Healthy Brownies (That actually taste delicious!)

Have you ever tried black bean brownies? Let me guess- if you have you weren’t thrilled with the results and resigned yourself to a life where if you want to be healthy brownies are no longer your friend. Well I am here to help. These are packed with nutrition and actually taste amazing! They are fudgy, soft, sweet and chocolatey and healthy!!

A couple of years ago when I came across the concept of black bean brownies I thought they sounded weird and gross. But I tried them any way… they pretty much lived up to my initial expectation… in fact they kind of exceeded it (not in a good way). So I decided they weren’t something I’d be trying again.

Well a couple of weeks ago my mom gave me a magazine with an article she thought I’d be interested in and I came across another recipe. This one was a little different and sounded like it might be good, so I decided to give it another try.

They were better… but still not great.

So I tweaked and tried again… a little better, but still not there.

More tweaking… more trying again… a family a little bit tired of taste testing brownies made out of beans.

But then?? I got it.. like totally got it, like husband who said he would never like a brownie made of beans came back for seconds, got it!!

This recipe is a winner. I don’t take sweets lightly, dessert is serious stuff in my book. If I’m going to make a healthy version it better be just as good as the sugar laden one or it’s just not worth the effort or calories that just make you want what you’re trying to replicate.

These? They make you want more of them, because they are awesome… super awesome… deliciousness!!!

Here’s what you’ll need-

A food processor

1- Can Black Beans (rinsed & drained)

1/2- Cup Cooked & Mashed Sweet Potato ( you can microwave a sweet potato for about 4 minutes and it’s perfect- poke a few holes in the skin first)

1/2 – Cup Coconut Oil

15- Large Dates (pitted)

1 1/2 -tsp Vanilla

1/2- Cup Honey

3/4 – Cup Whole Wheat Flour (or other flour of your choice)

2/3- Cup Cocoa Powder

1- tsp Baking Powder

1/2- tsp Salt

 

First get your oven preheating to 350 and grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.

Now the secret of these is getting the texture just right. You’ll be doing a lot of blending, getting everything nice and smooth is key. I’ve worked out the order I find works best- feel free to experiment depending on your machine.

Now put your dates in the bowl of your food processor and blend them until they are finely chopped. Add in your honey and coconut oil and blend until nice and smooth.  Add in the sweet potato and continue blending.

By now you should have something the consistency of a thick smoothie. Now it’s time to add the beans.

Blend, and blend some more. Leave no bean left unblended.

Now add in your dry ingredients- cocoa powder, flour, salt and , baking powder. Blend until everything is well incorporated.

Pour the batter into your pan and smooth out the top.

Pop it in the oven for 30- 35 minutes.

There is no way to really test these, the top will look dry. You don’t want to over cook them or they dry out, so er on the side of less time.

Let them cool completely and then cut into squares.

Keep them covered or sealed in an air tight container.

I personally think these are even better the next day… if there’s any left!

Have you ever tried a healthy version of anything and found it lacking? I’d love to hear what you’ve tried!

 

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