The Best Black Bean Brownies

These black bean brownies are rich, fudgy, and decadent, made with simple ingredients and no flour or added sugar. Indulge your sweet tooth and satisfy your cravings in a healthy way!

One of the biggest ways we save money is by making things from scratch that I used to buy at the store, like Hot Pockets and Instant Oatmeal Packets. Our family was craving a sweet chocolate treat so I developed a healthy recipe for brownies…with beans!

Now you’re probably thinking there’s no way that something WITH beans and WITHOUT sugar could even remotely, possibly be good.

But these super moist black bean brownies are SO amazing with a rich, fudgy chocolate taste! The first time my family tried these black bean chocolate brownies, they fell in love.

WHY MAKE BLACK BEAN BROWNIES

Not only do they taste amazing, but these black bean brownies are also a healthy treat!

• Made with 9 ingredients that are all 100% real food.
• Very allergy friendly– gluten-free, dairy-free, and no eggs! (Just double-check your chocolate chips if you are baking dairy-free). Simply vegan black bean brownies!
• NO refined sugar– sweetened with maple syrup! (again, double-check those chocolate chips!)
• Made with BEANS…without a black bean flavor! Need I say more?
• Fewer ingredients than processed brownies like Little Debbie’s, AND we’re avoiding the especially harmful ingredients like hydrogenated oils (bad-for-you vegetable oils) and high fructose corn syrup.
• And they still taste amazing! Moist, chocolatey, and perfectly sweet.

I hope I have convinced you that this black bean brownies recipe is quite possibly the best thing that will happen to you this year!

BLACK BEAN BROWNIE INGREDIENTS

Note: Some brownie recipes call for instant coffee, which doesn’t turn out tasting like coffee, but deepens the chocolate flavor of the brownies even more. Although I haven’t tested it in this recipe, I’m sure it’s a delicious option. Let me know if you try it!

HOW TO MAKE BLACK BEAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Follow these simple instructions to make these brownies black beans recipe.

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F.

Step 2. Grease an 8×8 square baking pan with cooking spray (or use parchment paper).

Step 3. In a high-speed blender (or a food processor), combine the ingredients in the order listed.

Step 4. Process the ingredients until the batter is ultra smooth, for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 5. Fold in half of the chocolate chips.

Step 6. Spread the brownie batter in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and nuts (if using) on top of the brownies.

Step 7. Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes, until the brownies are cooked through and set and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Step 8. Allow the black bean brownies to cool completely before cutting.

A batch of these goes pretty fast around my house, but if you happen to have any leftovers, you can save them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, and let them sit out for a few minutes to warm to room temperature before serving.

BROWNIES AND BLACK BEANS RECIPE NOTES

• This black bean brownie recipe is easy to double. Use a 9×13 pan and bake for 17-18 minutes so that the center is thoroughly cooked through.
• If you don’t want to go through the trouble of folding in the sweet chocolate chips (and dirtying another bowl), you can sprinkle them all on top. Alternatively, you can blend all the chocolate chips in too. My kids liked having the small bits of chocolate on top.
• I’ve made these with canned beans and dry beans cooked from scratch and we preferred the taste of dried beans from scratch, although the canned beans came in a close second. If you use canned beans, be sure to rinse them thoroughly (until the water runs clear) before using.

TO SERVE BLACK BEANS BROWNIES

Are you looking for something to put on the black beans brownie as a topping? Try a pinch of flaky sea salt for a sweet and salty treat.

For a yummy peanut butter-and-chocolate combination, you could use peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips, or top with Peanut Butter Frosting. Yum!

Chopped walnuts work well as a nut topping, but if you’re not a walnut fan, try chopped pecans or slivered almonds.

And for a really decadent treat, top your brownie with a scoop of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream!

CAN REAL FOODIES STILL EAT BROWNIES?

Absolutely! No matter your nutrition goals or dietary preferences, these black bean brownies can fit into your day.

When you’re including a treat like black bean brownies in your day, keep these tips in mind:

• Accurately track what you’re eating. That means figuring out the nutrition information for the brownies AND knowing that the portion size you’re writing down is actually the portion you ate.
• Keep your goals on track for the day as a whole. Include plenty of produce and lean protein and adjust your meals so that your macros for the whole day make sense.
• Don’t fret over one snack! Consistency is key to hitting your nutrition goals, and one snack is not going to change that. What you do consistently day after day is what matters.
• Try a lower-fat substitute. The coconut oil acts as a binder in this recipe and lends to the overall richness, but if you’re looking to lower the fat, try applesauce or pumpkin puree and reduce the amount slightly – coconut oil solidifies at room temperature, but purees don’t, and you don’t want your brownies to be a gooey mess!
• Boost the protein. Add any of the following to the brownies and black beans recipe for extra protein:
  • Flax seed. Add a Tablespoon of ground flax seed for a nutty flavor, plus just under 2g of protein.
  • Egg whites. One egg white has 5g of protein. If you don’t need these black bean brownies to be vegan, add up to two egg whites for fluffier, more cake-like brownies with a protein boost.
  • Add a scoop of protein powder or collagen. I typically drink my collagen in a smoothie, but you could also blend it in here. My favorite brand will give you an extra 10g of protein in 1 Tablespoon.

BLACK BEAN BROWNIE FAQS

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