Simple Black Bean Brownie Recipe

For this unique brownie recipe, you'll need a can of black beans. Be sure to rinse and drain them properly to remove any canning brine. For chocolate-based recipes, black beans are ideal. In fact, if you get a taste for baking with legumes, then you should also check out recipes using chickpeas. You'll need melted unsalted butter to create a rich moist texture — remember, these are still brownies! As far as substitutions are concerned, Carli notes, "This recipe works well with coconut oil instead of butter." Next, eggs are used to bind ingredients and add moisture while helping the brownies rise.

To add plenty of dense chocolate flavor, you'll use cocoa powder. Stick to the unsweetened varieties, since you'll be adding honey to balance out the bitterness. If you want a substitution, Carli recommends using maple syrup instead of honey. Incorporating a little bit of baking powder into the batter helps the brownies rise a bit, which helps to counteract the texture of black beans which is thicker than flour. Next, to add some complexity and warm aromas, Carli uses vanilla. Finally, let's not forget the chocolate chips. Add them to the batter so that every bite contains decadent melted chocolate — you'll forget the black beans are in these delights!

Carli remarks, "This would be delicious with walnuts if you like walnuts in your brownies." She recommends adding about ½ cup of chopped walnuts for an extra crunch.

Once you have blended the batter smoothly, it's time to pour in the chocolate chips. Using a spoon, stir them into the batter to combine, ensuring that they are distributed evenly. That was so quick, and it's already time for the batter to be baked. If you want your brownies to have more texture, this is the time to mix in walnuts or any other nut you may want to add to the batter. If you want to make the brownies nut-free this time around, you can definitely switch it up next time and add the walnuts. We're pretty sure you will be whipping up this recipe again sometime soon.

Bake the brownies in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Your kitchen will smell divine, but be patient. To confirm that the brownies are ready, Carli explains that "the dough will lose its shine." Allow the brownies to cool before slicing in.

Once they are cooled, you can cut them, and put them nicely on a platter. Then, it's time to enjoy these wholesome treats. They're excellent by themselves, but you can go the traditional route and serve the brownies with French vanilla ice cream or a fresh dollop of whipped cream. And don't forget a cold glass of milk, because that's kind of the rule. As for any leftovers, Carli notes, "These store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days."