When I taught this black bean brownie recipe in February of 2009 (yes, 10 years ago!), the idea was trending so much that I thought the recipe would get lost in all the black bean brownie hysteria.  But just like fashion, sometimes trends make a comeback or sometimes when you take something out of the closet that has been sitting there for a while, it looks fresh again.  That’s what happened with this recipe which I hadn’t made in many years.

I saw it one day as I was flipping through my cooking class recipe binder and realized I had never posted it.  I remembered when I taught it and how CRAZY my students thought I was to use black beans in brownies.  Now, no one would give it a second thought.  I have a white bean blondie recipe in my cookbook, as well as a chocolate hummus recipe (which uses chickpeas), and a black bean cookie dough bites recipe.  On this site, I have a white bean coffee cake recipe.  Beans in desserts are a thing around here!

Beans add moisture, creaminess, as well as protein and fiber.  I am a fan of all legumes whether they are in my soup or in my desserts!   These brownies are not exactly like “normal” white sugar and white flour brownies.  They’re fudgier, but with a really good chocolate flavor and they hold up really well in the fridge (although they can also stay perfectly well at room temp in a lunchbox.)  Something that I added to the recipe since 2009 is this chocolate “ganache” which I adapted from a Deliciously Ella ganache.  It’s not overly sweet and just adds a really yummy texture to the brownies.  You could also stir in cacao nibs into the batter or freeze-dried raspberries or a high quality chocolate almond butter or peanut butter cup chopped up.

Originally I taught the recipe in a 13 x 9 pan, but that’s too much brownie to have lying around tempting me.  I’ve cut back on desserts significantly in the last 10 years, and I try to eat them very occasionally, as in a couple times a week or less.  It doesn’t always work out that way, especially if I’m recipe testing.  But cutting back on concentrated sweeteners (even maple syrup) has proven to me to be the way to feel my best.  When I do want a treat, a small square of this feels decadent and satisfying without spiking my blood sugar too much.

I haven’t tried making these grain-free yet.  Grain-free wasn’t on my radar 10 years ago, but I am considering trying to swap out the oat flour with a combo of almond flour and arrowroot, which would make this recipe passover compliant, I think.  Have you ever made black bean brownies or a dessert with legumes?  How did it turn out?  Any tips or suggestions?  I’d love to hear from you and of course, let me know if you make this recipe!!  Tag me on Instagram so I can see all your creations!  @pamelasalzman

Shop the tools I used for this recipe by clicking on the images below:

Black Bean Brownies with Chocolate Ganache

Pamela (ganache recipe adapted from Deliciously Ella)

5 from 1 vote

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Servings 9 -16 brownies, depending how you cut them!

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2.5 ounces unsweetened chocolate broken into chunks
• 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter or vegan butter, such as Miyoko's Creamery
• 1 cups soft-cooked black beans drained well
• 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
• 1/2 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon granulated natural coffee substitute such as Naturalis Inka or instant coffee
• 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons oat flour gluten-free flour blend (such as Jovial Foods), or whole wheat pastry flour
• Ganache:
• 1 Tablespoon cacao powder
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 Tablespoon creamy almond butter
• 1/2 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
• Optional: cacao nibs or flaky sea salt

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.
• Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler or in a small glass bowl over a pot of simmering water. Do not allow the water to touch the bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula to the melt the chocolate completely.
• Place the beans, 1/4 cup of walnuts, vanilla and half of the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Blend about 2 minutes, or until smooth. The batter should be thick and the beans smooth.
• In a large bowl, mix together the remaining 1/4 cup walnuts, remaining melted chocolate mixture, coffee substitute and salt. Mix well. Add the bean and chocolate mixture to the coffee and chocolate mixture. Stir until well blended.
• In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the maple syrup and beat well.
• Add the egg mixture to the chocolate mixture. Then add the flour and baking powder and mix by hand until just blended.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the brownies are just set. The top may look a little shiny, but they will continue to cook after they are out of the oven. Let cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares.
• Make the ganache: Add the cacao, coconut oil, almond butter and maple syrup to a small saucepan on medium-low heat and mix until fully melted and combined.
• Pour the chocolate on top of the brownies and spread evenly across. Cut the brownies into squares and serve. Option to top with cacao nibs and/or flaky sea salt.

Notes

These brownies slice better if refrigerated at least a few hours. Store, covered in the refrigerator or freezer.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!