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Black Bean Brownies (Gluten And Dairy-Free)

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Soft, cake like and chocolatey, these black bean brownies are delicious and perfect for eating plain or crumbling over a bowl of dairy free ice cream! This great recipe is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!

top view of three brownie squares stacked on a square of parchment paper

There are several healthy dessert recipes on my blog like Strawberry Nice Cream and Fruit Popsicles, but this black bean brownies recipe is the one that I reach for when the weather turns cold because these cake like brownies can be crumbled on anything and everything!

How To Customize A Black Bean Brownies Recipe

Unlike traditional fudgy brownies that can be picked up and eaten alone, these black bean brownies have less moisture and are meant to be broken into chunks or crumbled over other desserts. You can certainly eat them in squares (my family does) but keep in mind that this is a crumbly cake like brownie.

A while back there was a popular recipe that took one box of brownie mix and a can of black beans and that was all you needed to make healthier brownies. I admit that they were good!!

I wanted to attempt to recreate the same type of recipe but by making the black bean brownies from scratch. My Easy Chocolate Brownies recipe was delicious but it was a stand alone dessert.

This was going to be something that you could crumble over dairy free ice cream or use as “dirt” in a Minecraft cake, lol!

The best part of making these brownies is that you can customize them to match your dish. If we are going to put it over vanilla ice cream, we like to add Instant Coffee for an espresso brownie! Here are just a few mix ins to customize these delicious black bean brownies:

  • Chocolate Chips – Mix in some dairy free chocolate chips to keep these dairy free!
  • Instant Coffee – Instant coffee and cocoa powder just go hand in hand! Just add a teaspoon or two to the dry ingredients
  • Melted Chocolate – Top these delicious brownies with melted chocolate. That would be amazing!! We melt dairy free chocolate chips in a microwave safe dish and drizzle it over the top.
  • Nuts – Nuts are delicious in black bean brownies! Try pecans!

Why You Will Love These Black Bean Brownies:

Here are just a few things you will love about these gluten free black bean brownies:

  • They have a cakey (is that a word?) consistency and are surprisingly filling. That is a good thing when it comes to desserts because it means we won’t eat the whole pan in one sitting!
  • We will make them in the Vitamix – so no pulling out the mixer! It also means we won’t have bean pieces in our brownie! If you don’t have a high powered blender, you can also use a food processor, it just may take longer to get a smooth consistency.
  • Black beans are filled with healthy fiber so we can call these healthy too
45 degree view of a glass ice cream glass with brownies in the bottom and ice cream on top

This black bean brownies recipe results in gluten free goodness that is easy to crumble by design. We sprinkle it on dairy free ice cream or peanut butter (we eat it with apples)! It sounds weird but it’s delicious.

If you want it hold together a little better, decrease the almond butter to 2 Tablespoons. That will reduce the moisture in the brownie.

What Toppings Can You Put On Brownies?

Brownies don’t need toppings, but if you want to dress them up or bring them to a party, here are some ideas! Sprinkle them on top of the brownie batter, right before putting it in the oven:

  • Chocolate chips
  • Dairy free candy bars
  • Crumbled nut bars like Kind bars
  • Peanut butter chips
  • Marshmallows
  • Sprinkles
side view of a brownie with a bite and a hand holding it

Ingredients You Need For Black Bean Brownies

  • Black Beans – I just used a can of organic black beans from Trader Joes. Be sure to rinse them first.
  • Almond Flour – This adds some protein but also helps it hold together
  • Almond Butter – We used 1/4 cup which makes it flakier. You can decrease the almond butter to 2 Tablespoons if you want a denser brownie
  • Maple Syrup – You can substitute honey but I love the deep rich flavor of maple syrup with chocolate!
  • Cocoa Powder – Use a good chocolate since this is where the black bean brownies will get their chocolate flavor!
  • Baking Powder
  • Dairy Free Chocolate Chips We like Enjoy Life but lately our grocery store has been carrying a generic brand that is good too! I also like any chocolate chip that has coconut oil!

Step By Step Process For This Black Bean Brownie Recipe

Top view of black beans in a blender
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the black beans to a blender or food processor
top view of baking powder, maple syrup, cocoa powder and eggs in blender
Add the cocoa powder, maple syrup, eggs and baking powder to the black beans and blend until smooth
top view of brownie batter with almond flour and chocolate chips
Pour black bean brownies mixture into a large bowl and mix in the almond flour and chocolate chips
top view of brownie batter in a pan
Pour into a greased baking Pan. Bake in a preheated oven and enjoy!

Important Tips

  • Beans – Rinse the beans before using them. If you leave the liquid that is in the can, it will change the consistency of the brownies.
  • Refrigerate the batter – This step is not required, but if you want to make the brownie batter ahead of time, you can make it, spread it in the pan and then chill it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Some bakers believe that this will enhance the chocolate flavor.
  • Burnt edges – If you feel that the edges are starting to burn and there is still some cooking time left, loosely cover the pan with foil to prevent further burning.
  • Vegan Brownies – If you want this to be a vegan recipe, substitute the eggs for flax eggs. Mix 2 Tablespoons of ground flax with 6 Tablespoons of water and let it sit for 5 minutes (this equals 2 eggs). Add it when you would add the eggs.
side view of 3 brownie squares dusted with cocoa powder

Frequently Asked Questions About Black Bean Brownies

How do you know brownies are done?

To tell if a brownie is done, the edges will look a little crunchy and the middle will be set. You can either shake the pan or gently poke the middle to make sure it is done and not jiggly. You can also stick a toothpick in the middle to see if it comes out clean. It should come out clean but might have a little batter from the middle.

Are black bean brownies vegan?

Black bean brownies can be vegan but this recipe is not because it has eggs. You could try using a flax egg but I have not yet tried it.

Should I cut brownies hot or cold?

Always let your black bean brownies cool completely before cutting them. Especially with this recipe, if you cut them warm, they will fall apart.

Why my brownies are dry?

Dry brownies usually mean that they were overcooked. As your brownies near the end of their recommended cooking time, start checking them to see if they are done. It is better to under cook a brownie and let it firm up while cooling that to overcook it!

Should you put brownies in the fridge after baking?

That is not necessary and in fact, it will likely dry them out. In most climates, brownies can stay on the counter for a few days.

What are the benefits of using black beans in the brownies?

The biggest benefit is adding fiber and eliminating the need for brown sugar and melted butter for moisture!

More Chocolate Recipes You Might Enjoy:

side view of three brownie squares stacked on eachother

Black Bean Brownies

Yield: 9
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Soft, cakey and crumbly, these black bean brownies are delicious and
perfect for eating plain or crumbling over a bowl of dairy free ice
cream!

Ingredients

  • 1 15-ounce Can Black Beans
  • 1/4 Cup Almond Flour
  • 1/4 Cup Almond Butter
  • 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
  • 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. In a high powered blender, add the black beans, almond butter, eggs, maple syrup and cocoa powder.
  3. Blend on high until smooth
  4. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl
  5. Add the almond flour and chocolate chips to the blended mixture
  6. Gently stir until all ingredients are well incorporated
  7. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan and bake for 25 minutes or until set
  8. Cool completely before cutting
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 183Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 238mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 5gSugar: 11gProtein: 6g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate. Please recalculate if you need accurate information.

Did you make this recipe?

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By on November 30th, 2021

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1 thought on “Black Bean Brownies (Gluten And Dairy-Free)”

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this amazing brownies recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

    Reply

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