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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BEST recipe EVER!
I made these today and subbed pb&co dark chocolate dreams peanut butter for all of the oil, and 2 scoops Barleans chocolate silk greens instead of the stevia or extra maple syrup! Oh my goodness I think I died and went to heaven! Definitely works by subbing nut butters for oil 🙂 soooo good
I am a very healthy eater.. So I’ve gotten pretty used to desserts that aren’t super sweet. I thought that these were really good. But I tried to fool my dad and brother into thinking these were not healthy-ish. Didn’t work, not for a second. My dad said that the chocolate was to dark and they weren’t sweet enough. My brother just said “they’re not good.” I used 80% cacao chocolate chips so that could possibly be the reasoning for them disliking it. If you are trying to fool a non healthy eater, use milk chocolate and I’d say use 3/4-1 cup agave (or just whatever sweetener you use). I also did some math about the nutritional information, and these are not like.. Super low cal or something. They’re is approximately 330 calories in 1 brownie ( a ninth of the whole batch). THATS A LOT OF CALORIES, like more than a normal brownie. So yeah the ingredients are healthier, but they are not “lighter” per say.
Fooled my kids – they gobbled them up. I found that after one brownie, I was surprisingly satisfied. Normally any kind of yummy dessert leaves me wanting more, but this was just perfect. A couple of the adults (and myself included) felt the beans gave a richness that was similar in taste to coffee. SO good.
When the brownies were fresh from the oven, I sprinkled another handful of chocolate chips on top. When they were slightly melted, I took a knife and spread the chocolate over the top. Then I made a homemade whipped cream and served it next to the brownie. Scrumptious. 5 stars. I still have ingredients so I’m whipping up a new batch.
Black Bean Brownies a success!
thank you Katie
I finally took the plunge and made these bad boys after months of thinking about it. They are delicious. The texture was fudgey (without falling apart) and the flavour is great. I agree the chocolate chips are not optional and provide that extra chocolate kick. Black bean undetectable. I think coconut oil adds a nice touch to it.
I might add that I eat all food indiscriminately – from devilish filth to the cleanest of clean – I just like food that tastes good. And this tastes good, doesn’t taste like diet food in the slightest.
Thanks for working on and sharing this recipe!
I am a complete baking novice. These are my first ever brownies of any kind to prepare. The recipe yields incredibly rich brownies.
Recipe is delicious, but let’s not fool ourselves. Sugar is sugar, and between the maple syrup and all those chocolate chips, we aren’t exactly eating “healthy” by having these. If you have 2 or 3 (and who can just have one?!?!) you are definitely going above the recommended daily amount of sugar to have in a day.
Ok!…so i never usually comment on recipes but this one just blew me away! I have made them twice already and just about to make them for the third time! Usually desserts spike ur sugar and make u crave more stuff in a while but not these! full of fiber, protein and nutrition!…I do not like anything else chocolate now!…absolutely guilt free..absolutely gorgeos! Much love from the biggest fan of this recipe xoxo
WHAT!? THEY TASTE AND EVEN LOOK EXACTLY (!!!!) LIKE NORMAL BROWNIES!
I CANT BELIEVE WHAT MY TASTE BUDS ARE TELLING ME ! THEY ARE SO MOIST ! I owe you forever Katie, thanks so much xxo
Delicious! And so easy to make.
WOW! I have just discovered your blog, and I’m glad I did. These brownies are out of this world. My boyfriend, who hates chocolate typically, LOVED these. I am super impressed, these are a real winner! Thank you! 😀
I just made these, and they are one of my favourite brownie recipes so far— “normal” brownie recipes included! The only substitution I made was that I used rolled oats instead of instant oats and I added a handful of walnuts. They had the perfect sweetness, consistency and flavour. And, boy, are they filling! I think next time I will omit the walnuts (they get in the way of the fudginess) and I will replace half the chocolate chips with Stevia-sweetened chocolate chips. This was a very impressive recipe. It is for sure a keeper!
HI Katie, I made your brownies for an office party last year and they were a hit! No one ever knew that they were black beans. This year I have met a wonderful family and their son has severe allergies to dairy, wheat, nuts..It is so bad that they make frequent trips to the ER for this little guy. However, it is crushing to see the disappointment in his face when he can not have sweet treats that other kids can. So I am on a mission to find a great recipe for him. In your comments you say to not omit the chocolate chips…do you think the vegan chips would work?
I am actually a vegan and only use vegan chocolate chips… so yes, they will definitely work 🙂
I made these for a party and they were very good. I did make some changes to make them sugar free. I used 1/2 c applesauce and I think 1/3 cup Swerve brand stevia blend as apple sauce is not as sweet as maple syrup. I also reduced the oil to 2 tbsp just because I was concerned about too much liquid. After I was finished making the batter I realized I was out of Chocolate chips. So I baked them anyway and made your frosting you use on the zucchini brownies on top. I kept them in the fridge. which firmed up the brownies but made the frosting hard. When I tried to cut the frosting kind of broke in pieces. It was very rich, next time I will add less sweetener. When they sat out for awhile, they started getting soft. Not sure which ingredient to adjust to make them firmer. I will make them again, the taste was great.
My family really enjoyed these brownies, even after I later told them the secret ingredient was black beans! I’ve made them 3 times already. I used really good cocoa, so if you are not a fan of a wonderful, rich chocolate taste, then stay away! I am watching my sugar intake, yet I noticed you did not include sugar in your nutritional information. If you can let me know the sugar details, I’d much appreciate it! Thanks!