Rad Black Bean Brownies

The idea of using black beans to make brownies has always intrigued me, but I never had any great desire to actually make them. That was until I had a brownie craving.

Once my heart was set on brownies, my original intention had been to try out making them with avocados. That obviously didn't happen because 1) my avocados weren't ripe enough and 2) I wanted to use an avo in my dinner that night. On a student budget, avocados are a luxury. It's a hard knock life.

The idea of avocados in brownies still scares me. That will have to be my next experiment.

We aren't gathered here today to talk about nonexistent avocado brownies, though. We're here to talk about these rad black bean brownies of which I am now a major supporter.

These things actually taste like brownies. They taste like the delightfully unhealthy treats you buy at the bakery. The little (or big) chocolatey squares that cause a party in your mouth and warmth in your heart. The treats that we people call brownies.

Don't believe me? Try them out!

Rad Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients:

~ Black beans - 1 cup

~ Flax egg - 2

~ Coconut oil - 2 tablespoons

~ Cocoa powder - 1/2 cup

~ Salt - 2 teaspoons

~ Vanilla - 1 teaspoon

~ Coconut sugar - 1/2 cup

~ Baking powder - 1 teaspoon

~ Water - 4 tbsp

~ Fair trade coffee (espresso, instant, etc...) - 1 teaspoon

~ Vegan chocolate chips - click here for an easy recipe!

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to a toasty 350 degrees.

2. Make the vegan chocolate chips. To make the chocolate chips, follow the Creamy Homemade Chocolate recipe and once the chocolate has hardened, chop into tiny chunks. These are the chips.

3. While the chocolate chips are hardening in the freezer, make your 2 flax eggs. Q: What on earth is a flax egg??? A: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water = 1 flax egg.

4. Blend everything in your food processor except for the vegan chocolate chips. Now you have brownie batter! If the consistency seems too thick, add a tbsp or 2 more water. This batter will not be as runny as brownie batter from a box, so don't go overboard with the water.

5. Mix in the vegan chocolate chips.

6. Spread the batter evenly in a tin and let them bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes. They're finished when you can cut into them with a knife and the knife comes out clean.

Wait for the brownies to cool before cutting into squares. You just made some seriously rad black bean brownies. Reward yourself with a party in your mouth.