Black Bean Brownies Recipe (2024)

These Black Bean Brownies are simple low-carb, healthy, vegan brownies sweetened with applesauce.

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (1)

Table of contents

What Are Black Bean Brownies?

Black Bean Brownies are a simple dessert or snack where most of the batter is made with black beans to use less flour than classic brownies.

As a result, black bean brownies are low in carbs and high in protein and fiber.

Why You’ll Love These Brownies

These Vegan Black Bean Brownies are a delicious fudgy treat that everyone in your family and friends will love.

They are:

  • Healthy
  • Dairy-Free
  • Low-Carb
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-Free
  • No Eggs

Their fudgy texture and rich chocolate taste make them unmistakably brownies but one of their slices contains only 5 grams of net carbs and 3 grams of protein per serving to keep you full for longer.

How To Make Black Bean Brownies

It’s very easy to make this black bean brownies recipe. There are only a handful of basic ingredients needed!

Ingredients

  • Black Beans – I used canned organic black beans, rinsed and drained. Any brand would be just fine.
  • Almond Flour – also known as ground almond, it’s a low-carb flour that brings very few carbs. Prefer ultra-fine almond flour to avoid a gritty texture.
  • Unsweetened Apple Sauce – I used organic apple sauce but it works with homemade applesauce as well. make sure there’s no added sugar. Organic unsweetened applesauce contains about 8 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. Given how little we use in this recipe, it doesn’t bring many carbs!
  • Dark Chocolate – I made this recipe with sugar-free stevia chocolate, and I also tested 85% cocoa or 70% cocoa. Everything works perfectly. The darker chocolate you use, the bitter the brownie will be.
  • Coconut Oil – prefer unrefined coconut oil.
  • Baking Powder
  • Pecan Nuts – or chopped walnuts if you prefer.
Black Bean Brownies Recipe (2)

Making The Black Bean Brownie Batter

Start this recipe by rinsing and draining the black beans. You can do that in a sieve or in their can.

Then, melt the dark chocolate with the coconut oil in a mixing bowl.

To get them to melt you can either place them in the microwave for 30 seconds or put them in a bain-marie for 2 minutes.

Pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl of a food processor or blender and add the drained black beans, baking powder, almond flour, and unsweetened applesauce.

You can also include some of the chopped pecans or walnuts. Add a pinch of salt.

Blend the brownie batter until it’s consistent and sticky.

Line a square 8-inch x 8-inch brownie pan with lightly oiled parchment paper.

Pour the black bean brownie batter into the baking dish.

Brownie Batter Add Ons

It is optional, but you can also add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the batter, it brings a delicious flavor.

You can also add some dark chocolate chips or a touch of cocoa powder if you like your brownies ultra-chocolatey.

Baking The Brownies

Bake the vegan black bean brownies for 25 to 45 minutes in an oven preheated to 300°F (150°C).

Let the brownies cool down for 5 minutes in the pan. It’s essential to get the bottom of the dessert to cook fully.

Then, pull the overhanging pieces of parchment paper to transfer the brownies onto a cooling rack to let them cool down.

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (3)

Making The Pecan Drizzle

To make the gooey caramelized pecan drizzle, start by melting the coconut oil in a small frying pan over low heat.

Add the chopped pecans or walnuts and maple syrup.

Cook them for 2 to 3 minutes until the maple syrup has caramelized.

Use a spoon to drizzle the caramelized pecan topping on the cooked brownies.

For ultimate decadence, add a drizzle of peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or any nut butter to the black bean brownies and serve with a scoop of plant-based ice cream.

Storage Instructions

These vegan black bean brownies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

You can also freeze them in individual containers and thaw them at room temperature. Or pop them in the oven for 5 minutes.

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (4)

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Carbs Are In Vegan Black Bean Brownies?

These vegan black beans brownies make 16 squares, one slice contains only 5 grams of net carbs and a tiny amount of 1.4 g of sugar – it is a quarter of a teaspoon of natural sugar from apples.

Can I Replace The Applesauce?

You can use a liquid sweetener such as coconut nectar, agave syrup, or sugar-free maple syrup, but the taste won’t be as perfectly balanced.

Do Black Bean Brownies Need Eggs?

No, there is no need for an egg, or flax egg in this recipe. The applesauce provides the binding.

Can I Replace The Almond Flour With Flaxseed Meal?

No, ground flax or flax seed flour has too much fiber compared to almond flour. It would make the batter very dry and gritty as it would absorb too much moisture.

Can You Taste The Black Beans?

No, these brownies have no black bean flavor at all, all you can taste is their rich chocolate flavor!

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (5)

More Healthy Brownie Recipes

If you like healthy brownies like this black bean brownies recipe, you’ll love these recipes:

Sweet Potato Brownies

Greek Yogurt Brownies

Keto Zucchini Brownies

Almond Flour Brownies

Coconut Flour Brownies

Fudgy Date Brownies

No-Bake Brownies

Keto Vegan Brownies

Keto Chocolate Avocado Brownies

Keto Pumpkin Brownies

Keto Mug Brownie

I hope you’ve enjoyed this recipe! Leave a comment below!

Did You Like This Recipe?

Leave a comment below or head to our Facebook page for tips, our Instagram page for inspiration, our Pinterest for saving recipes, and Flipboard to get all the new ones!

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (18)

Black Bean Brownies Recipe

These easy Black Bean Brownies are a healthy chocolate dessert, low-calorie, plant-based, low-carb, and gluten-free, with no added sugar, and only 5 grams of net carbs per serving.

Author: Carine Claudepierre

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Yield: 16 brownies

Serving Size: 1 brownie square

5 from 284 votes

Ingredients

US CustomaryMetric

Black Bean Brownies

Caramelized Pecan

Dark Chocolate Drizzle

This recipe may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

Black Bean Brownies

  • Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).

  • Line an 8-inch x 8-inch square brownie pan with parchment paper. Rub a little coconut oil on it to make sure it does not stick. Set aside.

  • In a small mixing bowl, add dark chocolate and coconut oil, microwave in 30-second bursts, stir and repeat until fully melted. If you don't have a microwave use a saucepan and melt under low heat until fully melted. Set aside.

  • In a food processor, with the S blade attachment, add all the ingredients: melted oil/chocolate mixture, black beans, baking powder, almond meal, and unsweetened applesauce

  • Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

  • Bake for 25-30 minutes max.

  • Cool them down for 5 minutes in the pan, then lift out the parchment paper to unmold the brownie.

  • Place the brownie on a rack, and drizzle extra melted chocolate on top if you like. I melted my chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave. Go with 30-second bursts, stir, repeat until melted, and drizzle over the brownie!

Caramelized Pecan Nuts

  • Melt coconut oil in a small frying pan over low heat.

  • Add roughly chopped pecan nuts and maple syrup.

  • Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, constantly stirring until it caramelizes.

  • Spread out on parchment paper to cool.

  • Sprinkle over the brownie after drizzling the melted chocolate.

  • These brownies are getting super fudgy when stored in the fridge. I recommend storing them in an airtight plastic box in the fridge for up to 3 days or in a cookie jar in the pantry.

Notes

Chocolate options: You can use any chocolate in this recipe. I tested 70% cocoa dark chocolate, which gives the perfect sweetness, it’s sugar-free, and it gives a perfectly sweet brownie without the extra carbs or sugar (get Sugar Free Lilly’s Bars). You can also use 85% cocoa chocolate for a bitter/less sweet brownie.

Sugar-free/low carb: don’t use maple syrup to caramelize the nuts. Use the same amount of sugar-free crystal sweetener as Swerve.

Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetashoneyrecipes

Serving Size: 1 brownie square

Yield: 16 brownies

Serving: 1brownie squareCalories: 115.8kcal (6%)Carbohydrates: 8.7g (3%)Fiber: 3.5g (15%)Net Carbs: 5.2gProtein: 3g (6%)Fat: 8.8g (14%)Saturated Fat: 3.7g (23%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.8gSodium: 30.2mg (1%)Potassium: 70.4mg (2%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 5.1IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 35.3mg (4%)Iron: 0.7mg (4%)Magnesium: 13.3mg (3%)Zinc: 0.3mg (2%)

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (24)

About The Author

Carine Claudepierre

Hi, I'm Carine, the food blogger, author, recipe developer, published author of a cookbook and many ebooks, and founder of Sweet As Honey.

I have an Accredited Certificate in Nutrition and Wellness obtained in 2014 from Well College Global (formerly Cadence Health). I'm passionate about sharing all my easy and tasty recipes that are both delicious and healthy. My expertise in the field comes from my background in chemistry and years of following a keto low-carb diet. But I'm also well versed in vegetarian and vegan cooking since my husband is vegan.

I now eat a more balanced diet where I alternate between keto and a Mediterranean Diet

Cooking and Baking is my true passion. In fact, I only share a small portion of my recipes on Sweet As Honey. Most of them are eaten by my husband and my two kids before I have time to take any pictures!

All my recipes are at least triple tested to make sure they work and I take pride in keeping them as accurate as possible.

Browse all my recipes with my Recipe Index.

I hope that you too find the recipes you love on Sweet As Honey!

Black Bean Brownies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do black beans replace in baking? ›

When substituting for butter or oil, try a 1:1 ratio. In this recipe for Black Bean Brownies, pureed black beans take the place of all the fat and some of the flour. Before you think twice about using beans, try the recipe. You won't be able to taste the difference.

Why eat black bean brownies? ›

The fudgy texture provided by the beans produces a healthy, gluten-free brownie that's packed with fiber and protein.

What does adding coffee to brownies do? ›

Adding coffee to your brownies boosts their flavor because its bitter quality balances out sweetness, making it less overpowering. It allows that delicious chocolate flavor to really shine. You can also switch out the water called for in the batter with brewed coffee.

What bean is closest to black beans? ›

Kidney Beans

Kidney beans have a similar texture to black beans and provide a creaminess to dishes. Their flavor is slightly different, but they make for a great substitute. Where to find it: You can get them canned or dried at. nearly any grocery store or find kidney beans on Amazon.

How healthy are black beans? ›

Black beans are among the most frequently consumed dry pulses around the world. They're considered nutritional powerhouses that are rich in plant-based protein, fiber, and antioxidants that help manage blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Is it OK to eat a lot of black beans? ›

Black beans can be high in carbohydrates, so they may not be ideal for people following a low-carb diet. They also contain some difficult-to-digest compounds that can cause gas and intestinal discomfort if you eat too many.

Why do bodybuilders eat black beans? ›

If you're looking for a high protein, low fat alternative to chicken and beef, this is the food for you. 2. BLACK BEANS 22g Protein (44% DV), , A great non-meat alternative that's high in protein and great for building muscle is black beans.

Why are black beans so healthy? ›

The fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, and phytonutrient content of black beans, coupled with its lack of cholesterol, all support heart health. This fiber helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease.

What is the white stuff in Goya black beans? ›

In response to the complaint, we advise you that due to the warmer weather coming in sooner then expected, the black beans were growing in very dry causing the liquid to solidify and a higher amount of starch, (white/grayish substance) to accumulate leaving the beans in a mashed state.

What is the white goo in black beans? ›

What is the gel that comes inside a can of black beans? It's called Aquafaba , which is just Latin for “bean water”. It's water plus stuff that dissolved out of the beans as they cooked: carbohydrates, fiber, and protein, plus salt. It's edible.

What is the white stuff in black beans? ›

Turns out bean goo is less terrifying than you might think: In most cases, it's just water and salt, along with starches naturally produced by the beans. Goya Foods, for example, cans its beans with salt and water to create a brine, which keeps them tasting fresh (in other words, the salt is a preservative).

What does adding milk instead of water do to brownies? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

Can I add coffee instead of water to brownie mix? ›

Swapping out the ingredients is easy: match the amount of water to coffee, and match the amount of oil to butter. With coffee instead of water, the brownies will taste even more chocolatey as the coffee enhances the flavors of chocolate, while the butter will make the brownies much richer and fudgier than the oil will.

Can I put coffee grounds in my brownie mix? ›

You certainly can, but using grounds out of a typical can of coffee from the grocery will leave your friends thinking your brownies are gritty. If you wish to add ground coffee to a recipe, you need to grind it to the fineness you would use to make espresso or, preferably, even finer.

Are black beans a substitute for flour? ›

Substitute black beans for all-purpose flour.

Are you craving brownies or cookies, but you're all out of flour? Substitute equal parts of all-purpose flour for pureed black beans for a high-protein, gluten-free alternative.

Can you use black beans as baking beans? ›

Best substitutes for pie weights:

I don't actually own pie weights but I do have a jar of “baking beans” that I use year after year with great success. I use a mix of heirloom beans that includes dried black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans.

How do you substitute black beans for meat? ›

Black beans are an excellent substitute for meat because they're hearty, full of protein, and have a very earthy flavor. They hold together very when mixed with some bread crumbs. And, once combined with some savory Italian spices they make the perfect vegan meatball.

Can black beans replace meat? ›

Sprinkle a little cumin, paprika, and chili into the pot while they're simmering, then top a steaming bowl with cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce, and a squeeze of lime. Suddenly you have an easy (and affordable) meal that's delicious and filling. Black beans are also a shining star when it comes to meat alternatives.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 5992

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.