Sometimes I count dessert as part of my meal. Seriously. I plan how much I will consume based on the amount of dessert I feel like eating. That’s why I focus on making healthy sweets! They taste amazing and are packed with nutrients! Enter these black bean brownies.
Last night I had these for dinner (with some roasted veggies). Topped with a dollop of almond butter, I got a healthy dose of protein while thoroughly enjoying myself. I thought I would share this recipe with you before Valentine’s Day. Because I love them. And you will love them too. And Valentine’s Day is all about love.
On the topic of love…about two years ago we moved from Chicago, where we were born and raised, to Utah. We left everyone we love (I mean, my entire family). It has been a rough transition for me especially with three little ones. I don’t make friends easily…I’m an introverted homeschooler with kids who take naps. Enough said. However, I managed to make a friend (yay) and we totally get each other. Like, totally. She gave me the original recipe for these brownies (see what I mean? She rocks), and I tweaked them just a bit to create the best black bean brownies I have ever had.
I also love my Vitamix. (I just taught autocorrect that word. I obsessively wax on about my blender not a vitamin thankyouverymuch). It can take unusual ingredients and turn them into something beautiful.
Like a can of beans mixed with other things…into this….(sigh).
I love that these brownies are dairy-free, gluten-free and refined sugar free! I get a delicious dessert without wreaking havoc on my digestive system! Win win.
These are the only black bean brownies I have ever made that taste good directly out of the oven (and I’ve tried tons). They are fudgy (is there any other kind of brownie?), chocolatey and delicious! I store them in the refrigerator and just warm them in the microwave for about 10 seconds to restore the fresh-from-the-oven taste!
Bet you can’t eat just one…
Ingredients
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained, and rinsed
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup chocolate chips, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8" baking pan and set aside.
- Put beans, coconut oil, coconut sugar and honey into a blender (Vitamix) or food processor. Blend until well combined.
- Add cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and vanilla. Blend until smooth.
- Add in eggs and blend until just combined.
- Mix in ½ cup chocolate chips by hand.
- Pour into greased 8×8-inch pan and top with remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is set and brownies are just barely pulling away from the sides.
- Let cool, cut and ENJOY!
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat for 15 seconds in the microwave to restore the fresh-from the oven gooeyness.
Notes
If your oven cooks hot please check these at 25 minutes. If you want gooey fudgey brownies you cannot over bake them!
Here is a recipe for a vegan peanut butter frosting that makes these even more incredible.
What is your favorite dessert? What are you making for Valentine’s Day?
If you make something from JoyFoodSunshine I would love to see your creations! #joyfoodsunshine
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These look fantastic! Can’t wait to try them 🙂
Michelle recently posted…Spectacular Homemade Salsa!
Can we use regular demon sugar in same amount rather than coconut sugar? And does it really taste like real brownie, not something folks fool themselves into thinking is delish but isn’t (like turkey bacon)?
First, I love you. Second, you can use any granulated sugar or just use 2/3 cup honey! You should try coconut sugar though it’s awesome! 😉 I’ll be honest…it tastes amazing but not like brownies that call for 12 TBS butter and 1 1/2 cups of sugar (no explanation needed there). However they are far closer than turkey bacon is to regular bacon. I do have a paleo brownie recipe I’ll post in a couple weeks but can send you via e-mail that really does taste like the real thing but it’s healthy. These are still my favorite though, I just really enjoy eating them! 😉
OK, I may try it. Do I get the coconut sugar at Trader Joe’s if I decide to go crazy for health?
Yes, I think you can get it at Trader Joe’s! You can find it at almost any store in the baking aisles! I order mine through amazon subscribe and save. 😉
Hahaha! Thanks for asking this question, I will be trying to make these with demon sugar myself!
Delicious! I love black bean brownies! Pinned to try later. 🙂
Yay! Thanks Raia! Let me know if you give them a try! 🙂
This is such a great alternative! I love the idea. Pinned!
Lela recently posted…Inspiration Thursday #25
Thanks so much Lela! Check back in if you try them! 🙂
I’ve heard that black bean brownies taste wonderful. Can’t wait to make them.
I really love them! Let me know how they turn out! 🙂
They look so decadent, but the fact that they’re guilt free & you can eat them for dinner makes them even more enticing. Thanks so much for sharing these with us on #SHINEbloghop. It was lovely of you to join us this week.
Thank you for hosting! 🙂 <3 Everyone should have chocolate for dinner...sometimes... 😉
These sound yummy! I’ll have to give them a try. Thank you for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
Your Black Bean Brownies look amazing! Hope you have a very special Valentine Day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Wow! I am intrigued! I will HAVE to try these!!! Thanks so much!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
These look awesome!! I just had brownies………..before dinner! HAHA Thanks for linking up with us! Please come back next week! #BloggersSpotlight
Dessert before dinner…always a good idea! 🙂
This is awesome! I think we will have to give these brownies a try. Thanks for sharing with us at MMBH.
XOXO
I shared these on twitter and they were a big hit! I am not at all surprised though because they look delicious! I love the idea of the black beans too, I had never considered adding them to sweet recipes!
Charlotte recently posted…Valentine’s #YumTum (5) – 11/02/2016
Thanks so much Charlotte! 🙂 I LOVE using beans in desserts! It seems unusual but tastes amazing!
OMG! These look to die for! They look like they have the perfect texture. I cannot have dairy, so these would be perfect. I’ve thought about purchasing a new blender, so I will have to look into the Vitamix. I love the idea behind your blog. Also, my friend and fellow blogger are hosing a link up on Mondays if you are interested.
Tori
http://www.thesweetlifediaryofahealthnut.blogspot.com
Thanks so much Tori! I totally understand not being able to eat dairy! :*( I am seriously in love with my Vitamix! I could talk about it all day if you have any questions! (I’m not endorsed by them and don’t get any money for saying so either…I just LOVE mine so much)! I use it multiple times a day for so many things.
Wow! Not only are your photos amazing but these BROWNIES! I’m sort of afraid to make them because I dont know if I could be trusted around them. Pinning for later!!
Thank you so much Katie!! That’s the great thing about them….they’re super healthy so there’s no need feeling bad about eating half the pan in one sitting! (Not saying I do that or anything….) 😉
Hi I love this idea !!! I was wondering though how much calories would each brownie have ?
Hey Carolina! I don’t calculate the number of calories in a serving, but you can use a site like this and enter the ingredients to determine that information!