Let me explain where I’ve been this week… Last week I was so busy, but super excited to share some things with you this week when things calmed down. And then as I was getting ready for my first post of this week I noticed that one of my recipes had been stolen. Don’t get me wrong, I love when other bloggers use my ideas and even make them better. That’s what’s awesome about blogging and why the food blogging community is so great. But when someone else takes their own pictures, scales the ingredients down to make a half batch and then copies and pastes the instructions from my site and doesn’t mention where the idea came from hoping that you wont notice, it’s heartbreaking to see someone else getting a paycheck for your hard work. And then a couple days later I noticed something similar on another site with a different recipe from Food Doodles. So now all 3 of my most popular recipes have been stolen from me at one point or another by bloggers more successful than myself. I’m a bit ashamed to admit I spent the first part of the week having a pity party for myself and asking myself why I even blog. And then I remembered that I do love blogging. There are a couple bad bloggers that spoil the blogging community for everyone else, but I can’t let them get me down. If you’re a blogger, has this happened to you too? How do you deal with it?
And so I wanted to take the opportunity to say that I appreciate every one of you for supporting Food Doodles. I don’t say it enough. And I really appreciate anyone who properly shares (not copy and pasting my recipes and if you’re a blogger, by taking the time to rewrite recipes in your own words and giving credit) any of my posts through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, your own blog or wherever. I’m sorry it took a few bad eggs sharing my recipes improperly to appreciate all of you who share things properly! Thank you!
Moving on! These are such a simple little treat, I just love them! Like my popular Raw Coconut Brownies these are made in just a few minutes and can seriously be made while holding a baby/toddler, with another toddler hanging off your leg. No joke, it’s been done. And of course, they are amazing. So full of flavor for something with no sugar added. No flour, no baking, literally nothing that could be called bad for you. And coffee flavored? Ooh yeah 🙂
You will notice in the pictures that you can leave them as bars, but I almost think you should use a little less cocoa powder and instant coffee if you want to eat a whole bar as they are quite strong. I love these just as is, in little 1″ squares.
I even had one with my breakfast this morning 🙂 And I’m not ashamed to admit that.
Enjoy!
Raw Vegan Espresso Brownies
Ingredients
- 3/4 C raw walnuts
- 1/2 C raw almonds
- 1 1/4 C pitted Medjool dates packed
- 1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp instant coffee I used medium roast
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- In a food processor process the walnuts and almonds until no large pieces remain. Place the nut meal in a bowl.
- Place the pitted dates in the food processor and process again until no large pieces remain. The dates may even form a dough. Just break it up with a knife and continue with the recipe.
- Add the ground up nuts back to the food processor along with the cocoa powder, instant coffee, vanilla and sea salt. Process until all the ingredient are evenly distributed and the mixture it just starting to clump together.
- Prepare a loaf pan by lining it with wax paper, parchment or even plastic wrap then pour the crumbly mixture in. Press down firmly.
- You may turn out the brownies and slice immediately or if you prefer, refrigerate 30 minutes before slicing so that the mixture is firmer. Store in an airtight container on the counter or in the fridge.
Notes
I also crushed the instant coffee slightly with the back of a spoon to get rid of the large granules, but I'm not sure that was necessary so you can do that if you want.
These brownies do get a little drier once they sit overnight and if they're kept in the fridge so consider adding 1 tbsp water when adding the cocoa and coffee granules.
Try putting 1 brownie in the microwave for 5-10 seconds(depending on whether it was in the fridge or not) for an even more delicious treat!
WHTHSR42RGPY
Comments & Reviews
Mike K says
Just found your site, great recipe, Heidi.
DEJAVU
I know I’m about a year late to comment on what happened to you, but these things don’t go away ever. It happened to me too, but I contacted the unauthorized poster (a national daily paper!) and they were glad to acknowledge the credit.
DATE HANDLING TIP
My daughter and I loved your brownies. Here’s a tip that will simplify processing dates: because they’re too sticky, the store-bought chopped ones, are covered with powdered sugar.
DATING COCOA
As vegans, we can use any other powdered ingredient (even flour!). Luckily, this recipe calls for cocoa. So just quarter your dates before pouring them in, top with the cocoa, and process away. No dough results. Just chopped dates covered with cocoa.
Charlotte Moore says
I would be letting people know who had done this if I were the bloggers they had stole from. Why should people think they were the ones to create them if someone else had?
I have never used dates in this way. Are they dried or fresh? I don’t think I have seen fresh ones before.
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
I agree! But I don’t think that wouldn’t change the minds of all the people that see the copied recipe first. And I have gotten in touch with the offending bloggers but often times it just gets ignored.
The dates I used are fresh but you can use dried ones as well, but you may need to use more or add just a little water so that they stick with the other ingredients 🙂
kitty says
Hello Heidi – found you via Pinterest.
I’ve seen other bloggers (understandably) upset by content & photo theft before & a couple of them decided that they would watermark their photos, which seems to have worked.
I don’t blog myself, but would be very upset if someone used my work as their own – especially so, if they were receiving an income from it!
It’s so easy to link to sites, there’s just no excuse for it.
Love the recipes 🙂
zosia says
what size of pan do you use?
paula r says
Hi, just a note about how recipes make their rounds…I saw a post on fb for amazing energy balls…made it, loved it…lost it! So I googled hoping to find a recipe similar to the one I had used. Your blog came up and looked interesting. After spending an hour with you 🙂 I am so glad I lost that recipe. True, your recipe was similar to the one I had used but your description and photos were so much better that I found myself pulled into looking at your other recipes. So sorry that you had a bad experience….I posted one of your recipes with the link and picture to my fb page….and I’ll be back again and again for more ideas. You really have a gift…so glad you’re sharing with the rest of us! Now I have to head out to the store for some ingredients!
Lisa says
I am sorry that your content has been stolen! I really enjoy your blog and your recipes are always new and refreshing! I have mady many of them! Your blog is one of my faves! Going to make these brownies tonight!! 🙂
Genevieve says
I just made a small batch of these and they turned out so well – they really did remind me of brownies in both taste and texture! I’m not usually one for chocolate desserts, so I like that these are healthy enough to eat as a bite sized snack, and that they don’t need any extra sweetener besides the dates. Love the boost from the coffee too!
Caitlyn says
I’m not a blogger, but am an avid blog reader and in the past I have noticed more popular blogs I read, constantly just posting “adapted” recipes. I was curious what the original recipes were like and upon noticing that there were absolutely no changes made or the changes were so minimum that they hardly qualified as adaptations, I stopped reading the more popular bloggers altogether and started following some of the original posters instead. I know that isn’t likely to happen in this case since the people did not cite you, but if it helps, some people do notice these things and care.
Eat Good 4 Life says
The ingredient list of these brownies is calling my name. I have just made something with dates for the first time ever and I love them. Maybe these beauties will be my next sweet treat in which I can use the dates next 🙂
Ari @ Ari's Menu says
Dang, I’m sorry friend 🙁 I’ve had my recipes (and photos) copied, but always with at least a link back…maybe others have been taken, and I just have no idea? I don’t know, but in the end, remember that you’re here to share healthy recipes with the world–you give people things that are great for them (like these brownies…OMG…), and allow them to find the joy in healthy eating. It’s not an easy thing to do, and I’m sure you have helped people to make changes towards healthier eating. In the end, that is so much more important than some jerk stealing your recipe, because you have the power to change people’s lives. Don’t forget that, and don’t give up hope because of the negative. Sending you lots of positive energy!
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
That’s the thing, some of these recipes have been up for 6 months or longer and I’m just noticing now. But anyways, thank you so much for setting me back on track. You’re so right. I hope I’ve helped even just one person to enjoy eating healthier and that means much more to me than this 🙂 Thanks Ari!
Genevieve says
I love coffee flavoured desserts and snacks, and I also love making raw treats, so I will definitely have to give these a try! Sorry about your recent experience – that’s so frustrating, and it really bothers me when bloggers don’t give proper credit for the recipes they post (not to mention not re-writing recipes in their own words…even worse!). I was curious about your recipes, and after just a bit of searching, I can clearly see where one of your recipes was taken without any credit, and another one where your site is mentioned but the exact recipe is copied out. At least you know you have a loyal following of readers who appreciate your recipes, effort, and originality!
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Oh no, I wonder if the ones you found were the same, or ones that I haven’t noticed yet! I did some googling of my own but it seems like every time I look I find more so I think I’m going to stop looking, haha. Thank you so much Genevieve!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
Oh Heidi, I’m sorry. 🙁 Don’t let it discourage you from blogging. The same thing has happened to me too. Big name bloggers (who everyone loves!) who ripped off my recipes, with a few tiny changes. People always say, “Oh, everything has been done before!”, but that’s not true, these recipes were really unique ones and they were popular on my blog and then suddenly a few weeks later, they popped up on other blogs. I felt the same way–I wondered why I bothered and I felt so defeated. It hurts to see someone else getting kudos for your idea, especially when it’s something original that you spent a lot of time on. And it’s disheartening to see big name bloggers acting like that–you wonder how many of their other recipes were taken from other blogs too.
Whew, sorry for the insanely long comment. But I just wanted to let you know you’re not alone! And I also want to let you know that brownies for breakfast sounds delicious to me. 😉
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
Also, I kind of wonder if one of the bloggers who took one of your recipes is one of the same one who took one of mine. I suspect she makes a habit of it.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
One of the same ONES. Oops. 🙂
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Aww, I’m so sorry that it’s happened to you too Kiersten. But I am glad that someone else knows how I feel, so thank you for the long comment 🙂 It really does make me wonder if it’s the same few bloggers that keep doing it because all the bloggers I know wouldn’t do something like that! One blogger that took one of my recipes was a crafts blogger I believe. Which makes me really wonder why she felt it was OK to steal my recipe. I certainly wouldn’t steal her knitting patterns or whatever it is she does! I love the food blogging community because we all inspire each other to try new and different things, but with my most recent “theft” the blogger just copied and pasted! Granted she took her own pictures but she couldn’t be bothered to change my words and she scaled the recipe down to only make half as much, as if I wouldn’t notice that it was exactly the same otherwise! Ugh. I am feeling much better about it all though. I feel sorry for anyone that has to steal a recipe, word for word, at least I have a little bit of creativity to make my own recipes. And you do too, so don’t let it get you down when it happens to you!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
I am vry sorry for your experience, I had a simmilar one. It happens but the most important thing is that yoy love blogging and that you create an amazing recipes 🙂
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Thank you Marta!
surlykitchen says
How horrible about your recipes! I’m sure it’s probably happened to me, too, but I haven’t seen/heard anything.
But these brownies sound amazing! I love vegan bc it’s usually simple. Definitely pinning these!
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
That’s the thing, some of these are really old I didn’t notice them for a long time 🙁
These couldn’t be more simple, that’s what I love about treats like these too 😀