Beanie Weenie Brownies

There's beans in my brownies!

No really!  And I think it's a good thing?


There is a recipe for brownies made with black beans that has been circling the health community for about a year.  I first saw it peddled by "celebrity" "chef" Rocco Dispirito on the Dr. Oz Show and it has also made appearances on the Today Show and in Women's Running magazine.  


I want to thank one of Kyle's clients, Cindy, for sending this recipe to us and for getting me some of the harder to find ingredients. (psst- send me your crazy food recipes and I will gladly experiment)

Brownies are not health food.  I don't need to tell you that.  But people need dessert.  And people NEED chocolate.  (And I'm sure I can find scientific fact to back that up.  It's science.)


They come out more "fudgy" than brownie in my opinion. I kept them refrigerated and topped them with FF cool whip and and blackberry.


So without further ado.....*drumroll*  I give you....

Batter in Blender

Ready to Bake

FUDGY BLACK BEAN BROWNIE BARS

Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray

15 ounces canned black beans, rinsed and drained

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. espresso powder

¾ liquid egg substitute

3 tbsp. whole-wheat pastry flour

¾ cup agave nectar

1 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray an 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.  Combine the beans, cocoa powder, espresso powder, egg substitute and flour in the bowl of a food processor.  Process until the mixture is smooth, about two minutes, scraping down the bowl halfway through.  Add the agave, butter and vanilla.  Process until all of the ingredients are combined (about one minute).

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, and smooth the top with a spatula.  Bake for 20 minutes, turning the dish halfway through the baking time.  Then turn the temperature of the oven down to 300 degrees F and bake for another five to eight minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a little bit of soft batter clinging to it.  It should not come out clean, if it does it’s overcooked.

Let the bars cool completely at room temperature in the baking dish on a wire rack.  Then put them in the fridge for at least three hours.  When they’re cold, cut them into 12 squares and serve.  Refrigerate any leftovers.

Nutritional information per serving:

110 calories, 1.5g fat, 24g carbohydrate, 3g fiber, 4g protein, 103mg sodium

Please make some and let me know what you think!

Love and beans,
Carissa & Kyle