Gluten-Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies

Fudgy, dense, moist, and decadent describes these Gluten-Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies!  Black beans are the secret trick to making super fudgy brownies that are also dairy-free and refined sugar-free.  The perfect snack or dessert on any occasion.

Gluten-Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies!  Dark, rich, moist, decadent, and fudgy.  I didn't think it was possible to taste something sinfully delicious made from beans.  All you can taste is chocolaty goodness, and guess what?!  The only chocolate that is in this brownie is 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder and the chocolate chips!  Everything else is Carob and beans proving that you'd never tell the difference.

DID YOU KNOW THAT BLACK BEANS ARE AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PLANT-BASED PROTEIN?

When dessert meets protein, do you know what that means?  It means these can be eaten for breakfast or as a post-yoga/post-workout snack!  These chocolatey fudgy brownies will keep you full and satiated.  Just one square will be enough.  And it also means that healthy once again proves that you don't have to feel deprived in order to eat or dessert well.  This recipe is adapted from my Chocolate Chickpea Brownie Recipe - and I thought those were beyond delicious until I swapped the chickpeas for black beans and WOAH!

RECIPE SWAP TIPS

• By just swapping chickpeas for black beans the brownie changes its nature from a cakey brownie to a fudgy brownie in a nanosecond.
• When Black Beans are used in baked goods they provide a very decadent, dense but moist and sweet type of dessert.
• When chickpeas are used in baked goods they provide a dense and less moist dessert and rely more on other ingredients for flavor.  What I noticed with the black beans was I was able to use less cocoa and carob powder, and still, get that amazing chocolaty taste.

ARE CHOCOLATE CHIPS NECESSARY?

• You can use chocolate chips or carob chips.  But the chips are a necessary ingredient.
• The chips create uber silky smooth flavor and texture.

READY TO GATHER YOUR INGREDIENTS?

Print Recipe

Gluten-Free Black Bean Brownies

Fudgy, dense, moist, and decadent describes these Gluten-Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies!  Black beans are the secret trick to making super fudgy brownies that are also dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.  The perfect snack or dessert on any occasion.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan

Keyword: beans, black beans, brownies, chocolate, fudgy, protein bites

Servings: 9 brownies

Author: Julie Rosenthal

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

• 1 cup canned black beans drained
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• ⅓ cup grapeseed oil
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup quick-cooking oats gluten-free
• 2 tablespoon quick-cooking oats gluten-free
• 2 tablespoon carob powder gluten-free
• 2 teaspoon unsweetened cacao or cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
• 1 tablespoon ground flax
• ½ cup gluten-free dark chocolate chips
• 1 handful gluten-free dark chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• In a food processor add the oats and ground flax and process till it’s a fine blend. Then add the sea salt, baking powder, beans, maple syrup, grapeseed oil, and blend again till well mixed.
• Add the remainder of the ingredients Except the chocolate chips.  And process till smooth.
• Keep blending really well! This may take a few minutes.  You want the mixture to be really smooth without seeing any whole particles of the oats or beans.
• Once blended transfer to a large bowl and fold in the chocolate chips.
• Grease an 8×8 brownie pan and add mixture into the pan.  Wet your hands to push down on the mixture and move it to fill the entire pan, or use a spatula.  You can even add a few chips on top.
• Place in the oven on the Middle Rack and bake for 16 minutes. YOU MUST LET THESE COOL for at least 10-15 minutes. Store in the fridge when not eating.

Notes

• I like these best cold and defrosted.  So you can go either way.  You can eat them right out of the fridge, or you can let them sit on the counter for a half-hour and then eat them.
• Whatever you do, these are black beans so you must keep them refrigerated because of the mold factor. Black beans hold a lot of moisture and so its’s shelf-life is less than most brownies.  Its shelf-life can live longer in the fridge.  The shelf-life is about 1 week.
• As for canned beans, my favorite brand to use is EDEN.  Eden is organic and BPA lining free.
• Make sure you use a gluten-free carob powder like Chatfields.
• Make sure you use a gluten-free chocolate powder such as Hershey's.

Black Bean Brownie Love,