You don’t like beans? Just eat brownies! Sounds crazy? It actually isn’t!! When I first heard of black bean brownies, I wasn’t exactly eager to try them and just couldn’t believe that they could be used to make delicious chocolate brownies. But as I started baking with zucchini a couple of weeks ago and really loved it (check out my zucchini carrot muffins), I thought “what the heck why not just give it a try”? And so I ended up with these vegan black bean brownies, which totally blew my mind! And I didn’t even stopped with brownies, I also tried vegan donuts with beans, which also turned out great.
They’re not only super delicious but also really fudgy and chocolatey. Plus the recipe really couldn’t be easier! All you need is a food processor or blender, an oven, and a handful of ingredients such as brown beans, cacao, and vegan chocolate chips. I’m sure people would never guess that these brownies contain black beans instead of flour. They exactly look, smell, and taste like normal brownies. Isn’t this just crazy?!
They’re also great for people who suffer from gluten sensitivity and those who like to avoid flour in general. I added a handful of walnuts, but I’m sure they’re also great with hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, or peanut butter. Make sure to let them cool down a bit before you cut them in pieces.
I hope you all have a great start into the week! As always, I love hearing from you guys! :-)
PS: Flo is so proud of his first (hand) modeling job! :D How could a job that includes holding vegan black bean brownies and eating them afterwards get any better?!
Vegan Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 15 oz cans black beans (~3 cups)
- 4 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 8 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup agave
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons almond milk
- 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (180 °C).
- Thoroughly rinse and drain the black beans. Grind the flax seeds in a food processor or use store-bought ground flax seeds. Whisk them together with 8 tablespoons of water and set aside to thicken for about 2 minutes.. Then make the batter: Combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips and the walnuts in a food processor and process until smooth (also add the soaked flax seeds).
- Lightly grease a baking tray and pour in the batter. Add the chocolate chips and spread evenly. Sprinkle with the chopped walnuts.
- Bake for about 40 minutes. Allow the brownies to cool down before you cut them into pieces.
I love black bean brownies! They’re always so moist and delicious. These look amazing Sina! I definitely need to try this recipe :)
Thanks, Harriet! :-) I can’t believe I waited this long to try black bean brownies. They’re so yummy!
These brownies look so chocolatey and delicious, Sina! I’ve always wanted to try black bean brownies and yours sound perfect!
Thanks, Kelly! You really should give black bean brownies a try! They’re so delicious and moist; I’m sure you’ll love them. I can’t believe I waited this long to try them! :-)
I’m actually annoyed with myself for never actually making black bean brownies!! They are so good and soft and moist and perfect!
Haha! I totally know what you mean, Rebecca! I took me forever to try raw cheesecake and I totally fell in love with it. And it was the same thing with black bean brownies. But I guess it’s never too late to try something new, isn’t it? :-)
Black bean brownies are so yummy. These look absolutely scrumptious, Sina!
Thanks so much, Melissa! :-)
Oh these look decadent! I need to try asap. I love how healthy they are and how little sugar you used! Great photos too!
Thanks, Chrissa! :-) Let me know how you liked them. ;-)
Sina, you’ve done it again! These look so irresistibly fudgy and decadent. So perfect for a party when you want to feed the good-for-you food.
Thanks, Michaell! :-) I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to try black bean brownies. There sooo delicious, chocolatey, and moist!
these look amazing! I can’t believe they are healthy and have beans in them! and i love the nuts added on top for some crunch! yum!
Thanks, Michele! :-) I know, I can’t believe it either! It’s so crazy that you can make delicious brownies using beans!!
I’ve tried black bean brownies, but never made them myself! These look perfect! Pinned to try them!
Thanks for pinning them, Mira! :-) Let me know how you liked them. ;-)
These sound delicious! I never thought of using beans before.
Thanks, Candia! :-) I’ve wanted to try black bean brownies for such a long time and now I finally did. I can’t believe it took me this long, they’re just so incredibly yummy! :-)
these look so yum.
Thanks, Mandi! :-)
These look soooooooo good!
Thanks, Sophie! :-) So happy to hear that you like them!
Wow! These sound so interesting and look so good! I’ve been doing a little bit of vegan baking recently so will definitely add this to the list!
Thanks, Jenna! I’ve wanted to try them for such a long time and I’m so glad I finally did. They’re so delicious and easy to make! :-)
The vegan blogging world really has given a whole new face to beans…there are so many amazing desserts to be made with them! These look irresistibly chocolatey and rich, and I love the mix-ins! Brownies should be chunky :)
I know, it’s just crazy! I can’t wait to make more bean desserts. :-) Do you have any special recipes for bean desserts that you can recommend, Natalie? I still can’t believe I’ve waited this long to try black bean brownies! So glad I finally gave them a try!
Another great recipe, Sina! I can’t believe that I’ve never actually made black bean brownies before – better late than never and this recipe is the perfect place to start!
Thanks, Sarah! I absolutely agree with you! I’ve wanted to try black bean brownies for such a long time and I’m so glad that I finally did. Let me know how you liked them! :-)
I love black bean brownies! And these look decedent. I love they are so healthy and full of nutty crunch. A big yes to these chocolatey, moist and delicious brownies! Wonderful share, Sina!
Thanks so much, Anu! :-) I totally agree with you; black bean brownies are awesome!
Wow these really do look like heaven!!!
Thanks so much, Gemma! :-) So happy to hear that you like them!
OMG I’m drooling over here!! These look absolutely amazing! So fudgey.. yum!
-Liz
http://www.TheCleanEatingCouple.com
Thanks, Liz! :-) Glad you like them!
Those look delicious!
Thanks so much Haley! :-)
Your pics are amazing. It looks delicious! One day I must try it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! :-) I can’t believe it took me this long to try black bean brownies. They’re so delicious and easy to make!
I thought you were crazy until I read exactly how these were put together. And now, all I can think about are how I can eat as many brownies as I want (maybe) because you have used witchcraft to make them healthy. :)
Haha! I really had to laugh when I read your comment, Byron! :-) Let me know how you liked them! ;-)
Another vegan recipe for me to try! These look so delicious!!
Thanks, Evi! So happy to hear that you like them! :-)
I’ve been looking for a black bean recipe like this! I love brownies and want to make them healthier. Pinning this to make this week! YUM.
Let me know how you liked them, Stacey! :-) I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to try black bean brownies. They’re so delicious and easy to make!
I am very skeptical of beans in my desserts but these just look so darn fudgy! I swear I’ll get brave enough one day!
I was actually pretty skeptical too, Sophia! I just couldn’t imagine that you could use beans instead of flour and I still think it’s kinda crazy, but they were sooo delicious and chocolatey!! :-)
I just adore black bean brownies. There is something about the fudgy texture that gets me everytime! I make them a lot for my son and he has no idea what the secret ingredient is. I will try your recipe next time.
I totally agree with you, Mel! Black bean brownies are awesome! :-) I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to give them a try. Haha! Yeah, I guess they’re great to trick kids into eating beans without even knowing about it! :D
Well, he sure did do a terrific job hand modeling for you :) These brownies looks super delicious! Definitely need to try this :)
Haha! I’ll let him know, Vanessa! ;-) Thanks! Let me know how you liked them! :-)
I’m always so scared to use beans in baking, after trying a cake with white beans – it tasted awful :D I’ve seen so many black bean brownie recipes by now, I think I really have to try them at some point and get over my fear ;)
Haha! I totally know what you mean, Kat! I was pretty skeptical too, but they turned out so delicious and chocolatey! You wouldn’t even know that they’re made of beans! :-) I still think it’s kinda crazy though! :D
Love black bean brownies! These look so fudgey and fantastic :)
Thanks, Ceara! :-) I totally agree with you; black bean brownies are awesome! :-)
I know some people are frightened by the thought of beans in dessert, but I LOVE it! These looks incredible!
Thanks, Jenn!:-) I really have to try more bean desserts. Do you have a special recipe? I still can’t believe it took me this long to try black bean brownies!
Wow, these look amazing and really interesting that how you created them! I wish I had these delicious looking brownies in front of me with my cup of tea I’m having :D
Thanks for sharing! :)
Thanks so much, Madiha! :-) So happy to hear that you like the recipe. They’re really easy to make! ;-)
Yes please! I am going to make that stack too. Yum!
Thanks, Ginny! So happy to hear that you like them! :-)
I had to make these as soon as I saw your recipe this morning at 9 AM! They are delicious and I’ve never felt better about eating brownies:) My kids will not believe they have black beans in them. Thank you!!
Thanks so much for commenting, Tracie! It’s so great to hear that you liked them!:-) Haha! Yeah, I guess they’re great for tricking kids into eating beans. ;-)
I have never made a cake with beans I will try
Let me know how it turned out! :-)
could you substitute chia seeds for the flax seeds? I don’t like the bitter taste that flax sometimes gives. Thanks!
Thanks for your comment, Ashley! :-) I haven’t tried making them with chia seeds yet. So I’m not 100 percent sure if it works out, but I guess it should be pretty similar. :-) For me flax seeds always worked fine, no bitter taste or anything. But maybe that depends on the brand? Let me know if it works out with chia seeds as well. :-)
Black beans in chocolate cake or brownies is the only way I consume black beans these days :) These brownies look wonderful!
Haha! Thanks, Audrey! :-) I still can’t believe it took me this long to try black bean brownies. They’re awesome! I really gotta make a cake with them soon.
These look so chocolatey and decadent!! :D
Thanks, Sarah! :-)
Yum! I love black bean brownies.
Thanks, Shannon! Me too, they’re so good! :-)
So amazing how black beans can be transformed into a wonderful dessert. Yummy!
Thanks, Kathy! :-) Yeah, it really is amazing! I’ve never thought they’d turn out this delicious!
I have never tried these…but they look awesome..so moist and rich and fudgy..just the kind i Love..thanks for sharing, Sina!
Thanks, Pragati! :-) I’m sure you’d love them!
I’ve been clipping (and Pinning) black bean brownies and for years and you have just convinced me to finally make them! This looks like a great and easy recipe!
Thanks, Letty! :-) Haha, I totally know what you mean! It took me forever to finally give them a try, but it’s so worth it! I made them when I visited my parents last weekend and even my grandma, who is 85, loved them and she just couldn’t believe that they didn’t contain any eggs, milk, or flour.
Oh wow Sina!! These look amazing. I never had bean brownies, I’m really curious how they taste. I’m sure it works though!
Thanks, Hauke! :-) I’m sure you’d love them. I stopped by my grandma’s house and brought her some of the bean brownies last weekend and she was so thrilled! She said that she just turned 85 and she has never ever thought it would be possible to bake chocolate cake (as she called it) without dairy, eggs, and flour! :D
Ok, so you convinced me! I’ll be making them pretty soon:)
Haha, Ilona! So glad you like them! :-)
Hi! This is the first time ever that I decided to do something so bold as using black beans in brownies. They were good. The beans pass completly unnoticed and I plan to keep it as my secret ingredient. I always like to personize a bit the recipes I make so I did add 1/2 tsp salt and added an extra 1 TBSP of agave. Delicious!
So glad you liked them, Neysha! :-) I know! People would never guess that there are beans in them. Oh and personalizing sounds always great! ;-)
These look absolutely GORGEOUS! I am drooling looking at these right now :-)
Thanks, Aimee! And sorry for making you drool! ;-)
Hey.. I tried this today.. They came out really fudgy no crumb at all.. Any reason why?? I used dates instead of honey and sugar.. Taste yum though..!! ??
Hey Deepanjali, So glad you liked them! :-) They’re actually supposed to be pretty fudgy, but I guess the dates made them even fudgier. I haven’t tried making them with dates yet, but I’ll try this soon.
8×8 or 13×9 pan?
Cannot wait to try these!
Haha never mind.
I looked over the part where you mentioned the size.
Can the agave be sub with maple syrup? This is a great recipe!
Hi I’m about to make this recipe but Is this 2 cups or 2 cans of black beans??
Hi Kate, It’s two cans. This equals 3 cups of black beans. Hope you like them. :-)
I just came across your recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Have you made this with a sugar substitute (not honey or maple substitute)? Is so what did you use and how much? Any recommendations would be great.
I have already made these several times and they are delicious. I even took them to a get-together and their were a hit! Now I have been asked to bring them to another get-together to be put with the gluten free section.
JUST pulled these out of the oven- loved that I had everything already at my house!!! Super stoked to try with dairy free ice cream, or maybe sunflower butter, or maybe both! :o)
Question, do these pass the same “clean fork” test that most other brownies do?! Mine did but it still jiggles so I wasn’t sure.