Flourless Black Bean Brownies | Naturally Gluten Free

Black bean brownies are a particular type of flourless gluten free brownie, and this superb recipe doesn’t style like beans at all. Tasting is believing.

Side image of chocolate chip black bean brownie squares

What makes these black bean brownies particular?

Excessive in protein and fiber, these black bean protein brownies are made totally with primary pantry elements that just about everybody has already. And all of the tools you want is an easy blender (in any other case, you will have entire black beans in your brownies!), a bowl and spoon, and a pan to bake all of it in.

I believe can agree that baking with beans principally means tasting beans. However it doesn’t should be that means! I’m about to point out you that typically you may bake with beans and never style them. As an alternative, you’ll simply style … brownies.

The one tools you want is any blender (each my high-speed blender and my mini, nonfancy blender that I acquired totally free ages in the past work completely) or meals processor. Simply keep in mind that the meals processor received’t puree the beans fairly as easily.

The one elements are canned black beans, eggs, oil, cocoa powder, brown sugar, vanilla, a contact of baking soda, salt and a few brewed espresso (even decaf). Not like basic gluten free brownies, there is no such thing as a rice flour in any respect in these. They’re tender as could possibly be, plus wealthy and not-too-sweet.

overhead image of ingredients for black bean brownies in small bowls on light marble surface with names of ingredients in black bold type

What’s in it

Recipe elements

The complete recipe is under, however listed below are just a few phrases about the important thing elements in these brownies that I believe are useful to bear in mind:

Semi candy chocolate chips – These are totally elective, however they add additional chocolate taste and a few good texture to an in any other case very moist, melt-in-your-mouth brownie.

Black beans – The spine of this recipe, use good high quality canned black beans, and make sure to drain and rinse them till the water runs clear, then let the water drip out totally.

Eggs – With out flour, eggs are the principle binder right here. Be certain yours are at room temperature so they do not make the oil kind clumps.

Oil – A impartial oil is nice for baking with cocoa powder, since collectively they create a chocolate taste with the correct clean texture.

Pure vanilla extract – This helps improve the chocolate flavors, so do not skip it!

Brewed espresso – The depth of taste in brewed espresso is preferable to hydrated on the spot espresso granules; decaf is okay, for the reason that espresso is barely used to deliver out the flavour of the chocolate (you do not style the espresso itself)

Cocoa powder – For the deepest taste, use Dutch-processed cocoa powder, however since there’s baking soda within the batter, it should neutralize the acid of pure cocoa powder in order that’s positive, too.

Baking soda – To neutralize the acid in pure cocoa powder, and within the brown sugar, and supply a little bit of elevate. There is not any want for baking powder on this recipe, since we do not need the brownies to rise greater than they already do.

Salt – Salt at all times enhances the opposite flavors in any dish, in cooking or baking. I bake with kosher salt, because it has bigger granules which are a lot more durable to overmeasure than positive desk salt.

Brown sugar – Gentle brown sugar provides depth of taste and moisture together with sweetness, in fact.

How one can make black bean brownies

Put together the moist elements

Rinse and drain a can of black beans. Be certain you rinse them in addition to you may with out shedding any of the beans. They could break, however we’re going to mix them, so it doesn’t matter.
Place the beans, oil, eggs, vanilla, and occasional in a meals processor or a blender and switch that combination right into a puree. However even when your puree isn’t 100% clean, you nonetheless received’t style beans within the brownies.

oil, eggs with yellow yolks, vanilla extract and black beans in clear plastic blender canister

End making the brownie batter

Whisk collectively gentle brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in a big mixing bowl.
Add the blended or processed pureed bean combination, and blend to mix.
Combine in many of the chocolate chips, for those who’re utilizing them.
The combination will likely be fairly smooth, and thinner than “common” brownies.

large round metal mixing bowl with light brown sugar, dark brown cocoa powder, and white baking soda and salt, unmixed

Bake the brownies

Switch the uncooked brownie combination to a sq. baking pan lined with parchment paper or greased or nonstick aluminum foil.
Bake at 325°F for about 25 minutes, or till the middle springs again when pressed gently along with your finger. If you shake the pan gently back and forth, it would not jiggle in any respect.
Take away the pan from the oven and permit the brownies to chill in it till now not sizzling to the contact (about half-hour).
For cleaner slices, place the pan within the fridge or freezer to sit back earlier than eradicating from the pan and slicing into 9 equal squares.

8-inch square metal baking pan lined with foil with dark brown raw brownie mixture with chocolate chips on top

Black bean brownies out of pan uncut on white paper

Do these brownies style like beans?

No! You do not style the beans in these brownies; all you style is deep, wealthy chocolate taste. The vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and a little bit of brewed espresso handle that (no, you do not style the espresso both—simply the chocolate!).

These naturally gluten free black bean brownies are really flourless, however like all flourless baking, they want an alternate base. As an alternative of melted chocolate, like in our basic flourless brownies, the bottom right here is the common-or-garden can of black beans. The beans present construction and tons of fiber with out including any bean taste.

The identical goes for my flourless black bean cookies, which additionally style wealthy and chocolatey, by no means like beans.

Though they’r not chewy, these brownies additionally aren’t cake-like within the conventional sense. The look cakey, however they’re truly actually clean in texture. They fairly actually soften in your mouth.

Black bean brownie batter in square pan with white paper liner

My Professional Tip

Skilled suggestions

Use a blender for the smoothest texture

You may mix the drained and rinsed can of beans in a meals processor if that is all you’ve, however a blender will make the smoothest black bean puree. Which means the smoothest brownie texture.

Use a smaller, gentle coloured pan

Since these brownies are so tender and haven’t any actual flour substitute, they seem to be a bit extra fragile—so I wish to make them in an 8-inch sq. pan for that additional thickness. Be certain you are utilizing a light-colored steel pan or your brownies might burn earlier than they bake throughout!

Some readers have mentioned that they’ve efficiently made these brownies in lined muffin tins. Attempt lining the wells of a normal 12-cup muffin tin, filling them about 2/3 of the way in which full, and baking for about 18 minutes. Like within the unique recipe, they’re completed when the highest springs again when pressed gently within the middle along with your finger. Cool fully.

Do not overbake (however bake absolutely)

For a firmer, extra cake-like brownie, cease baking as quickly as they’re set within the middle and do not jiggle when moved facet to facet. They will be actually fudgy, although, so stick the cooled tin of brownies within the freezer or fridge for a couple of minutes for clear slicing. Watch out to not underbake them, although, or they will not maintain collectively even after they cool.

Allow them to cool fully for clear slicing

Irrespective of how lengthy you bake your black bean brownies, they’re going to should be cool, or your knife will drag via and choose up items of brownie alongside the way in which. For the cleanest slice, place the cooled pan of brownies within the fridge for half-hour or the freezer for 10 minutes earlier than slicing—and clear your knife after every lower.

What to serve with these brownies

For the reason that style is wealthy chocolate, similar to you’d anticipate, you actually can serve them any means you’d a basic gf brownie. Listed here are just a few serving options, however in fact they’re excellent on their very own:

Prime with a scoop of marshmallow ice cream for the last word clean and creamy addition
A dollop of whipped cream and some contemporary berries make a stupendous presentation
Drizzle some heat peanut butter on prime for a peanut butter-chocolate deal with

make forward/leftovers

Storage directions

You may retailer any leftover brownies at room temperature in a sealed container for two to three days. It’s also possible to retailer them that means for as much as per week within the fridge.

The feel and style of those brownies do very well within the freezer. Place them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet, and watch out with them as you load them into the freezer, although, because it’s arduous to keep away from breaking off some moist crumbs.

They by no means truly freeze stable, so you do not even actually need to defrost them until you favor them at room temperature. In that case, allow them to sit on the counter at room temperature for about half-hour earlier than serving them after freezing them.

Side image of black bean brownies with identifying words

substitutions

Recipe substitutions

Dairy free

These brownies are already dairy-free when the recipe is made precisely as written. Simply make sure to use dairy-free chocolate chips and you will be all set.

Egg free

If you cannot have eggs, you may strive utilizing a boiled flax eggs instead of every of the 2 eggs. These want extra construction than “chia” eggs can present.

Sugar free

I’m pretty sure that these brownies would work with coconut palm sugar instead of brown sugar, though I have not tried it. For a sugar-free substitute, strive Swerve brown sugar substitute or Lankato model brown sugar substitute.

Various sugars have a tendency to go away baked items a bit dryer than regular. I like to recommend including an additional tablespoon or two of brewed espresso to get the batter to the correct consistency.

Espresso

In the event you do not just like the style of espresso, relaxation assured the couple tablespoons of espresso solely improve the chocolate taste. The brownies do not style like espresso in any respect. You should use decaffeinated espresso, for those who do not need to add extra caffeine than is already within the cocoa powder.

It’s also possible to exchange the espresso with an equal quantity of milk or water. For added taste and sweetness, strive changing the espresso with 1 1/2 tablespoons (32 grams) pure maple syrup.

Selecting an oil

A neutral-tasting oil is all that you simply want right here, so you’ve plenty of choices. I normally use grapeseed or canola oil, since I at all times have these in my pantry. It’s also possible to strive peanut oil, however nothing with greater than a really delicate taste, like avocado oil. Keep away from olive oil, since we do not desire a competing taste.

Recipe FAQs

Are black bean brownies gluten free?

Some are! Some black bean brownie recipes are made utilizing black beans instead of some elements, however embody flour and most different basic brownie elements. This recipe is actually flourless, so it is safely and naturally gluten free.

Are black bean brownies more healthy than common brownies?

Sure! I’ve included (estimated) dietary data within the recipe card under, so you may see how a lot fiber and protein you will discover in these brownies—and the way little fats in comparison with a basic brownie recipe. They nonetheless have sugar, although, and oil, so they are not really well being meals.

Can I make these brownies chewy in texture?

No, this recipe would not have the construction to prove chewy, it doesn’t matter what you do. We now have a separate recipe for traditional chewy gluten free brownies that may be what you are on the lookout for.

Can I make these straightforward black bean brownies with out espresso?

Positive! The brewed espresso is barely added to reinforce the chocolate taste from the cocoa powder, and you do not style it. You should use decaf espresso, or simply exchange the liquid with any form of milk, and even water. The chocolate style will likely be a little bit bit extra delicate.

Can I take advantage of contemporary beans on this black bean brownie recipe?

You should use dried black beans that you’ve got cooked absolutely at house, however provided that you cooked them in plain water alone. In the event that they’re made with inventory, follow the plain black beans from a can.

How will you inform that these black bean chocolate brownies are completed baking?

The cake tester/toothpick take a look at is not dependable on this recipe, since it should come out practically moist even when the brownies are completed baking. Proceed to bake your brownies till the highest is ready and it springs again when pressed gently within the middle along with your forefinger. And while you shake the pan gently back and forth, it would not jiggle in any respect.
In the event you’re unsure that your brownies are completed baking, decrease the oven temperature to 300°F and proceed to bake for one more 3 to five minutes.

Black bean brownies in a pile in a metal baking pan

▢ 1 customary can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed properly
▢ 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs, at room temperature
▢ ¼ cup (56 g) impartial oil, (like grapeseed, canola, peanut, or vegetable)
▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
▢ 2 tablespoons sturdy brewed espresso, (decaf is okay)
▢ ¾ cup (60 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, (pure or Dutch-processed, your selection)
▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
▢ ¾ cup (164 g) packed gentle brown sugar
▢ 3 ounces semi-sweet or darkish chocolate chips, elective

Cook dinner ModeForestall your display screen from going darkish

Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch sq. baking pan securely with parchment paper or line with aluminum foil that’s nonstick or greased properly. Set the pan apart.
In a blender or meals processor, place the drained and rinsed beans, eggs, oil, vanilla and occasional, and mix or course of till clean.
In a big bowl, place the cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and brown sugar, and whisk to mix properly, breaking apart any lumps within the brown sugar.
Create a properly within the middle of the cocoa powder combination and add the pureed bean combination. Combine till well-combined. The combination will likely be very smooth.
Add about half of the (elective) chocolate chips to the batter and blend to mix.
Scrape the combination into the ready baking pan and unfold into an excellent layer with a spatula or by shaking the pan back and forth. Sprinkle the remaining (elective) chocolate chips even on prime of the batter, and press down gently to assist the chips adhere.
Place the baking pan within the middle of the preheated oven. Bake till the highest springs again when pressed gently with a finger (about 25 minutes).
Proceed to bake your brownies till the highest is ready, and it springs again when pressed gently within the middle along with your forefinger. And while you shake the pan gently back and forth, it would not jiggle in any respect.
For cakier brownies, decrease the oven temperature to 300°F and proceed to bake for one more 3 to five minutes or till the middle is absolutely steady.
Take away the pan from the oven, place it on a wire rack (nonetheless within the pan) and permit to chill till now not sizzling to the contact.
Take away from the pan and slice into squares with a pointy knife. For cleaner slicing, place the bars nonetheless within the cooled pan within the freezer for 10 minutes or the fridge for half-hour or extra.
Take away the brownies from the pan by lifting up on the paper or foil, and place it on a flat chopping floor. Utilizing a big, sharp knife, slice into 9 equal items utilizing one swift movement per lower.
Serve instantly after slicing.

Initially revealed right here on the weblog in 2016. In 2020, video and a few textual content added, recipe unchanged; in 2022, extra textual content and one picture added.

Diet data is mechanically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

Black bean brownies are a special kind of flourless gluten free brownie, and this amazing recipe doesn’t taste at ALL like beans. Really!