Making healthy desserts can be quite challenging because most desserts rely on lots of sugar, butter and refined flour. We know that overconsumption of these ingredients can lead to a host of problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, but you also might not getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need if you are filling up on these empty calories. So I like trying to make a dessert that tastes just as good as the original but actually provides something for your body. So in comes black bean brownies…

I have been looking at recipes for black bean brownies for a long time but I have been kinda afraid to try them. I love black beans but I was afraid I was going to still taste them and be disappointed….and a disappointing dessert is just the worst. I decided to go for it because black beans are naturally low in fat, and high in fiber and protein. They provide a host of many other nutrients and antioxidants that many americans don’t get enough of, so as long as I can hide the black bean flavor, no one will know all the extra secret nutrients they are getting.

My first try did not go so well. I tried using a lot less butter and sugar than standard brownie recipes but I think I took it a little too far. I used applesauce as a replacement for some of the butter and sugar but the brownies came out tasting like bitter chocolate mushy beans. Luckily I was able to scrounge up enough ingredients for another try. This time I used more sugar (but still less than many other brownie recipes), peanut butter, and removed the butter completely. I figured the peanut butter should give creaminess and help mask the taste of the beans along with the sugar. And it worked! They tasted like regular brownies 🙂

Peanut Butter Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients

1 Can of Reduced Sodium Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed

1 Egg

1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 8×8 inch glass baking pan with cooking spray. Add all ingredients except for the chocolate chips in a food processor or really good blender and blend until uniform with no chunks. Fold in chocolate chips and pour into glass baking pan. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until completely cooked. Brownies should start pulling away from pan edges, little cracks should form across the top and toothpick inserted into center should come out clean when done. Enjoy!