Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

Beans, But Make It Dessert

May 21, 2025

Black beans. Most of the time, they're showing up in tacos, rice bowls, or that suspiciously dusty can at the back of your pantry. But today? They're going in brownies. These Fudgy Black Bean Brownies are easy to make you forget there's a legume in the mix.

🟡 Wait . . . Beans in Brownies?

We get it. It sounds strange. But trust: the beans disappear into the background. You’ll just taste rich, fudgy, chocolate.

🟡 Ingredients

1 cup black beans (canned or home-cooked)
½ cup date syrup (or maple syrup)
2 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup applesauce
¼ cup cacao powder
¼ cup soy milk (or any plant-based milk)
½ cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but excellent)
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
⅛ tsp salt

🟡 Equipment

Food processor
Measuring cups + spoons
Square silicone mold (or any oven-safe pan with parchment paper)

🟡 Directions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Toss all the ingredients into a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Pour the batter into your silicone mold or parchment-lined dish.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
Let it cool. Flip onto a plate or cutting board. Slice into squares, triangles, trapezoids, or emoji shapes. We don’t judge.

🟡 Tips & Tricks

No food processor? No problem. Mash the beans with a potato masher, mix dry ingredients separately, then combine everything by hand.
No cacao powder? Add more chocolate chips and call it a day.
Only have salted canned beans? Just rinse ‘em well.
Prefer a sweeter treat? Add more date syrup or chocolate chips.
Keep in the fridge for a week, or freezer for a month plus (if they last that long).
Double the recipe for double the joy. Freeze one batch, devour the other.
No silicone mold? Any oven-safe dish lined with parchment paper will do the trick.

🟡 Serving Suggestions

Perfect for dessert, snacking, potlucks, or picnics.
Serve warm for extra gooey vibes.
Pairs well with a scoop of your favorite dairy-free ice cream or a drizzle of homemade chocolate sauce.

🟡 Ingredient Spotlight

Black Beans
- Packed with protein, fiber, iron, slightly sweet, chewy and a subtle earthy richness that plays well with chocolate.
- NutritionFacts.org breaks down evidence-based benefits of black beans.
Date Syrup
- Sweetener with benefits: potassium, magnesium, calcium.
- Lower glycemic index than sugar.
Cacao Powder
- Raw, rich, and antioxidant-packed.
- Look for fair-trade and minimally processed.

🟡 Final Crumbs

Yes, there are beans in your brownie. No, you won’t taste them. Black bean brownies may sound suspicious. But once you try them, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with boxed mixes.