This healthy skillet brownie for two is the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert to share! Made in a 6-inch skillet and sweetened with dates, this is one indulgent and fudgy chocolate treat that you won’t feel guilty about!
This post is sponsored by Rodelle and Natural Delights. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Buckets of Yum possible! This post also contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to purchase using my link.
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, I love the idea of dessert recipes that are just for two people! And, they obviously have to involve chocolate – duh!
This fudgy, gooey skillet brownie is the perfect size for two people to share! It’s made in a 6-inch cast iron skillet which means lots of good indulgence for you on Valentine’s Day but no tempting leftovers the rest of the week!
You’ll also notice that “healthy” is in the name of this skillet brownie, but have no fear. This brownie for two is full of delectable chocolate flavor and has just a hint of sweetness, all thanks to using some amazingly high-quality ingredients from Rodelle and Natural Delights! Curious about how to make this yummy treat? Read on below!
Ingredients for a Healthy Skillet Brownie for Two
This skillet brownie has two main parts, both of which are extremely easy to make and, not to mention, healthy! In under 35 minutes, you will have yourself one gooey and warm skillet brownie that you can top with vanilla bean coconut cream whipped cream (and ice cream if you so desire)!
The ingredients for the brownie and coconut whipped cream are pretty basic, but there are definitely a few ingredients I recommend picking up for unbeatable, delicious flavor!
- Almond Flour – this recipe calls for almond flour, which is a wonderful and healthy alternative to all-purpose flour. Of course, you can certainly use all-purpose flour if you’re short on time and don’t want to run to the store! But I love this brand here.
- Natural Delights Medjool Pitted Dates – alright, I will admit that I was a bit skeptical about sweetening my brownie with dates. I mean, aren’t dates like prunes?! Well, they most certainly are NOT! My first bite into a Natural Delights date really surprised me. Think of a slightly caramel-flavored brown sugar – that is exactly what one of these bad boys tastes like! So, as you can imagine, that flavor is absolutely delicious in this brownie! I honestly have been eating them like candy over the past week because they are that good.
- Rodelle Fairtrade Vanilla Extract – by now, I think you know that I am a HUGE fan of all things Rodelle! The quality in their products is really unmatched. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle of this vanilla extract, because it gives all desserts the best and purest vanilla flavor! I can really taste it in this skillet brownie, and the flavors of the vanilla meld so well with the slight caramel flavor of the dates!
- Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa – my all-time favorite cocoa powder to bake with! This cocoa has the highest levels of cocoa butter on the market, giving it a superior chocolate flavor!
- Rodelle Vanilla Paste – another favorite of mine! You’ll need some form of a vanilla bean to make the vanilla bean coconut cream whipped cream for this skillet brownie, and Rodelle’s vanilla paste makes it easy to incorporate rich vanilla bean flavor without the hassle of the pod!
- Coconut milk – for the vanilla bean coconut cream whipped cream, of course! You’ll only be using the cream portion skimmed off of the top of the can to make this healthier alternative to whipped cream!
How to Make Date Paste to Sweeten Desserts
Like I said above, I was really skeptical about sweetening my dessert with date paste. But after trying this brownie with date paste vs. traditional sugar, I may honestly never go back! You can substitute date paste 1:1 for regular granulated sugar.
Dates have a slightly caramel/brown sugar flavor, so they are actually perfect for using to sweeten your desserts! Plus, they have some amazing health benefits:
- They are low on the glycemic index, meaning no crazy sugar spikes and crashes
- They have 16 essential vitamins and minerals
- They provide sustained energy throughout your day
Date paste is super easy to make! Here’s how to make yourself a big batch, which can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month!
You’ll need:
- 2 Cups of Natural Delights Pitted Medjool Dates, chopped
- 1/2 cup of very hot water
And then you will simply process the water and dates in a food processor until they form a smooth paste. Just store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it in your favorite dessert recipes!
How to Make Vanilla Bean Coconut Cream Whipped Cream
If you are feeling fancy, be sure to make this vanilla bean coconut cream whipped cream as a topping for your sweet little skillet brownie! This is also super duper easy to make.
You’ll need:
- 1/2 cup of coconut cream – when you first open up the can of coconut milk, this is the super creamy part on top
- 2 tbsp full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 tsp Rodelle Vanilla Paste
Then, simply whip up all of these ingredients on high speed using a hand mixer! I beat for a good bit – usually about 5 minutes. This will not fluff up quite like traditional whipped cream, but it will become somewhat stiff as you whip! You can also refrigerate the mixture and then re-whip, which can help thicken it up a bit. Add a dollop of this on top of your brownie with some of your favorite ice cream!
I hope that you enjoy this healthy little skillet brownie for two this Valentine’s Day! And if you’re skeptical about the dates in this, just give it a try – I have a feeling you will enjoy this just as much, if not more, than a regular old brownie!
More Valentine’s Day Recipes
- Marble Loaf Cake with Chocolate Buttercream
- Small 6-Inch Dark Chocolate Snack Cake
- Extra Dark Chocolate Truffles from Scratch
Healthy Skillet Brownie for Two
Ingredients
For the Skillet Brownie
- 4 Natural Delights Pitted Medjool Dates (chopped)
- 1 tbsp hot water
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- ¾ tsp Rodelle Fairtrade Vanilla Extract
- 3 tbsp Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa
- 1 tbsp almond flour
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup bittersweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
- chocolate chips, strawberries, ice cream, and vanilla bean coconut cream whipped cream (for topping)
For the Vanilla Bean Coconut Cream Whipped Cream
- ¼ cup coconut cream (skimmed from the top of a can of coconut milk)
- 2 tbsp full-fat greek yogurt
- ¼ tsp Rodelle Vanilla Paste
Instructions
For the Skillet Brownie
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat the inside of a 6-inch cast iron skillet with butter.
- In the work bowl of a food processor, blend the pitted dates and water until a smooth paste is formed. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the date paste and melted butter together until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract and whisk for 1-2 minutes until smooth and combined fully.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, almond flour, salt, and baking powder together.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently stir with a spoon, being careful not to overmix. Fold in the chocolate chunks.
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared skillet and top with additional chocolate chunks if desired. Bake for 20 minutes. The edges should be done and the center should be slightly gooey.
- Top with sliced strawberries, your favorite ice cream, and vanilla bean coconut cream whipped cream if desired (recipe below). Serve warm.
For the Vanilla Bean Coconut Cream Whipped Cream
- In a small bowl, beat the coconut cream, Greek yogurt, and vanilla bean paste on high until thickened (about 5 minutes). Refrigerate until ready to use.
