Black Bean Brownie Recipe (2024)

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Black bean brownies are a healthy dessert that your kids will actually want to eat. Made with fiber-rich black beans instead of flour, these brownies are a delicious and nutritious treat that your kids will love!

Not only are these brownies high in fiber, but they’re also gluten-free and dairy-free, making them a great option for kids with dietary restrictions or food allergies. And with just a few simple ingredients, they’re incredibly easy to make.

So why not whip up a batch of these fudgy black bean brownies and surprise your kids with a tasty and healthy treat? They’ll never guess that they’re actually eating something good for them!

You’ll also love these decadent desserts Gluten Free Cookie Cake, Mini Flourless Chocolate Cake and No Bake Cookies (without Peanut Butter).

Table of Contents

High Fiber Brownies

This super easy black bean brownie recipe results in fudgy, delicious brownies the whole family will enjoy – and they’ll never know they are made with beans if you don’t tell them.

Black beans are a powerhouse of nutrients, especially fiber, which is why we love to incorporate into recipes when possible. The fact that we can blend beans into a kid favorite without compromising flavor or texture is a game changer!

Nutritional Benefits of Black Beans

Black Beans Are A Great Source Of Protein

Protein is essential for growing children, it’s responsible for the building, maintaining, and repairing of tissues. On average, kids aged 4-9 years require about 19 grams of protein daily. Children 9–13 years of age require about 34 grams of protein per day.

Black Beans Are High In Fiber

Fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble. Both are essential to keep your children’s digestive systems running smoothly. Soluble fiber breaks down with water in the GI tract, while insoluble fiber does not. Because of this, insoluble fiber helps with constipation and keeps the GI tract running properly.

How much fiber per day should your child be consuming? TheAmerican Dietetic Association recommends a child’s daily fiber intake should equal their age + 5 grams. For example, 5 years old + 5 grams = 10 grams of fiber per day.

Black Beans Are Full Of Antioxidants

What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are vitamins and minerals that defend the body’s cells from dangerous molecules called free radicals.

Did you know about all the nutritional benefits of black beans? Keep reading to learn more about beans, how to make gluten free brownies in 35 minutes, topping ideas and storage instructions.

To get started, gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!

Equipment

high-speed blender
measuring cups and spoons
spatula
8×8 inch baking pan
nonstick cooking spray ✅

Ingredients

15ouncesblack beans, drained and rinsed✅
2-3tablespoonsof water
3largeeggs
3tablespoonsunsweetened applesauce
3/4cupgranulated sugar
1/2cupcocoa powder✅
1/2cupmini semi-sweet chocolate chips or dairy-free chocolate chips + extra for sprinkling on top✅
1teaspoonvanilla extract✅
1/2teaspoonbaking soda✅
1/2teaspoonsalt

Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.

How To Make

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 8 x 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Blend the beans and water

Add drained black beans plus 2 tablespoons of water to the blender. Puree until smooth.

Add an additional tablespoon of water if the beans are too thick to puree. Scrape sides to ensure all beans are pureed.

Add the other ingredients

Add the rest of the ingredients to the blender, blending until well mixed. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

Bake

Bake 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean.

Tips for Brownies Made with Beans

Drain the black beans by dumping them into a colander and rinsing them under cool water.
Add a tablespoon of water at a time to the beans if challenged when pureeing. The beans should be smooth before adding additional ingredients to make the batter.
If you don’t own a food processor, blend the beans in a blender or smash with a potato masher in a mixing bowl.
Stick with black beans versus swapping for another bean variety for best results.
Turn into brownie bites by baking in a mini muffin tin. The cooking time will need to be adjusted. Bake for 10 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the bites comes out clean.
Swap the chocolate chips for white, dark, milk, mint or butterscotch chips. Turn to a dairy free alternative to keep this recipe completely dairy-free.
For ultra-thick brownies, double the recipe or use a smaller baking dish and continue to bake until the knife comes out clean.
Let brownies completely cool before slicing.
Add brownie toppings or mix ingredients into the brownie batter to customize this treat to your liking.

Brownie Topping & Mix-in Ideas

Chopped Nuts – pecans, peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts
Fruit– dried pineapple, cherries, chopped maraschino cherries
Nut Butters – peanut, almond, cashew or nut-free sunbutter
Extras – shredded coconut, sprinkles, caramel sauce, icing, mini marshmallows, gluten free Oreo cookies or pretzels

Storing Black Bean Brownies

At room temperature: Store at room temperature for up to 5 days in a covered container.

In the freezer: To freeze, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.

This makes it easy to remove the desired number of portions to thaw at room temperature before eating.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to cleanly slice brownies?

Easily slice brownies by spraying a sharp knife with nonstick cooking spray or running it under hot water, drying then slicing immediately.

How to serve?

Serve chilled, at room temperature or for best results warm. You can’t beat the fudginess of a warm brownie, especially when served with a glass of milk or topped with a scoop of ice cream or Greek yogurt. To reheat brownies, microwave for 15-20 seconds on a microwave-safe plate.

What do black beans replace in baking?

Black beans can be a replacement for fat and/or flour in a recipe. In the case of brownies, the beans are used instead of flour without compromising texture.

Can I use dried black beans instead of canned?

Absolutely, if your preference is to use dried beans then go right ahead. Cooking with dried beans does require additional time so plan accordingly.

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

Crack the eggs into a separate bowl then pour into the batter to prevent any accidental shells from going into the batter.
Any of the topping ideas can be stirred into the batter or added to the top of the baked brownies.
Blend the beans until smooth then add the additional ingredients to prevent overmixing the batter.

More High Fiber Desserts

High Fiber Smoothie
Blueberry Spinach Smoothie
Blueberry Spinach Muffins
Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins
Fruit Salad With Watermelon
Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Dates
Fruit Salad for Kids
Summer Fruit Kabobs
Mango Slushie

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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