Black Bean Brownies – the ultra fudgy and decadent chocolate treat.
Edit: Thank you to everyone who has been asking…
After more than a year in the works, my NEW cookbook is finally available!
Based on your feedback, every single recipe in the book comes with complete nutrition facts including calories, total fat, carbohydrates, protein, and Weight Watchers points.
Above – Watch how to make black bean brownies.
I know what you’re thinking.
“Why would I want to eat a healthy brownie when I could be eating a deep, dark, rich, fudgy, and chocolatey brownie instead?”
But what if the deep, dark, rich, chocolate brownie is the healthy brownie?
No, not in a dream world. These black bean brownies are healthy brownies that DO NOT taste healthy, and I can say that with assurance, as they’ve been tested on three different groups of people used to “normal” desserts.
For the ultimate test, my roommate brought two pans of the vegan black bean brownies into work and set them down on the table without revealing the secret or saying they were healthy.
She came home with no brownies left… but with five requests for the healthy black bean brownie recipe!
You May Also Like: Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easy Black Bean Brownies
I know some of you have been disappointed by mediocre bean-based brownies you’ve tried in the past, which is why it’s taken me so long to come up with my own recipe:
I’ve tried some awful black bean brownie recipes in the past, too.
For example?
Don’t think you’ll get brownies by adding cocoa powder to my Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip and baking it.
Trust me. You’ll get cardboard.
I wanted a recipe that would not let people down; a recipe that could stand up to a regular sugar-and-flour brownie in a competition.
And these really do!
Also, huge thanks to everyone who’s been sharing these on Instagram!
If you try the brownies, be sure to rate the recipe here, or tag @ChocolateCoveredKatie on Instagram so I can see and like your pictures!
Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed very well) (250g after draining)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder (10g)
- 1/2 cup quick oats (40g) (See nutrition link below for substitutions)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave (75g)
- pinch uncut stevia OR 2 tbsp sugar (or omit and increase maple syrup to 1/2 cup)
- 1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil (40g) (See nutrition link for substitution notes)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup chocolate chips (Not optional. Omit at your own risk)
- optional: more chips, for presentation
Instructions
- Black Bean Brownies Recipe: Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine all ingredients except chips in a good food processor, and blend until completely smooth. Really blend well. (A blender can work if you absolutely must, but the texture—and even the taste—will be much better in a food processor. I use this food processor.) Stir in the chips, then pour into a greased 8×8 pan. Optional: sprinkle extra chocolate chips over the top. Cook the black bean brownies 15-18 minutes, then let cool at least 10 minutes before trying to cut. If they still look a bit undercooked, you can place them in the fridge overnight and they will magically firm up! Makes 9-12 brownies. If you make this recipe, don't forget to leave a review! The trick with these: serve them first, and then reveal the secret ingredient. In all the times I’ve served bean desserts, not one single person who didn’t know beforehand has ever guessed!View Black Bean Brownies Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
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(No crazy ingredients!)
My middle son is autistic, and he is super picky about the foods he eats (Dino shaped chicken nuggets, homemade quesadilla, waffles, pancakes, and bread), so it is difficult to ensure that he gets all of the nutrients he needs. I am always trying to find ways of sneaking in new healthy foods to better balance his diet. That said, he absolutely fell in love with your black bean brownies. He asks me to make them all of the time, and I am thrilled that he is getting some much needed plant protein in a snack. Thanks for this wonderful recipe.
I made this recipe and loved it! As a matter of fact I’ve served them to my friends, without revealing the ingredients, and they ate them all and wanted more! Thanks for a great healthy brownie recipe, it’s now my “go dessert”!
I’d like to start by pointing out how much I HATE BEANS. Like I think they are so gross, all of them. Especially black beans. BUT I’m on a weight loss journey and have a love for brownies so I made these and WOW. These are so good. My husband said they were better than regular brownies. Definitely worth making. So delicious. Rich, fudgy. Just fantastic.
Are these brownies supposed to rise at all as they bake? They are quite tasty and fudgy, but as flat as they were when I spread the batter in the pan.
Hmm, I think flat and fudgy, yes!
These are very good!!! Thanks for this healthy and yummy option!!!!
Oh my goodness! These are so delicious! They totally saved me from completely blowing my diet with a huge bag of M&Ms today. I was craving chocolate big time, only one week into Weight Watchers. Thought I’d give these a try, and boy am I glad I did! Made it just like the recipe states, with 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Even my two pickiest kids who never try anything new and can count the number of things they will eat on one hand gobbled them up and asked for seconds. They totally hit the spot with my chocolate cravings. I had to quickly put them up so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat the whole pan in one sitting.
Tried these. They looked great and tasted wonderful! The only downside is the texture – even though the mixture was finely processed, you could still feel the bits of oats and skin of the beans when chewing. But that was only a very small downside- still managed to polish off the whole batch in no time!
So I am always skeptical of vegan food, but this recipe is incredible!! My son cannot have processed sugar, so this recipe using all natural ingredients is so amazing! We are IN LOVE with this and we will be making it again!
Only edit I did was use 1/2 cup of oat flour instead of rolled oats, turned out perfect!! Thank you!!!
Has anyone ever added ground flax or flax egg to this (NOT SEEDS!)? If so what amount? Thank you!
Hi do you mean in place of the oats, or just as an extra add-in?
We usually make black bean cupcakes (or actually my daughter does, who am I kidding lol) but I did the baking tonight and tried this recipe and love it! I didn’t add sugar, and kept maple syrup low….some dark chocolate chips and added walnuts, was amazing! I couldn’t get my processor working so had to use handheld mixer, I see why a processor is better if you have one cause the beans were a bit chunky and could taste them but I don’t mind. Next time I will add coconut and dates….
Thanks!
This is really a WINNER!
I am a chemist and obsessed with healthy recipes .
I tried many healthy brownies recipes but the taste and texture were compromised.
This one is WOW!
The beans taste is totally disappeared.
The taste and the texture were incredible.
I totally agree with many reviews that I would prefer higher calories for healthy ingredients than less calories for unhealthy ones.
THANK you so much Katie.
Absolutly delicious
Ok so I NEVER post comments…ever! BUT for these brownies I’m going to have to make an exception!! I was a HUGE sceptic as so many recipes claim to be amazing but mostly fall pretty short in reality.
These brownies are without a doubt incredible…gluten free & vegan!!! I too blind tested them on friends and didn’t tell them any of the ingredients before they’d tasted them. Same result…”you have to send me the recipe”!!! Thanks so much for this awesome recipe ???
Was hoping these would be good enough to fool my sister. Afraid not. They taste like chocolate but not living up to the praise I’ve heard. Wondering why. I love baking and am good and followed recipe exactly. Any thoughts?
Hmm not sure! I love these so much and am not vegan, and my friends are definitely fooled by them. But of course tastes are different so maybe they’re not for you? Or maybe there was a mismeasurement somewhere (which I do a lot)? What oil and sugar did you use? What specific ingredients? I would love to help troubleshoot if I can! -Jason
Hello! I want to make these (right now!) but I’m all out of oats. If I use regular flour, do I use the same measurement as the oats or is there a conversion that needs to happen? Thanks!
Seriously soooo delicious. My daughter is so picky about sweets and loved them! Thank you for the awesome recipe!