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!
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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!)
Delicious! So I made these but with a couple of substitutions, 1/2c wholegrain oats instead of instant, and 1/2c raw sugar instead of honey/maple/sugar. Because thats what I had in my cupboard. Will definitly make again but maybe with a little less raw sugar. Great fudgey texture, served them hot with ice cream. Husband downed them haha.
You say these brownies are 115 kcals p/brownie but you also say this recipe makes 9-12 brownies, so is this calorific content based on 9 or 12 brownies? The calorific content would also be slightly different based on using 2/3 cup choc chips or 1/2, which are options given in the recipe. I used 1/2 cup. These questions are anal but my husband is calorie-restricting and calorie-counting in an effort to lose weight, and I’m making these for him. Thx.
Hi, it’s 12 brownies with 1/2 cup 🙂
Thanks so much. We’re going to try them later warmed up with some ice cream. I’m hoping I can keep the black bean part a secret until the family has tried them, but my husband knows I rarely stick to recipes and will have tried to make ‘healthy’ brownies so he’s already suspicious! haha.
Very good and even my husband said they were good. And he doesn’t give compliments often. So that was a true taste test.
❤❤
Wow! These are so good! I got the recipe from a friend on WW and boy do these brownies deliver! Thanks I make a pan every week for me and my family. I don’t feel bad serving these to my son for breakfast when he asks.
Excelente for people who have gluten intolerance love it
I made these for Valentines Day as a healthy dessert. They were delicious!! I will definitely make them again. You would never know they a have beans in them. I don’t have a food processor so used a hand blender and it worked perfectly. Can I freeze these?
You can 🙂
I tried making these black bean brownies and I’m hooked. Yummy!
Can I sub a can of refried black beans for a can of whole black beans? It does not have any spices in it, just basically smashed black beans.
I would measure and not go by the whole can…the water takes up a lot of space as well as the smashing of the beans…
My 8 and 10 year old kids were very suspicious of “black bean brownies” but decided to try them after seeing your pictures and reading your post. They loved them and so did I! I only had old fashioned oats and it worked fine. I will definitely make them again. Thank you!
Thank you all for trying them 🙂
YUM!! I’ve been searching for the perfect sugar free and vegan brownie recipe for ever so long and…my search has come to an end!! These are so much better even than my grandma used to make, even though those had sugar and were definitely not vegan! I even accidentally made these with old fashioned rolled oats but they were great lol. Love love love them and thank you so much, Katie!