Dates and Walnuts, you will love the combination in this recipe. They are irresistible. Try them - I think you will find this to be a snack you will want to make over and over. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
    • Julianne Lynch says

      May 09, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      Thanks! Glad you liked them!!

      Reply
Julianne, founder of No Sweat Vegan.

Hi, I'm Julianne! A dedicated home chef for over 20 years and a vegan recipe developer since 2020. I love creating simple and comforting vegan food for the whole family. Most of my recipes are quick, Whole-Foods Plant-Based, and easy on the budget. Thanks for stopping by!

You can also find me at AirFryerVeg.com.

More about me →

Trending

  • Chick-fil-A tofu on a plate with vegan honey mustard.
    Vegan Chick-fil-A style Tofu Nuggets with Vegan Honey Mustard Sauce (Oil-free!)

  • Stack of vegan oatmeal raisin cookies.
    Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Healthy, Easy, + Oil-Free)

  • Vegan potato soup in a bowl.
    Vegan Potato Soup (Easy & Oil-Free)

  • Tofu nuggets on a plate with a small bowl of ketchup.
    Tofu Nuggets (Vegan + Oil-Free!)

Recent

  • Vegan butter beans recipe in a bowl with bread.
    Vegan Butter Beans (Easy + Creamy!)

  • Pumpkin bliss balls in a bowl.
    No-Bake Pumpkin Balls (Easy + Vegan!)

  • Three vegan pear muffins stacked in front of a pear.
    Vegan Pear Muffins (Oil-free!)

  • Vegan Mother's Day Recipes collage.
    Vegan Mother's Day Recipes

Web Stories

Footer

↑ back to top

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Impressum

Free Meal Planning Tips & Printables!

  • Sign Up for free printables and weekly updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • FAQ

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

***

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to No Sweat Vegan with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.


Copyright © 2020-2025 No Sweat Vegan on the Foodie Pro Theme

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.