Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
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These fudgy black bean brownies are rich, chocolatey, and naturally gluten free. Made with simple ingredients, they bake up soft and decadent every time.
With over 100 five star reviews these black bean brownies are one of EBF’s most popular dessert recipes so if you haven’t tried them yet, here’s your sign!
They’re a breeze to whip up and come out tasting moist, fudgy and plenty sweet. And trust me, nobody will even be able to tell that they’re made with black beans. They get blended up in your food processor and are completely undetectable. The beans essentially just replace flour, plus they add some fiber and protein.
I’ve tried other black bean brownie recipes before and none have turned out as good as this recipe, if I do say so myself. I think you’re going to LOVE them just as much as we do!
Table of Contents
“No one knew these weren’t regular brownies! I’ll definitely be making these more often… love that they weren’t too sweet; sometimes brownies are sickly sweet and these were perfect!”
Why I Love These Black Bean Brownies
- Ultra fudgy texture: These brownies bake up soft, dense, and chocolatey, with that classic fudgy center.
- Simple prep: Everything comes together in a food processor, which keeps the prep quick and the batter smooth.
- Naturally gluten free: No flour needed, and they’re easy to adapt for different dietary needs.
- Sweetened with maple syrup: A natural sweetener that pairs perfectly with the rich chocolate flavor.
Ingredients Needed
- black beans – acts as a flour substitute and adds protein and fiber! I used one can of black beans (drained and rinsed), but you can always use dry black beans instead. I haven’t tried this, but someone else used 154g of dry black beans and the brownies turned out well.
- eggs – helps bind the ingredients together and provide structure for the brownies.
- coconut oil – to help add moisture to the brownies. Olive oil, avocado oil or butter works as a substitute.
- cacao powder – can’t have brownies without cocoa powder for that chocolate flavor! If you don’t have raw cacao powder, unsweetened cocoa powder works too! I really like Navitas organic cacao powder.
- sea salt and baking powder – two baking essentials!
- pure vanilla extract – for some added flavor.
- pure maple syrup – the perfect liquid sweetener for these brownies. Just be sure to use pure maple syrup, not the artificial kind labeled “pancake syrup” that’s made from corn syrup. Another liquid sweetener like honey or agave would also work.
- chocolate chips – can’t have brownies without chocolate chips! Feel free to use your favorite brand!
- walnuts – I love the added crunch the chopped walnuts add, but you can totally skip these or use another nut instead.
Dietary Substitutions
- Vegan: To make this recipe vegan you could use flaxseed eggs. I have tested these brownies with flax eggs and the brownies turned out, they just didn’t rise as well.
- Nut-free: Skip the walnuts and top your brownies with more chocolate chips if you prefer.
- Dairy-free: Make sure the chocolate chips you’re using are dairy-free.
- Low-sugar: To reduce the sugar content of these brownies you could use stevia-sweetened chocolate chips like Lily’s chocolate chips and swap the maple syrup with sugar-free monk fruit maple syrup.
How to Make Black Bean Brownies
Step 1: Preheat the oven and grease baking pan. Place the beans, eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, cocoa powder, salt and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Step 2: Remove the blade and gently stir in your chocolate chips and walnuts, if using.
Step 3: Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes, or until brownies are set in the center and a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 4: Cool completely, cut into squares and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Black Bean Brownies
- Blend until completely smooth: Take an extra minute to fully blend the batter so the brownies bake up soft and fudgy with no texture from the beans.
- Do not overbake: Pull the brownies when the center is just set. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool and stay nice and fudgy.
How to Serve
I love eating these brownies plain, but if you want to get fancy here are some topping ideas:
- Nut butter – Add a drizzle of nut butter on top of your brownies for some healthy fats and added protein.
- Coconut whip – These brownies would be delicious with a dollop of coconut whip cream on top!
- Ice cream – You can’t go wrong with a scoop of ice cream when serving these brownies!
- Caramel sauce – These brownies paired with a drizzle of my date caramel sauce would be to die for!
- Yogurt – Want to eat a brownie for breakfast? Crumble it on top of some Greek yogurt (or any yogurt of choice) with a sprinkle of granola (this homemade granola is delicious) and fresh berries. Like a breakfast brownie sundae… so yummy!
How to Store
These brownies never last long in our house, but here are some storing tips:
- At room temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
- In the fridge: Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.
- In the freezer: These brownies freeze well! Store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the brownies in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
These black bean brownies are still considered a treat, but they’re definitely made with more nutritious ingredients than many desserts and baked goods. They’re made without flour so are lower in calories than many brownie recipes and they have 4 grams of protein per brownie. Plus, they’re naturally sweetened with maple syrup.
The black beans are used instead of flour so there’s no gluten in these brownies and they have a little extra fiber and protein. Not only is this awesome for dietary purposes, but it also means that you can blend the batter right in your food processor or blender.
I haven’t tried using another bean for these brownies and I wouldn’t recommend it. I. do have a recipe for chickpea brownies if you want to use chickpeas.
Yes, you can use a high-speed blender to make these brownies if you don’t have a food processor.
More Brownie Recipes to Try
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- ¼ cup cocoa powder, or raw cacao powder
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup chopped raw walnuts, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
- Place beans, eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
- Remove the blade and gently stir in your chocolate chips and walnuts, if using. Another option is to sprinkle the walnuts on top of the brownie batter once you pour it into the pan.
- Transfer mixture to the prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes, or until brownies are set in the center and a toothpicks comes out clean. Cool completely, cut into squares and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Eggs: To make this recipe vegan you could use 3 flax eggs (1 Tablespoon flaxseed + 3 Tablespoons water for each egg). I have tested these brownies with flax eggs and the brownies turned out, they just didn’t rise as well.
- Coconut oil: Melted butter, avocado oil or olive oil works too.
- Maple syrup: Another liquid sweetener like honey or agave would also work.
- Walnuts: You can totally skip these or use another nut instead.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Equipment
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
can you replace the coco powder with anything? maybe more chocolate chips? or melted chocolate?
Hey Kristin – You could use cocoa powder instead, but I don’t recommend swapping it with melted chocolate. It will change the consistency of these brownies.
I rated this recipe with five stars because it is sooo easy to make. I haven’t tried them yet. they are currently in my oven right now. 15 years ago I made black bean brownies with a recipe I got from a woman at a grocery store where I was working. I didn’t write the recipe down so I half remembered what to put in it and they were awful. I still remember my mom’s face when she tried them. Now that I have an actual recipe to use, I’m so excited to try them. They smell good.
How’d they turn out for you, Tina?!
These are so, so good. I went with 1/3 cup of melted butter instead of coconut oil (it was my first time making them and I wanted to ensure I got an authentic brownie flavor, and I only had Lily’s sugar-free dark chocolate chips on hand (these were fine, but I can imagine how much better these will be when I make them next with regular semi-sweet chocolate chips). My husband had no idea there were black beans in there and was surprised when I told him. They are so good; like a flourless chocolate torte! Definitely will make again 🙂
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Tanya!! I’m so glad these brownies were a hit with you and your husband. Thanks for trying them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
Hello, how do you think, can I use garbanzo beans instead of black beans?
Hi Laura. I’ve never tried the recipe with chickpeas so I’m not sure it they would work. If you’re up for experimenting and want to try it, please be sure to let me know how they turn out!
Hey Laurra – I actually tested these with chickpeas today and the chickpea flavor was really present and the brownies were kind of earthy tasting. That said, they weren’t my favorite and I wouldn’t recommend using chickpeas in this recipe.
This looks delicious, thank you for sharing!
These are great. Super easy to make and quite delicious. They are great warm but I love them after they are cooled in the refrigerator. Gives them a fudge like consistency. Will definitely be making again.
Yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Philip. I’m so glad you enjoyed these brownies. Thanks for giving my recipe a try and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. It’s super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it!
These are so good! I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about the beans but they’re delicious! Highly recommend.
Ahh yay!! I’m so glad you ended up enjoying these brownies, Madeleine. Thanks for giving my recipe a try and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. It’s super helpful to other readers. 🙂
Wow!! Homerun brownies.
I added a bit of baking powder and baking soda and a bit more cocoa and these
are incredibly insanely delicious!
Huge thank you for inspiring a can of black beans!! I would give 20 stars if I could.
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Janell!! I’m so glad you loved these brownies. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It’s super helpful to other EBF readers, so I really appreciate it!
I am about to make these brownies for a going away party for someone at my Crossfit gym. Janell, I was wondering how much baking soda and powder you added? And, Brittany, I tried a different recipe about 19 years ago. It was great, but I don’t remember it. I tried a different one again lat year, and it was awful. LOL!! I am excited to try your recipe and will definitely be back to leave my review 🙂
I shared some with my neighbors and they totally loved it even made some back for me ! So good and takes away those cravings ! 🤤
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Annette. I’m so glad these brownies were a hit. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Just made these and they are great! Even my husband liked them and didn’t tell him they were made with black beans until after he ate it.
Haha love it!! How’d he feel after you told him they were made with black beans?! I’m so glad they were a hit though!! Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3