Recipe: Healthy Grain Free Black Bean Brownie Cake

Note: This recipe isn't strictly paleo as it contains legumes. That said, some people on a paleo diet do consume beans/legumes so be sure to make your own decision based on your own personal diet! 

I often find that the recipes I don't expect to be a huge hit are the ones that become family favourites. You see, in the midst of the Easter chocolate madness, I asked Jesse what his favourite chocolate recipe I've made lately was (as I was putting together our Healthy Chocolate Recipes post) and he said "those brownies you made the other week...." 

I was racking through my brain, training to figure out what brownie recipe he was talking about when he said "the black bean brownies". 

Say whaaaat?

I knew he loved them and I knew they were delicious - but out of all the chocolate recipes I've made lately my fussy husband chose the recipe with beans as a base?!

Even I was skeptical when I first started experimenting with this recipe. Beans in brownies? Sure, people did it - but people also eat some ridiculously gross tasting combinations and call it delicious just because it has a healthy tag...

I'd tried some pretty awful black bean brownies, but I was determined to come up with the ultimate recipe - and based on Jesse and my family's response, I think it's safe to say I did just that! 

Best of all? These brownies are totally healthy as well as low fat, low calorie, grain free, gluten free - and they can even be refined sugar free too! They're so good that we now buy extra black beans just so we can make up a batch whenever we feel like some fudgy brownies. 

But perhaps don't tell your fussy husband/kids/friends/family that they have beans until after they're raving about how delicious they are ;) 

But let me give you the recipe so that you can try them for yourself! >> 

Healthy Flourless Black Bean Brownie Cake Recipe makes 9 brownies

gluten free, low fat, low calorie, grain free, refined sugar free option

get the nutritional information here

260g black beans, drained and rinsed (this is simply a regular 425g/15.5 oz can drained and rinsed)

3 eggs 

3 tbsp coconut oil or neutral tasting oil of your choice

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup (25g) unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder 

Pinch of salt

1/4 + 1/8 cup - 1/2 cup (75-100g) coconut sugar or brown sugar

Optional but recommended: About 1/4-1/3 cup chocolate chips to mix through your batter

• Preheat your oven to 180C/355F 
• Grease and/or line an 8x8" or 6x6" brownie pan and set aside (we like to use a smaller tin for thicker fudgier brownies, however, the photographed brownies were made in an 8" pan)
• In your food processor, process your black beans on high until smooth. 
• Add in your eggs, oil and vanilla and process until smooth. 
• Add in your cocoa powder, baking powder, sugar and salt and process until combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
• Stir through your chocolate chips (if using) and pour into your baking tin. 
• Bake for 20-35 miutes (depending on the size of your tin) or until cooked through and a skewer inserted into the centre of your brownies removes clean. 
• Allow to cool before slicing into squares and/or frosting if desired (we love frosting them with this frosting recipe or this refined sugar free coconut chocolate fudge sauce)

In the Cuisine Companion: Blend your black beans on S12 for 1 min with the ultrablade, scraping down the sides halfway through to incorporate everything. Add in your eggs, coconut oil and vanilla and mix on S8 for 30 seconds. Add in your cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, mixing on S8 until combined. Stir through your chocolate chips and pour your batter into your baking tin.

But tell me, what was the last recipe you made that was a huge hit with your friends/family/partner?

And what's your favourite chocolatey treat?