Black Bean Brownie Recipe You Won't Want to Throw Away

Black bean brownies are not everyones favorite dessert. I get it, and I'm not here to convince you that they are better than traditional brownies. I think both have their place! But there are a 3 notable differences that might make black bean "brownies" more appealing to some:

1. Black Beans Are Nutrient Dense

There's no denying that a recipe rich in legumes is more nutritious than a recipe with refined flour, sugar, and oil. Legumes are rich in fiber (something we in the US generally don't get enough of) they are also a great source of protein ~15 grams per cup! They are a great source of Iron, Manganese, and Magnesium too.

Although I will say that eggs, an ingredient in brownies, are pretty dang nutritious too. But when you add in the extra oil and sugar that's when traditional brownies get more calories but no nutrients.

2. Black Bean "Brownies" are Plant Based

It's getting more apparent through research studies that plant based diets are very conducive to a healthy diet. Now Black Bean "Brownies" still have their added sugar and oil but in general the batter is mostly black beans which have a great nutritional profile (as mentioned above).

3. Vegan Recipes Might be Less Expensive

Check out your grocery bill. What are the most expensive items? The animal products and the convenience items. Canned black beans are cheap. Maple syrup can be affordable, assuming you're not getting a fancy shmancy maple syrup. Coconut oil is more expensive than other oils, but not all black bean "brownie" recipes require coconut oil. The one I used does, but mentions canola oil can be used instead.

No matter what your reasons, baking black bean "brownies" can be a good chocolate-y fix. Personally, I like them! Maybe it's because I'm not expecting them to be exactly like a traditional brownie? Or maybe it's because over the years my palette has become more sensitive to sweets and so I prefer dessert-y items that are less sweet.

So here is the recipe that I used. It's from the Gatheredtable which is the meal planning service I now provide! (Read more info about that here!).

Credit to Gatheredtable & Chocolate Covered Katie for this recipe!

Black Beans Make Them Better Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) canned black beans

• 2 tablespoon cocoa powder

• 1/2 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

Prep: 1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x9 pan (or a large loaf pan and slightly increase cooking time). 2. Drain and rinse beans well. 3. Gently melt coconut oil in the microwave. Make: 1. Combine all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a food processor and process until completely blended. 2. Mix in the chocolate chips. 3. Pour batter into greased pan and bake for 17-20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

#recipes #brownies #beans #mealplan