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!)
I bake mine in muffin tins. They freeze great individually, then I can go from freezer to microwave and they are rich, gooey and warm!
These are absolutely amazing! So gooey and chocolatey!
LOVE THESE BROWNIES!!!
even my picky husband asks me to make them 🙂
These are good. The reviews had me thinking they’d be mind blowing so I was slightly disappointed but they’re definitely worth making and good for what they are (sugar fee, oil free (I used applesauce), flour free black bean brownies). I served them to my non vegan family including a carnivorous grandpa and cousin and they both liked them. But considering the fact that these are basically a health food, I’m so impressed. Also I added a third tablespoon of cacao powder because I wasn’t convinced by the batter but either way in baking the bean taste was totally gone.
They need the oil or nut butter to be mind blowing 😉
I made these for the first time and they’re delicious! They taste just like regular brownies and are super easy to make.
Do you need to use ‘no salt added’ can of black beans or the regular?
Either works, because you will be draining and rinsing very well 🙂
I haven’t made these yet, but I’m curious to know the calorie content in each brownie (Say the recipe yields 9). Anyone calculate this?
Just made and— DELISH! I subbed applesauce for the oil. These are so yum and so little guilt! Thanks for this!
@Katie K:
What amount of applesauce did you use? Were they firm enough?
These brownies are outrageously expensive to buy from the health food stores.
I have made these so many times and getting to see the reactions of people who enjoyed them is so rewarding, every time. The last batch I made was goofed up and ended up being the best to date. The goof up? Mexican seasoned black beans. I rinsed them and prepared the batter with a sense of humor. They tasted great even “messed up”.
Haha that sounds so amazing and funny at the same time!
Seriously freaking awesome.
These are delicious! Thank you so much. I’m curious if the nutrition is for 1/9 of the recipe or 1/12. Thanks!
I added mine to a nutrition calculator, using vegetable oil, granulated sugar and honey, set it for 9 servings, and it came out 146 cal, so I image it’s 1/12.
Hi Ida, yes that makes sense. I ended up calculating and I came up with 132 calories if divided into 12 servings and that was with me using 1/2 c maple syrup, an egg instead of the oil, and 1/2c chocolate chips.
Hi. The brownies were a big hit even with my 2 year old. She needs more fiber so those were perfect. Is there a way to make this black bean recipe as chocolate cupcakes?
There is! https://lett-trim.today/black-bean-brownie-bites/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I’m wondering if I could substitute one egg for the coconut oil?
I absolutely love to make these brownies, I usually wait until most have tasted them to tell them they are healthy and are made from black beans! My favorite is mint chocolate!
Thank you my family and friends really like them!
These are excellent! Even my mom (who hates beans and doesn’t like unusual foods) said they taste like “regular” brownies. I can’t have sugar, so I swapped the maple syrup for monk fruit & erythritol and added two tablespoons of Greek yogurt. It won’t be long before I make them again.
I just made these and served them to my fiancé and his friend – both went wild over them. Very good, will definitely be making them again. Neither guessed the black beans either!
oh my goodness so yummy. very dense and satisfying. I gave taste tests to all my friends and family and they had no idea how healthy they were!
Making again and most likely will never stray to another brownie recipe again!!!Thank you thank you!!!