Black bean brownies, a tasty dessert made with black beans instead of flour. They're sweet, healthy, vegan, gluten-free, and made with only 9 ingredients!
These black bean brownies are mind-blowing and taste amazing! I'm a brownie lover, so this time I wanted to try something different, and I still cannot believe how GOOD they actually are!
This dessert is special because it's made with black beans instead of flour. I know it sounds weird, but trust me when I say they are one of the BEST brownies I've ever had! They don't have bean flavor at all, and they're healthier than regular brownies.
Besides, they are so moist and soft. Their texture is actually something between a classic brownie and a chocolate fudge, and they will melt in your mouth. I just can't wait to make them again!
Black bean brownies, a deliciously sweet dessert, made with no flour. They are vegan, gluten-free, very easy to prepare, and to make them you only need 9 ingredients.
How to make black bean brownies - Step by step
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 180ºC.
- Add all the ingredients except the vegan chocolate chips to a food processor (photo 1) and blend until smooth (photo 2).
- Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) square baking pan with some parchment paper or grease it with coconut oil.
- Pour the batter into the pan (photo 3), smoothing out the top evenly (photo 4), and top with the chocolate chips (photo 5).
- Bake for 30-40 minutes and then remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before slicing (photo 6).
- Serve at room temperature.
Pro tips
- To make this recipe you need 1 and ½ cups or 250 g of cooked black beans (without their water). If you don't cook them from scratch, you'll need to use a 1 15-ounce can of black beans (425 g), drain and rinse them, and then you'll get the right amount of cooked beans.
- Feel free to use any type of sugar.
- You can add more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like your brownies. I suggest you add ¼ or ½ cup of sugar first, then try the batter, and add more if needed.
- If you want your brownies to be even healthier, try to replace the sweetener with dates or some date syrup. If the batter gets too thick, just add some liquid like coconut oil or plant milk.
- Liquid sweeteners don't really work for this recipe, as the batter will be too watery if you use them.
- You can replace the cocoa powder with raw cacao and carob powder if you want to. If you use raw cacao you'll probably need to add less of it, because it has a stronger flavor. If you use carob powder you may need to add less sugar, as it's sweeter than cocoa powder.
- Although you can use any kind of oil to make these brownies, I suggest you use the ones with a neutral flavor or use vegan butter instead.
- Vanilla extract is optional, but it will give the brownies a wonderful flavor.
- If you can't find vegan chocolate chips use some chopped dark chocolate or cacao nibs instead.
What do black bean brownies taste like?
They taste delicious and chocolatey, just like any other kind of brownies. The black bean flavor isn't noticeable at all, so you won't be able to tell the difference between them and the ones that are made with flour!
How long will these black bean brownies keep?
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days or at room temperature if it's not too hot. In any case, remember to cover them.
Can you freeze black bean brownies?
Yes, you can! To do it just let them cool first, cut them, and put them in an airtight container or a freezer-friendly bag. That way, you won't have to thaw the whole batch when you want to have some!
To defrost, just keep them at room temperature until thaw or heat them up in the microwave and check them out every 15 seconds to make sure they don't get burnt. They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to serve back bean brownies
You could eat them just plain, but if you feel like something a little bit fancier, feel free to heat them up and serve them with some vegan ice cream or Vegan Whipped Cream. I love the contrast between the warm brownies and the cold toppings!
🍪 More vegan dessert recipes
Did you make this black bean brownies recipe?
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📖 Recipe
Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, see notes
- 1 cup brown, cane or coconut sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 flax eggs
- 2 tablespoon vegan chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 180ºC.
- Add all the ingredients except the vegan chocolate chips to a food processor or a powerful blender and blend until smooth.
- Line an 8×8-inch (20×20 cm) square baking pan with some parchment paper or grease it with coconut oil.
- Pour the batter into the pan, smoothing out the top evenly, and top with the chocolate chips.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes (my brownies were ready in 35 minutes) and then remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes.
- Transfer to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- To make this recipe you need 1 and ½ cups or 250 g of cooked black beans (without their water). If you don't cook them from scratch, you'll need to use a 1 15-ounce can of black beans (425 g), drain and rinse them, and then you'll get the right amount of cooked beans.
- Feel free to use any type of sugar.
- You can add more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like your brownies. I suggest you add ¼ or ½ cup of sugar first, then try the batter, and add more if needed.
- If you want your brownies to be even healthier, try to replace the sweetener with dates or some date syrup. If the batter gets too thick, just add some liquid like coconut oil or plant milk.
- Liquid sweeteners don't really work for this recipe, as the batter will be too watery if you use them.
- You can replace the cocoa powder with raw cacao and carob powder if you want to. If you use raw cacao you'll probably need to add less of it, because it has a stronger flavor. If you use carob powder you may need to add less sugar, as it's sweeter than cocoa powder.
- Although you can use any kind of oil to make these brownies, I suggest you use the ones with a neutral flavor or use vegan butter instead.
- Vanilla extract is optional, but it will give the brownies a wonderful flavor.
- If you can't find vegan chocolate chips use some chopped dark chocolate or cacao nibs instead.
- Nutritional info has been calculated without the vegan chocolate chips.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2019, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, and tips in April of 2020.
Lynn Riley says
Superb. I enjoyed the ease and the wonderful flavor. Nice texture.
Thank you for sharing.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Lynn! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂
Tahira Akhtar says
Would these work with chickpeas or any other bean? Thank you
Iosune Robles says
Hi Tahira! I think it would work with chickpeas 🙂
Jeff says
So, what are the proportions if you are trying to use dates? There is nothing mentioned about amounts for swapping in dates or date syrup. Also, have you tried using apple sauce instead of oil or butter?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Jeff! I don't know exactly the proportions, sorry! We haven't tried to use apple sauce in this recipe 🙂
Monika says
I made this with leftover pulp from making soy milk. If I remembered to put there the flax egg that I forgot about in the fridge it would be even better. Still very good. Thank you for the recipe! Much love!
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your comment 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Sheila Nettles says
I made this and the flavor is really nice but they never set up. I think it’s thicker but not enough to cut into squares. After 50 minutes, I took them out of the oven and we ate with a spoon. I’m going to refrigerate to see if that helps. I don’t know what happened.
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I'm so sorry! Don't know what could have happened 🙁 Try to bake it at 200ºC or during more time, and then let it sit for an hour before cutting it into squares!
sergio says
Hi Iosune. I started out this recipe this morning, actualy the batter is in the oven right now. But I've just noticed in the notes below that you meant 250 gr of beans weighted once cooked. But on the top o the recipe you wrote 425 gr. So I used two cans of 400 gr of black beans that, once it is drained of its water its 240gr each can. So I basically used almost 2 cans of beans (240+240=480gr then I took out 60 gr). I'm afraid I messed the recipe up!!!! if the amount of beans had to be 250 I think you should specify in the recipe summary that the weigh you quote is intended for the can INCLUDING its water. Now, I hope this will come out good anyway
Iosune says
Hi Sergio! I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. I used 1 15-ounce can of black beans (425 g) and I drained it, but if you use cooked beans (if you cook it from scratch), you only need 250 g. Hope you enjoyed it!
Ingrid says
Hi! I’m a little bit confused about the amount of beans this recipe calls for. Do you mean 250g measured dry before cooking or after? 🙂
Iosune says
Hi Ingrid! You need 250 g of cooked beans, so I measured after cooking 🙂
Kate West says
Wow! Delicious! Wonderful, simple and healthy. Another win, win, win! Thank you 😊
Iosune says
Hi Kate! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you liked it!
RosieRobyn says
Very moist chocolate brownies. I mixed a small amount of chocolate chips into dough before baking. I used 2 large eggs and Mexican vanilla. Delicious; I loved them! Gave brownies to a friend and she asked for recipe! Try them you'll love them! To the original baker-You did a great job creating them.
Iosune says
Hi there! So glad you enjoyed them 😉
Charlotte Peeters says
Simpel en very tasty! The whole family loved it!
Iosune says
Hi Charlotte! Thanks a lot 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Susan Resnik says
I made my own recipe of brownies with tofu. Six ounces of tofu equal 2 eggs. I have heard lately of Brownie spread. Take away baking soda, etc. and use as jam for toast.
Iosune says
Hi Susan! Sounds great 🙂 Have a nice day!