These Fudgy Black Bean Brownies are flourless, chocolate-y and a healthy way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
You knew this was coming—a Valentine’s Day roundup! While Miguel and I will probably go out to dinner either tomorrow or Thursday to avoid the restaurant wait time, coming home and enjoying desserts sounds like a really good idea. Don’t you agree? Whether you’re looking for a dessert for THE holiday or just for the days leading up to it, we’ve got you covered.
Neapolitan Coconut Butter Cups by Fit Mitten Kitchen
A layered mix of coconut butter in the classic ice cream flavor, these Vegan Neapolitan Coconut Butter Cups are a healthier way to indulge for Valentine’s Day
Cookie Dusted Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries by rachLmansfield
Gluten free Cookie Dusted Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries, the perfect indulgent yet healthy treat!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies by The Balanced Berry
Gluten free peanut butter cookies with a kiss of jam right in the middle. Only requires six ingredients, and comes together in one bowl!
Vegan Chocolate Truffles by In It 4 the Long Run
Celebrate Valentine’s Day right with these scrumptious vegan chocolate truffles that will melt in your mouth.
Mini Guava Cheesecake Cups by The Blissful Balance
Light and creamy cheesecake atop a crunchy graham cracker crust topped with sweet guava jam for a bite full of flavor.
Ok real talk, I’m not even going to pretend like Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday, because it’s not. Not even top 3 (top 3: Christmas, New Years and my birthday which totally counts). I know, what a scrooge. WITH THAT SAID, I’m always down for dessert, and I’m pretty certain Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to eat CHOCOLATE. Lots and lots of chocolate. I can get on board with that, especially if the chocolate is a bit healthier. Yes, healthy desserts can still be indulgent (as you can see from the list above), and these fudgy black bean brownies are just that.
I’d seen black bean brownies/cookies before but never made them myself. People say “oh you can’t taste the beans at all”… and they are CORRECT. I thought about making these brownies vegan but then decided to use regular eggs instead. If you DO want to make them vegan, you can sub out the eggs for flax eggs instead. Otherwise, the ingredient list is pretty minimal—beans, oil, eggs, vanilla, sugar, syrup, cacao, salt, and baking powder—and all ingredients you most likely already have. SUCH a bonus in my opinion.
Sooo I’m guessing you know what to do—let’s get baking! (even if it’s just for yourself :D)
PrintFudgy Black Bean Brownies
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 9 brownies
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2-4 tbsp chocolate chips, depending on preference
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Place beans in food processor and pulse; add coconut oil, eggs, syrup, and vanilla and pulse to mix together.
- Add in sugar, cacao, baking powder, and salt and pulse to combine. Remove blade from food processor and stir in chocolate chips by hand.
- Coat a 8×8 baking pan with coconut oil and then pour batter into pan, using a spatula to smooth and even it out.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges have hardened. Allow AT LEAST 20 minutes for brownies to cool before cutting and removing from pan.
- Enjoy!
Q: What is your favorite holiday?
Should the beans be drained/rinsed or undrained? The recipe doesn’t specify. Thanks!
Yes, drained and rinsed, thanks for asking!
Hi Erin, do you have to use coconut oil or can you use any oil?
Hi Elaine, I’ve never tried this recipe without coconut oil, but you could try using melted butter instead. Let me know if you try it/how it turns out!
Thanks for the reply. I wouldn’t try it with butter. I would rather use coconut oil. I’ve never used coconut oil but in the stores it looks sort of solid. Is that the case and is that what the recipe needs? A solid fat? There is an orange infused olive oil that is supposedly great in making brownies and I was thinking I’d like to try it but it sounds like that wouldn’t work for this 🙁
This worked well! For us, it was more of a cake-y brownie, but sooo yummy! I think we did less sugar and only 1 TBSP of honey instead of 2 TBSPs maple syrup.
Thank you!
★★★★★
I just finished baking this. I wanted to try it out for a birthday cake alternative for a gluten and dairy free guest. With that said, I used sweetened coconut flakes and because I only had agave I used that too instead of maple syrup. This brownie is moist but not wet or sticky. It has a moist cake consistency. I used a counter top toaster oven and baked at on convection oven mode for 25 minutes at 350. I took it out of the oven right away to cool. It was perfectly cooked. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is gone before it is even completely cooled. Yes, that good! Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Hi Joan, thanks so much for the feedback and for the substitution into–always good to know. I’m glad you enjoyed them!
I put beans in blondies a couple of weeks ago, and I loved them. SOOOOO I’m SURE I’d like these black bean brownies!!
Jess @hellotofit recently posted…6 Oat Recipes for Heart Health
I think I finally need to get over my fear of black beans in brownies and give these a try. They just look so delicious!
Heather @Fit n Cookies recently posted…When you wish a baby could talk
THOOOOOSEEEE BROWNIESSSSS! GIMMEEE!
Rachel @LittleChefBigAppetite recently posted…Dark Chocolate Meringue Cookies
Oh yes, Valentine’s Day is all about the dessert! I’d be more than happy to come home to any of these. Your brownies look extra delicious! I’ve never had black bean brownies before but I need to give these a try. That ingredient list is crazy simple!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health recently posted…Vegan Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
These look so fudgy and perfect! I can imagine it being kind of a pain to go out on THE day. My last V-day with a dude was spent eating pizza sooo clearly I don’t take this holiday toooo seriously
Georgie recently posted…4-Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Truffles
Coming home to dessert is ALWAYS a good idea 😉 These look absolutely to die for, Erin! You may make a bean brownie believer out of me!
Alexa [fooduzzi.com] recently posted…Healthy Peanut Butter Hearts + 4 Awesome Vegan Valentine’s Day Recipes
i made black bean brownies ONCE and they were great, but after seeing this i’m convinced to make em again! plus the recipe is sooo straight forward, how could i not?!
Beverley @ sweaty&fit recently posted…Valentines Day Tight Core Challenge
BLACK BEAN BROWNIES FTW. I love tricking people with bean brownies.
I’m hoping for dinner at my favorite little restaurant this weekend. Or maybe BRUNCH. Hmmm, we haven’t had brunch in a while. That might have to happen.
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen recently posted…Vegan Neapolitan Coconut Butter Cups [ + 5 more Valentine’s Day Desserts to Share! ]
I’m pretty indifferent toward Valentine’s Day, whether I’m in a relationship or not. That said, I’m not indifferent to delicious dessert – especially when chocolate is involved! These look fantastic, Erin 🙂
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Donuts
Nom nom! These are all making me so hungry ♥
summerdaisy.net
Summer recently posted…Delightful Brownies
Black bean brownies are the BEST!! I actually prefer them to regular brownies because they are so dense and fudgy. I’m obsessed with this recipe from SkinnyTaste.com where she uses ground coffee in them too.
Diana recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday
Those brownies thoughhhh! My goodness that photo makes me want to eat my screen! Looks SO YUMMY
xo,
Sarah Grace
THESE!!!! So NOM. I love a super chocolatey, super moist brownie. This is totally calling my name!
I’ve never had black bean brownies, but it’s definitely on my recipe to-do list! I’m relieved to hear they don’t taste bean-y thought.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…WIAW…Sometimes You Have to Have Faith & Chopsticks
Totally with you on the Valentine’s Day thing! We don’t really celebrate it (at all, actually) but I WILL take any excuse to eat some extra chocolate 😀 I’ve never had black bean brownies either, but I’m thinking that needs to change ASAP. These look INCREDIBLE, Erin!
Leah @ Grain Changer recently posted…Raspberry Bark
We don’t typically do a whole lot for VDay! In fact, the only idea I came up with was getting donuts. LOL. I think we’ll do a movie! My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving! Lots of food, family and football 🙂
These look like such fudgy goodness! I have never tried black beans in brownies either, but I neeeeeed to try these! As far as favorite holidays go, Christmas takes the cake, hands down. I mean, it’s not just a day…its a whole season. While I love V-Day (really I just like pink and hearts), it ain’t got nothing on Christmas.
Les @ The Balanced Berry recently posted…Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies + 5 more Valentine’s Day Desserts to Share!
I love Valentine’s Day! It’s one of my absolute faves- chocolate, hugs, love- what more could you want?
Now I’ve been burned by the black bean brownies before because yes, I could totally taste them, but these look really good so maybe the ones I made were just a bad recipe. I do know Riley will likely expect me to bake him something chocolatey this weekend!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food recently posted…How to eat your feelings {WIAW}
Oh no! I hope it was just a bad recipe. Definitely worth a second try in my opinion 😉
These look so dense and moist that it’s unbelievable! There no better way to celebrate love than topping one of these with some vanilla ice cream and strawberries <3
rachel @ athletic avocado recently posted…No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with Coconut Glaze {Gluten-Free + Vegan!}
Black bean brownies are da best! Who knew beans could make such an awesome treat?
Rachel @ athletic avocado recently posted…No-Bake Pecan Fig Granola Bars with Coconut Glaze {Gluten-Free + Vegan!}
Right?! I seriously had no idea but they work so well in brownies!
Haha I’m kinda with ya on Valentine’s Day. When I was in college and a touch less mature (because I’m just so mature now *hair flip*) I thought it was fun because Christian would do something sweet or whatever, now we live long distance and we’re both so busy that just seeing each other is enough! I love black bean brownies. The first time I made them I was a little scared, and they turned out so effing good. I even gave them to my dad, and he loved them, until I told him what they were made of, then he freaked out lolol
Christina recently posted…Guava Cheesecake Cups + 5 More Valentine’s Day Desserts to Share!
You crack me upppppp. I’m SoOoOo mature too… and glad bean brownies are dad-approved!