Healthy Black Bean Brownies

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These black bean brownies are an easy, healthy dessert made with 9 ingredients in 30 minutes and are delicious straight from the oven. This is the best black bean brownies recipe and it’s gluten-free, dairy-free and has no refined sugar.

a stack of 3 black bean brownies with melty chocolate chips


I enjoy dessert so much that I eat it every night – which is why I like to create healthier recipes, like these Black Bean Brownies! Dessert doesn’t have to derail your healthy eating habits, with this black bean brownie recipe it can be part of your daily routine – because what good is a day without chocolate?

Topped with this Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting, these black bean brownies are one of favorite desserts. They are loaded with protein and fiber and are gluten & dairy-free! So you can feel good about enjoying a little chocolatey treat.

These are the only black bean brownies I have ever made that taste good directly out of the oven, and I’ve made my fair share over the years. I still like to let them cool a little bit so they retain their shape better. But if patience around brownies isn’t your forte, feel free to dig right in.

overhead view of 6 Black Bean Brownies

Black Bean Brownies: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Black Bean Brownies recipe
  • Coconut oil. Melted butter (highly recommended) or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil.
  • Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works well in place of coconut sugar. Or you can replace the granulated sugar with additional honey.
  • Honey. Maple syrup is a good substitute for honey.
  • Chocolate chips. Use your favorite mix-ins. Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, etc.

Room Temperature Ingredients

Make sure that your ingredients are room temperature before adding them into the Vitamix (or another high-powered blender).

Rinse the beans with warm water, not cold.

Melt the coconut oil before adding it to the blending container.

This will ensure that your mixture blends easily and becomes silky smooth.

a stack of 3 Black Bean Brownies, the top one has a bite taken out of it

How to make Black Bean Brownies

This recipe is very easy to make, simply put the ingredients into the container of a blender and blend until smooth, then bake. Don’t forget to watch the video, and follow the step-by-step instructions.

Begin by greasing an 8×8″ baking pan, then set it aside. I suggest a ceramic or glass baking dish for the best results. If you use a 9×9″ baking pan, reduce baking time by 3-5 minutes.

a greased, white 8x8" pan

Next, blend the black beans, coconut oil, honey and coconut sugar together until well-mixed.

two photos showing how to make black bean brownies - blending in a vitamix

Then, add the cocoa powder, vanilla, baking powder and sea salt and blend until combined.

two photos showing how to make black bean brownies - blending in a vitamix

Next, add the eggs and blend until the mixture is completely smooth.

two photos showing how to make black bean brownies - blending in a vitamix

Finally, stir in the chocolate chips by hand. I have also used pieces of chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, etc, and pulsed carefully to break them up in the batter.

Don’t over-blend. If you blend the mixture for too long it will start to get very warm. This becomes problematic when the chocolate chips melt when they’re added to a warm batter. Blend just until the mixture in homogenous {the same throughout} and smooth.

two photos showing how to make black bean brownies - adding chocolate chips

Then, pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread until the top is smooth.

two photos showing pouring the black bean brownies batter into a baking dish

If desired, top the black bean brownies with extra chocolate chips, then bake until the top and edges are just set (about 25 minutes).

two photos showing black bean brownies in a baking dish before and after baking

Remove the black bean brownies from the oven and let them cool completely in the baking dish. Then, cut them into squares and serve.

Serve

These black bean brownies taste amazing on their own. If desired, here are some serving suggestions:

up close photo of Black Bean Brownies cut into 9 squares

Store/Freeze

Store black bean brownies in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Warm them in the microwave for about 10 seconds to restore the fresh-from-the-oven taste!

a stack of 3 Black Bean Brownies , top one has a bite taken out of it

Recipe FAQS

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13″ pan.

Can I use a different kind of beans?

The only other bean I have tried to use in this recipe is great northern beans, and while it tasted good I far prefer black beans. I don’t suggest making substitutions for them. If you want to bake with chickpeas, try these healthy chickpea blondies.

Are black bean brownies good for you?

They are still a treat, but they are made with nutritious ingredients and lower in calories than other baked goods.

a Black Bean Brownie surrounded by other Black Bean Brownies

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Healthy Black Bean Brownies Recipe

Laura
These black bean brownies are an easy, healthy dessert made with 9 ingredients in 30 minutes and are delicious straight from the oven. This is the best black bean brownies recipe, and they are gluten-free & dairy-free with no refined sugar.
5 from 140 votes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 brownies
Calories 198
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8″ baking pan and set aside.
  • Put beans, coconut oil, coconut sugar and honey into the container of your (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 20-25 minutes or until the top is set and brownies are just barely pulling away from the sides.
  • Let cool, cut and enjoy!

Video

Notes

If your oven cooks hot please check these at 20 minutes. If you want gooey fudgey brownies you cannot over bake them!
Ingredient Substitutions
  • Coconut oil. Melted butter or ghee are great substitutions. 
  • Coconut sugar. Any granulated sugar works well, or you can replace it with additional honey. 
  • Honey. Maple syrup or agave are good substitutes. 
  • Chocolate chips. Use your favorite mix-ins. Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, etc.
Store/freeze
Store these black bean brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4.3g | Fat: 11.2g | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 146.8mg | Fiber: 3.1g | Sugar: 14.5g | Iron: 1.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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156 Comments

  1. These look awesome!! I just had brownies………..before dinner! HAHA Thanks for linking up with us! Please come back next week! #BloggersSpotlight

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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)?

    1. 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! 😉

      1. OK, I may try it. Do I get the coconut sugar at Trader Joe’s if I decide to go crazy for health?

      2. 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. 😉

    2. Hey Meg! Yikes draining the beans is a must for flavor and texture! I totally get the whole distracted in the kitchen thing though…I often have at least one kid clinging to my leg as I bake! LOL!