Over the past few months, Eric has been taking a Project Management Course to get his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. It hasn’t been easy on him juggling work, the 3.5 hour daily commute, studying, and building the deck at the same time! We’ve been looking forward to the completion of the course so he doesn’t have to spend his evenings studying.
He was under a lot of pressure to pass because his work was paying for the course and no one wants to tell their boss and coworkers they failed the exam. We joked that he probably studied more for this exam than for all his exams combined in university!
Wednesday, Eric wrote the 400-question PMP exam and he passed with flying colours! Whew.
We celebrated, Blizzard style… :)
I loved reading through your comments on what Blizzard flavours I should make next! So many great ideas. For my 3rd version, I decided to make a spin-off of DQ’s Brownie Batter Blizzard:
[source]
It boasts, ‘Double chocolate brownie batter blended with real fudge brownie pieces and creamy vanilla soft serve’
Yes please!
My previous two versions below:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch Blizzard
The first thing I did was whip up some double chocolate brownie dough balls in the food processor.
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Double Chocolate Brownie Dough Balls
Adapted from Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls.
Yield: 12 balls
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 12 Medjool dates (1 cup packed & pitted)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup shredded unsweet. coconut
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1. In a food processor, add the cashews and process until a fine crumb. Be sure not to over process and release the oils too much.
2. Now add in the pitted dates and process until chunky. Add in the rest of the ingredients (except walnuts) and process until a dough forms. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Pulse in walnuts so they remain chunky. Add a bit more liquid sweetener if dough is too dry.
3. Form into balls and store in fridge or freezer.
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Double chocolaty.
Crunchy.
Nutty.
Chewy.
Sweet & salty.
What’s not to love?
Double Chocolate Brownie Dough ‘Blizzard’
- Banana Soft Serve or your favourite ice cream
- Cocoa powder & peanut butter, to taste
- Brownie dough balls (from above)
- Toasted coconut, for garnish
1. In a food processor, process your desired amount of frozen bananas until a creamy soft serve forms. We use 3 large bananas for 2 people. OR, simply grab your favourite ice cream and scoop it into the processor.
2. Add cocoa powder and peanut butter, to taste and process until combined.
3. Crumble 2-3 brownie dough balls into the processor and pulse until just combined.
4. Scoop into bowls or glass and crumble another ball on top with toasted coconut, for garnish. Enjoy on a hot summer day!
I think this flavour would work better without banana soft serve. The banana was just a bit too pronounced in this combo. Next time, I might use Chocolate Coconut Bliss and do without the banana flavour coming through.
Otherwise it was fantastic!
I had to be quick with the photoshoot under the hot sun because I was making a huge mess, as usual!
Though, we clean up pretty well. ;)
Have a great Friday!
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{ 142 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats to your hubby! And what a great way to celebrate. These look amazing and I am sure better that dairy queen for sure :)
These look amazing! I love the glasses that you served them in, so cute! You are so creative and have such wonderful ideas!
Congrats to Eric for furthering his education and credentials and passing with flying colors!
And congrats to you for making the world a better place by creating Double Chocolate Brownie Dough Balls. Wow. Angela they look awesome!
I grew up eating DQ Blizzards and Heath Bar was my fave. But after seeing this, I dont miss Heath Bar blizzards for a second. I just need to make this….omg it looks soooo good!
Oh my, you’ve done it again! I think I might eat all the dough balls before I have a chance to get them into the blizzard!!
PS. Congrats Eric!! That’s great that he passed!
YUM! What a great post to read on a Friday morning. I will now bribe myself with the promise of one of these if I get everything done on my to-do list today!
That’s one question I had about these blizzards: Does the banana flavor come through a lot? For example, did the peanut butter chocolate crunch blizzard have a pronounced banana flavor??
I just have to ask, how the heck to do eat your overflowing goodies without making a sticky mess?? :)
Angela you are an evil genius. (Minus the evil part!) :) I made a batch of your original cookie dough while waiting for my bananas to get ripe enough to freeze and I think I’m going to be out of dough before the bananas are ready to eat!
I have two ideas/suggestions. The first is that the cookie dough balls would make AMAZING cookies for ice cream sandwhiches if you flattened them out. I think you might need to fill them with coconut bliss ice cream rather than banana soft serve to get the proper texture, but I think it could be amazing. :) I’ll try it out with my next batch.
The second idea come from the fact that I found almond meal at Trader Joes- I’d love to figure out how to make an almond joy cookie ball- maybe almond meal, shredded coconut, and almond chunks with choc chips…. Maybe you could do that for your next blizzard flavor! :)
MMm great ideas :)
Congrats to Eric, I have actually been considering taking some project management courses to take a step forward in my career. Hopefully becoming a pmp will open some door for him.
I seriously lived off of the brownie blizzards in college – my roomie and I had struck the perfect deal; she would buy, I would go pick them up. Such a fun tradition, I miss it…but I don’t miss the awful feeling after eating the huge thing! I’m thinking this would leave me feeling way better!
Tell Eric congrats, by the way!
That sounds so good!!!! I have yet to try banana soft serve–think it will be on my weekend agenda!
That’s it. I’m making this for sure this weekend!
They look so good! I’ve got to get a food processor!
You kill me.
I need to move in with you – Eric and Sketchy won’t mind will they?? ;)
I want to make more dough balls! They are perfect little bites of energy before a run :)
Congrats to Eric on the PMP! That’s a valuable thing to have, for sure.
Since it’s my birthday, will you bring me one of those blizzards?! :)
Congrats to Eric! What a lot of work that was —and a 3.5 hour commute – oh my! That alone would be enough to push me over the edge!
I made the banana soft serve – came out good – but I agree – we do not always want the banana flavor. I wish there was a way to do vanilla. Do you know if you can make vanilla ice cream with almond milk? I thought of trying that but figured it would be on the market if it really worked!
Where do you get the dates? (regular grocery store or specialty/dry shelf or produce?) I really want to try them as I see them in a few of your recipes. I actually think they had them for us at a hotel we went to last weekend – they gave us a few plates of snacks in our room and I tried these things – very sweet! Deeeelicious :-)
I bet you could freeze almond milk into cubes and then process into “ice cream”. Chocolate almond milk or other non dairy milk frozen and then processed would be awesome too!
I’ve seen recipes around the blog world that use a combination of soy creamer and almond milk to make some delicious-looking vegan ice creams. Search “almond milk ice cream” and something is bound to come up!
mm that sounds good, I havent tried it myself!
I buy my dates in bulk from Ontario Natural Food Coop.
Thanks for the ideas – I will search it and try. I will have to make a trip to the coop near here (It is phenomenal but 1.5 hrs away) – I am sure they have the dates too.
Chocolate-Covered Katie has the easiest, simplest recipe I’ve found for vanilla ice cream, but I’m not sure about etiquette when it comes to linking to other blogs on somebody else’s blog (if you see what I mean! Just trying to do the right thing!), so I can only suggest you Google “chocolate covered katie voluminous ice cream” – it should be the first link to come up :)
I will ck it out – thanks!
Got the dates today :-)
Yay for Eric! That’s the hardest thing about shooting outdoors in the summer…everything melts! I’d love this with chocolate coconut bliss. Omg that’d be AMAZE.
Oh my goodness does this look amazing! Love the melty effect.
These look AMAZING. I must make these! And congratulations to Eric!
so perfect in so many ways! Have a fabulous weekend:-)
Congrats to Eric! These pictures (and of course recipe) put the DQ version to shame.
ooh double chocolate sounds amazing, congrats to eric he definitely deserves a special celebration!
Seriously you’re going to turn me into an addict!
Aaaah!!! Tell Eric congratulations on passing the PMP! I passed in June and it was the hardest and longest test I’ve ever taken. I studied harder for that than I’ve ever studied my whole life and cried in the parking lot after the test because I was so happy I passed!! Maybe I’ll make this Blizzard for myself and call it the PMP Blizzard! :)
aww congrats to you!
I couldnt believe it when he told me they give you 4.5 hours and 400 questions! ahhhh. Luckily he could take a couple breaks when he wanted to.
PMP Blizzard — love it.
OH MY! This looks decadent!
Congratulations to Eric for passing his exam so successfully! I wish I didn’t have to study all summer… I’ll bring my books in the parks I guess, it could be worse! ;)
Haha this takes me back to my days of working at Dairy Queen in high school. One funny thing about the Brownie Batter blizzard is sooo many people would pronounce ‘Batter’ as ‘Bladder’. I think the blizzard at they end made it a tongue twister!
I see blizzard making in my future for sure! I love the glasses too – so cute!
I’m actually nervous to make one of these. I’m afraid it’ll end up being the only think I eat!
Congrats to Eric! Taking a class + working full time is no joke! And what a lovely way to celebrate — brownie blizzards. Oh wow do these look good!
you two are the most motivated people!! gosh! that is awesome and congrats x 10000 to eric! this blizzard looks like the best reward ever! amazing!
That has pregnancy craving written all over it! (I’m pregnant–not suggesting that you are ;-)) I’m so making these this weekend.
heh enjoy
Congrats to Eric! That is awesome! :-D Now, do you think you could mail me one of those blizzards? :)
Congrats to Eric! That is awesome! :-D Now, do you think you could mail me one of those blizzards? :)
Congrats to Eric! That is awesome! :-D Now, do you think you could mail me one of those blizzards? :)
Those look delicious! I’m a huge fan of your banana soft serve and can’t wait to try it :)
I’m hooked on banana soft serve! These look amazing! I’m surprised the banana flavor didn’t work with the other flavors though- usually chocolate and banana are great together!
I was surprised too…it could have had to do with the fact that it melted too much. I find BSS is best VERY cold.
I would love to see a remake of the Starbucks Java Chip Frapuccino! Yummmm!
PS – Your avocado cream pasta has made it’s way into the regular rotatio. I’m obsessed!
Glad you enjoy it :) Im making some tonight!
That java flava sounds yummy :)
Oh man oh man!! Ridiculous! Look at that overflowing glass! ;) These seriously sound spectacular. Hope you guys have a fabulous weekend!! xo
overflowing glasses are my specialty! lol
That looks even better than the DQ version! Better for you too :)
Yay Eric, that’s excellent! :)
And as for the blizzard … you are too good, there are just no words. No words… :D
yay for eric!
and, angela, you amaze me. I LOVE your blizzards!
I love celebrating blizzard style! Looks delish!
You had me at the first photograph. Double chocolate? Good heavens, it looks amazing! If I knew a treat like that was waiting at the end of my exam, I’d definitely study extra hard!
Hip hip hooray for Eric, for passing – and passing with flying colours! All that hard work and all those long hours spent studying ultimately paid off. That’s awesome! Congratulations! :D
Congrats to Eric! I’m sure the blizzard was a wonderfully delicious way to celebrate passing with flying colors. It looks absolutely delish!
Another fabulous recipe Ange!!! You’re gonna put DQ out of business!
Looks fantastic! Can’t wait to try it! And congrats to Eric!
Big congrats to Eric!! In my field, PMP is often expected (though I doubt that PMP determines an individual’s ability to manage a projecte effectively), and studying for the test takes a lot of time. My husband avoided it for a year, but will have to start studying this year, probably, due to pressure from work. Maybe I’ll encourage him with some of these tasty delights. ;)
Another awesome blizzard recipe! I love that the banana flavor comes through. Chocolate, banana, all you need is peanut butter and my dessert trifecta has been met :)
You are brilliant.
It’s been a long time that I’ve seen photos that literally made my mouth water! To the kitchen! Zooooom!
Yes please!
Yummy! I never thought to make blizzards at home! I also love the recipe for the brownie balls and will definitely be making them this weekend :D
oh that does look lovely. recently discovered your site, going to try those burgers on Sunday. Can’t wait.
This looks delightful! Love those glasses.
Do you by chance know the nutrition stats on these?
I know they’d be much healthier than a dq blizzard, but im just curious. :)
Nope sorry!
Double yes please!!!!
This sounds so freaking good. Love this!
Congrats from a fellow PMP – now just make sure you keep up on you PDUs so you NEVER have to take the exam again :)
haha here’s hoping… :)
I NEED to make this… I think this is the best looking version yet!
These look SO GOOD!!
Congrats to Eric for his accomplishment and a big congrats to you for being nominated one of Canada’s Women of the Year!!
thanks!
I want to eat everything you make. Always. Oreo next please!!!
Awwwwyeahhhh! SO MAKING THIS
p.s. I am still waiting for you to make a recipe book!
Congratuations to your husband!!!
You are the queen of yummy desserts! This looks so good-can’t wait to make it for myself…I mean my kids.
;)
Yum! This beats DQ’s blizzards any ole’ day and I’d definitely choose yours over theirs! :) You can still have your cake and eat it, too :)
We made the peanut butter crunch ones last weekend and LOVED them. Can’t wait for our treat this weekend — double chocolate! I absolutely love your desserts — make them all the time.
This looks so amazing! Anything brownie and I’m in :)
These look so much better than the DQ version! :)
I know this would sit much better in my stomach than the last blizzard I had a few weeks ago, ugh! I wonder if a chocolate smoothie as the base would work as I don’t have frozen bananas. I’ll just have to give it a whirl to find out.
mm thats a good idea :)
Thank you for making so many delicious ‘blizzards’! Please keep them coming! I cannot wait to try this recipe!!!!
I have GOT to get some cashews so that I can get my hands on these ASAP!
I’ve been so excited you are doing the blizzard BSS! Especially chocolate brownie because I’m a total chocoholic.
I have a chronic illness and one of my meds needs potassium to supplement it. Daily bananas is one of the simplest ways.biggest problem I HATE BANANAS and have my whole life but I manage to choke them down daily.
Anyways I recently found out that I have a dairy allergy and although feel better dairy free I really miss ice cream. BSS has been such a thrill for me. I love adding things to it and playing around :) my favorite has been adding cocoa powder & peanut butter.
The other day I wanted to see what’d happen if I made bunch & refroze it. Guess what??? Letting the cocoa & pb sit it covered up the banana flavor!!! You could try that with the brownie balls.
When you refreeze you do have to let it sit for like 10 minutes when you take it out though. After I tried it refrozen for the first time I just wanted to keep smiling. I can feel like I’m eating rEal chocolate ice cream!
Hooooow do you take such amazing photos?!?!
I used to love these at DQ! so addicting…. I get so excited every time you crank out a better-for-you version of these blizzards! thanks a bundle :)
OMG! I am drooling all over my computer- true story!! These looks so so good!
A big congrats to Eric :D
they have a pumpkin pie blizzard, don’t they? during pumpkin season, you should try to make that one. how amazing would that be!
yes they do!!
Thank goodness these things are healthy. I want to eat everything you make!
Angela, looks delicious but intimidating for someone like me who is just getting started in the kitchen.
What kind of food processor do you recommend?
Kelly
I have a Kitchenaid and it’s pretty good! Not perfect but then again ive never come across a processor ive been perfectly happy with. Its my fav so far
Angela I think you need to open up an ice cream shop and sell these..YUMMY!!! I wish I could take a bite right from the screen.
That’s great!!! :)
Mmmm I have been loving your blizzard posts lately! It’s funny cuz I was starting to think about them now that it’s summer :) will be trying your recipes!! Thanks :)
And congrats to Eric!! :D
Hi Angela,
I left you a comment this morning but see that it didn’t show up? Or maybe we’re not supposed to leave links? I just wanted to leave another comment and make sure you know I wasn’t trying to be spammy. I just thought you’d enjoy the recipe!
Hey Lisa, links tend to go to spam…I’ll have to look for it!
omg you are evil. i am sitting here at work totally wanting chocolate while being out of healthy foods and then i open this. looks so great! if only i could reach through my computer and grab it. have a good weekend.
lol…that is the worst!!
Good God I love you!!! Thank you thank you thank you for this :)
This looks like the best celebration treat ever! Bit congrats to Eric! All that studying combined with everything else sounds so stressful – he must be SO relieved to be done. I hope he has a nice relaxing weekend!
Two little boys here have you requested you make that for them next week! :)
they are going to be spoiled! just made a big box of glo bars for them in the freezer right now waiting for them :)
OMG everytime i visit your site I get hungry ! I have some Nada Moo in my fridge I may have to try this out with. Have you tried it ?? Dairy-free made with coconut milk ? Delish !!
http://healthymammas.com/2011/07/12/keeping-cool-with-barton-springs-and-nada-moo/
Thanks and btw … just had buckwheat porridge for the THIRD day in a row :)
CONGRATS to Eric! I hate exams and I’m so glad I never have to take any more if I so choose! I love Dairy Queen and I think your version of the blizzard looks 2104x better than the original!
3.5 hour commute? That sounds like torture!!
yea its brutal :\
Wow this looks FABULOUS Angela! You always come up with such amazing recipes. DQ was a huge deal for my family on summer weekends up north in Minnesota, but these days I stick to things like banana soft serve and coconut bliss like you. haha but what a killer combo!
Thank you for this!! I will be adding to my grocery list for Sunday so I can’t make them!
This looks delicious! I am new to this site– what kind/brand of vegan chocolate chips do you use?
They are ONFO- ontario natural food coop
Congratulations Eric!! :) Bet thats such a weight off!! And those blizzards look AMAZING btw!!
Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever drooled over my computer screen so much. Unfortunately, these definitely won’t cut it on my training program!
MMMM weekend plans just updated (1) THIS recipe after spin and (2) HAVE to convince my parents to invest in a vitamix!!! :) This looks so delicious. Congrats to Eric!
Can not wait to try it! I made the chocolate chip ones the other day and my whole family (even my husband who likes nothing healthy) LOVED them!
Can not wait to try it! I made the chocolate chip ones the other day and my whole family (even my husband who likes nothing healthy) LOVED them!
happy for your husband!
omg, I am so craving these blizzards right now!!!! they look absolutely delicious!
You’re a genius!!! My non-vegan boyfriend goes to DQ all the time and gets that exact blizzard…I already made your cookie dough balls for him with the banana soft serve and he loved it…so I know this will be a big hit! Thank you Angela :)
Omg…x 1000!!!!!
Angela…this looks beyond fabulous!!!!
You ROCK!
Hugs from Bainbridge!
Congrats to Eric, that’s wonderful! And this looks amazing, something I must make for my hubby. :-) Thanks!
they look amazing, congrats to you both. xx
Oh MY gosh! I just finished my morning run an hour and I am drooling on my keyboard for one of these – can’t to try it! :)
I’m thinking of going from vegetarian to vegan, you recipes inspire me :)
Your Blizzards look amazing! I’d be vegan, but I can’t give up the ice cream/yogurt/honey quite yet…maybe some day :P
Oh my gosh… i am pregnant and have been wanting icecream for so long..but have YET to get it yet this pregnancy and im already 32 weeks!! I always knew it would make me feel terrible since I don’t handle dairy and sugar well, so i didn’t bother ever buying it. THANK GOD for your recipe! LOL. I just made this with frozen bananas and oh my gosh…it is even better then icecream! Thank you so much!! :) I love that you show ways to eat healthy without sacrificing taste! :) its just awesome!
These blizzards look amazing. So wish this could be my dinner tonight!
Yuuuum!!! I love how chocolate and banana taste together so I definitely wouldn’t mind the strong banana flavor! :) Also, congrats to Eric!!
You’re right…the bananas don’t work. I love bananas but this was just not the right thing…I’m amazed to find I do not like BSS. The brownie dough balls are great, though, and I will try again with some Coconut Bliss or maybe So Delicious.
What a great idea!
Loved these brownie balls! The texture was super and they were so fast to make, the hubs loves them too. Thank you for the recipe!
This is now at the top of my list for what to make this week. YUM!!!
Angela you are WONDERFUL!
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes and stories. I am newly vegan and struggling to find foods that I really like. I am giving myself time tho, since i have been eating meat for 40 something years before i chose vegan for health reasons.
i LOVE the brownie bites. They taste like milk duds to me, and since my hubby still likes a blizzard now and again… I can enjoy something similar.
Your web site is so beautiful. I was so excited to see all the yummy pictures. I tried the blueberry muffins, and have many more to try too! Thank you again!!
Thank you Nancy, that means so much to me!
The family wiped this out. It was a hit. Thanks!
Hi ! After trying the Peanut Butter blizzard last night, which was amazing, I think this one will be next on my list to try. I agree with someone, Heath blizzards are the best and definitely one that needs a healthy recipe made for it! Or mint cookie. Or coffee :)
PS- I’m confused… I thought all your recipes were vegan, but I’ve seen some that call for dark chocolate chips. Is it just assumed that you buy vegan dark chocolate chips? Because dark c.c. have milk in them, and I haven’t seen a vegan version, but if there is I’ll keep looking!