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!)
Best brownie recipe I have found! Love the oats in it too.
The brownies are absolutely delicious and I feel a bit smug when I eat them because I think they’re good for you. Had someone served them to me, I would never have suspected they weren’t regular brownies. LOVE THEM!!
can you use steel cut oats instead of quick oats?
Everyone’s favourite where ever we go! Absolutely amazing recipe.
Really enjoyed these! Will be making them again for sure 🙂 Thanks for the recipe Katie!!
Love the brownies. Just wish they were thicker. Can you double the recipe and have them come out thicker and just as good? If so would you bake them longer?
You definitely can! And yes you’d probably have to bake longer (experiment with times). If they come out underdone, put them in the fridge overnight because they firm up considerably.
So I tried these black bean brownies and a very highly rated chickpea brownie recipe, and did a taste test competition! The chickpea brownies won for “fluffy” and the black bean won for “fudgy” – both were crazy delicious. No one would ever know they were made with beans!!
Soooo yummy. Thank you for this. I make them once a month at least!
Thank you for a great alternative to flour based brownies! Their in the oven as we type! Can’t wait to try them!!
Delicious! I like them warm and gooey.
I’m a big fan of the black bean blender muffins. I finally got around to making these instead and loved them! I may have eaten a few too many. Lol.
My mom would eat a whole pan by herself! She asks for them all the time!
Hi Katie,
I am probably the last person in the world to come across your website but am really glad I found it :).
I made this recipe and it was delicious. I did not have chocolate chips so grated some chocolate in instead. I also did not have much vanilla extract so added orange extract and really liked the combination of chocolate and orange flavours :).
One great benefit of this recipe is that it does not need any flour. I am not sure of the situation in the US but during lckdown here in the UK there was a severe shortage of flour. It is nice to know I can continue baking even if there is no flour in the stores. I am also so happy to find healthy baking recipes :).
I am not sure if you have any healthy chocolate orange recipes on your website. I will browse later :).
I hope you are keeping safe there in these unusual times.
Best wishes,
Robin
Make these every year for the holidays and everyone loves them!
for the coconut oil, do you put it in solid or melted? And if melted, do you measure the oil solid and then melt or use 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil?
Everyone who tried these brownies loves it!! Thank you so much!
I’m making for the second time!!! That says it all. But okay, these are DELICIOUS!!!
Didn’t mention it to the many who tried them, and they ALL LOVE these! Yum 😋
Thank you thank you for sharing. My new go to🥰🥳 making them right now.
Love love love this recipe !!!
I’ve already made 2 batches in 2 weeks !
I’ve grown up being a brownie queen ! But within the past few months I’ve cut out eggs, gluten and dairy -after learning my body doesn’t agree with those- so it’s been hard to find a brownie recipe that’s actually easy to make and Tasty !!
Very highly recommend ! I’ve already been sharing this recipe to different friends