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. Do you melt the coconut oil before or after you measure the 1/3 cup? These sound great-can’t wait to try them!

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve baked bean brownies before and liked them but this recipe is MUCH better. I did use brown sugar because I did not have the coconut sugar. As for the chips, I ground them up for extra ‘fudginess’. LOL. My only change would be the coconut oil. I didn’t care for the background taste of the coconut. I will however, be making my 3rd batch soon. ( I doubled the recipe this first time 😄 )

    1. I just ate some of these tonight! You could always substitute butter or ghee for the coconut oil if you don’t love it!

  3. I’m really looking forward to trying these as well! The pictures just make them irresistible! Thank you for posting. I’m so curious, what ARE your top 3 desserts on your site??

  4. So excited to make these. I made another black bean brownie recipe this week, but whenever I see you make these on your stories I want to make them; and the video is so well done. IT’s cool how God made beans and enabled us to discover that they make delicious brownies; who would’ve thought? I’m hoping to make these on Monday!!!! Thank you Laura for sharing these tried and true recipes. 🙂

    1. 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!

  5. 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!!

    1. 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….) 😉

  6. 5 stars
    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

    1. 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.

  7. 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!