Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
- 3 egg large
- 3 tbsp olive oil canola, sunflower, or avocado
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed very well
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8x8 baking pan and line with parchment paper.
- Mix eggs, oil, and vanilla in a bowl. Add these ingredients to the food processor along with black beans. Process until smooth and black beans are incorporated well.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the wet ingredients from food processor to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips and pour into the greased baking dish.
- Place on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean, and the brownies do not jiggle when you shake it.
- Allow the brownies to cool before cutting. Enjoy!
Nutrition
As a rule, we do no recommend “sneaking” healthy food into recipes and pretending that beans were not added to the recipe. However, I do think that these brownies need a big announcement that they include black beans. Maybe just serve the Black Bean Brownies and see what people, especially kids think. Then, of course you can let them know about the “secret” ingredient.
For instance, a child who is a selective eater (often referred to as a “picky eater”) might enjoy these brownies, but it is important to make sure that the child does not feel tricked that you are hiding ingredients in food. It would be best to work with a dietitian to help you address the best practices to help your child accept a wider range of foods. For more tips for parents of a picky eater, take a look at our blog.
Another excellent resource to help with nourishing your children without a power struggle, take a look at this resource.
Looking for more dessert recipes like Bean Brownies that are healthy versions? Here are a few of our favorites:
- Healthy frozen desserts
- Gluten-free cheesecake
- Cheesecake cups
Let us know what you think of our dietitian-approved Black Bean Brownie recipe in the comments below.
Please note:
Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors.
Kathleen Tabb is a registered dietitian based in Maryland. She specializes in digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and has extensive training through her master’s degree in integrative and functional nutrition. She is passionate about looking at her clients holistically to illuminate the root cause of their concerns in order to improve health and quality of life