Black Bean Brownies

The Healthiest Brownies You Will Ever Eat

I love brownies. I’m calling these “The healthiest brownies you will ever eat” because that’s what I like to say when I make them for gatherings. At my previous job, I was known as the “healthy dessert lady”. I made black bean brownies for all the potlucks. Everyone was so surprised that they couldn’t even imagine there were beans in there. Well, the recipe I used wasn’t exactly the healthiest, it still has refined sugar, so I made some adjustments to make the healthiest black bean brownie.

I think people expect a brownie to be a certain way, even when it’s made with other ingredients. It won’t be the same. I want to say upfront don’t expect these black bean brownies to taste like the average fluffy brownie. They are more like a chewy brownie bar. Accept it and love it. 

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Black Bean Brownies

These black bean brownies may even be healthier than the average snack. It’s all about adding a bunch of nutritious things together. We don’t want any emptiness when we consume food. 

The idea is that we skip the flour and sugar and add something more nutritious that will fill us up. 

Black Bean Brownies

Oats and black beans instead of flour

Flour is refined and processed so much, that all the nutrients are taken out and possible put back in, but our body cannot figure out how to take in those nutrients. It is also hard on our digestive systems to eat a lot of flour products. A small amount of oats provides more nutrition and fiber, yet can still be tricky for some. Use gluten-free oats if you need or try another drying flour. Black beans also contribute to the texture of the brownies and dry up the batter. Black beans have fiber and many vitamins including thiamine, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese and the list goes on. Check out Dr. Axe for more.

 

Coconut oil instead of vegetable oil

Coconut oil has nutritional benefits, which I have talked about many times before. Vegetable oils have no nutritional value and are overly processed. They have no use in our body, except to cause inflammation. Read more about the best fats for cooking here.

Black Bean Brownies

Maple syrup instead of sugar

Maple syrup is a real food sweetener. We should always use sweeteners in moderation (like everything else, really) but maple syrup is a better choice because it is just straight up from a tree and boiled down. Is that how it’s made? It seems we can use less, yet still get the sweet flavor. Regular white sugar is refined many times.

Chia seed “eggs”

There’s a few more substitutions like chia seed eggs for eggs. I think eggs are super nutritious, but I decided to make the brownies with chia seeds to better suit other’s needs. Chia seeds are very nutritious as well. It’s really cool how they can make a product stick together just as well. Find more benefits of chia seeds on my banana coconut chia cookies post. 

1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water = 1 egg

 

Black Bean Brownies

Check out my cacao date bars for another “brownie” raw treat!


Fresh Flavors: Make the healthiest black bean brownies and they may just be healthier than your average snack.


 

Black Bean Brownies

Black Bean Brownies

These black bean brownies will satisfy your chocolate craving without unhealthy side effects.
Course Desserts, Snacks
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can black beans or 1 1/2 cups
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup oats *gluten free if needed
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 6 tbsp water

Instructions
 

Make chia "eggs"

  • Combine 2 tbsp chia seeds with 6 tbsp water and let sit for about 5 minutes

Make brownies

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add all ingredients plus the chia eggs to a food processor and process until combined. It will be slightly thicker but don't worry. Scoop all batter into an 8x8 pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 25-30 minutes.
  • Let the brownies sit for 10 minutes or so before you take them out. Let cool. Cut into 16 squares and enjoy!

Notes

I haven't tried using eggs with this recipe. You could try another drying agent other than oats if you can't do those well.  
Let's get healthy together!

29 Comments

  • Swayam Tiwari

    August 1, 2017

    I did not know about maple syrup until now when you wrote about it here. Which tree is it extracted from? Likewise, I did not know about the Chia seeds as well. Sugar indeed is not healthy for our body but we get this substance from various other sources as well. There is a lot of sugar in many sugary substances like cereals, flour etc. so watch out.

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      August 1, 2017

      I totally agree. Any packaged food probably has sugar. Maple syrup comes from maple trees. There’s different kinds but they are just maple.

      Reply
  • Ginger

    July 31, 2017

    These sound so yummy! I love using chia seeds instead of eggs. Flax seeds would probably work well too. 🙂

    Reply
  • This looks like like a fun twist on brownies! Black bean sounds so interesting

    Reply
  • Kim

    July 26, 2017

    Wow…lots of healthy ingredients!!! I LOVE brownies.

    Reply
  • Emily

    July 26, 2017

    I LOVE black bean brownies! Good recipe to share 🙂

    Reply
  • You had me at “brownie”. Ok, A healthy brownie, now that is an idea I can get behind. Plus it uses chia seeds? Bonus!

    Reply
  • moumita

    July 19, 2017

    I do not know how will it taste but surely its a healthy alternative to the regular brownies. Am gonna follow your steps

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      July 19, 2017

      It will taste good, but not like a traditional brownie. Sounds great!

      Reply
  • dre

    July 19, 2017

    Black bean brownies looks and sounds so yummy I think I’m going to give it a try

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      July 19, 2017

      Great! Let me know how they turn out for you.

      Reply
  • This is so cool! I always wanted to try these kind of brownies

    Reply
  • Chester

    July 18, 2017

    Thanks for sharing Mindy. Appreciate the alternative ‘healthier’ recipe options, will try this with the family and share on a future post. Blessings to you and yours.

    Reply
  • Stephanie Lane

    July 18, 2017

    These look sooooo good. I have a GF who makes a similar version, but these’s look divine.

    Reply
  • Abby

    July 18, 2017

    That looks so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe yum! I would never think of trying black bean!

    Reply
  • Bailey

    July 18, 2017

    Chia seeds are the best. I’m amazed at how versatile they are.

    Reply
  • LaNeshe

    July 17, 2017

    I made a black bean chocolate cake once that was great. I need to try another recipe!

    Reply
  • Erica

    July 17, 2017

    I’m going to make these this weekend! Hoping my kids will like them as much as sugary brownies!

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      July 17, 2017

      Awesome! I hope they do. Just don’t fill them in on the black bean secret!

      Reply
  • These sound so yummy and healthy! I’ve never tried black beans in backing before, how crazy is that?! I really want to try them after seeing this recipe!

    Reply
  • Ada

    July 17, 2017

    Such a nice and healthy recepie! I love trying to bake healthy desserts! I have to try it and trick my husband one day. He’s such a brownie lover. And if he won’t like them i am just gonna quote you ” Accept it and love it. ” haha as that’s what you getting from now ?

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      July 17, 2017

      Haha! Love it. My husband prefers the fluffy traditional brownie too but I said the same thing! That’s why I had to put that in there.

      Reply
  • They look super chocolatey and yum – my husband sadly forbids me from putting black beans in brownies if I make any for him, but I personally think they’re awesome

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      July 17, 2017

      I guess that means more for you! 😉

      Reply
  • Sian

    July 14, 2017

    I just made these as your pic of them popped up in my Instagram feed yesterday. Honestly, they are delicious. It’s the first time I’ve cooked with black beans for a non-savoury recipe. Very impressed. Have pinned on Pinterest so I don’t lose your recipe! Thanks for posting

    Reply
    • Mindy Voet

      July 14, 2017

      Thank you so much 🙂 Honestly when I post a recipe I’m so nervous that it won’t work for someone else. I’m glad to hear that it did!

      Reply

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