Vegan Black Bean Brownies w/ Chocolate Ganache

These vegan black bean brownies are so fudgy and rich. They are made with healthy ingredients, like black beans, maple syrup, and coconut oil, so you can enjoy this guilt-free , gluten-free treat!

I'll never forget the first time I made black bean brownies. It was either my first or second week working in a professional kitchen. As you can imagine, cooking for 2-4 people is veryyy different than cooking for 100+ people. I really struggled keeping my work station clean as I tried to manage such a large volume of brownie batter. Emphasis on tried...

I was covered in it. There was chocolate all over my apron, chocolate all over my hands and arms, and there was definitely chocolate all over the counters. God bless our head chef for staying patient with me, showing me the ropes, and having faith in me.

I hadn't made black bean brownies since leaving the kitchen, but I started to crave them the other week. They are so dense and fudgy - a chocolate lover's dream!

These easy black bean brownies are:

Fudgy + decadent

Extra chocolate-y

So easy to make

Vegan

Gluten-free

Flourless

High in fiber and protein

How to make the brownies:

• Pre-heat the oven to 350F. Grease and line a 8x8 baking dish.
• Add the rinsed and drained black beans, cocoa powder, oat flour, and coconut oil to a highspeed blender or food processor and blend until mostly smooth.
• Add maple syrup, vanilla, flax egg, sea salt, baking powder, and chocolate chips and continue to blend, scraping down as needed.
• Transfer the batter to the baking dish and smooth out with the back of a spoon or a spatula.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the brownies are set.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache. Microwave the chocolate and mix in the tahini until well combined.
• Let brownies cool completely before adding ganache or cutting.

Tips for perfectly cut brownies

• Refrigerate the brownies prior to cutting. Cold brownies cut cleaner than warm ones!
• Use a sharp knife. Use a Chef's knife, not a dinner knife.
• Wipe your knife in between cuts. The cleaner your knife, the cleaner your cuts!
• Use a ruler if you want to be precise. I had this rulered bench scraper when working in a professional kitchen and loved it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you taste the black beans?

Nope! The chocolate masks the black beans. The cooked black beans do give the brownies a different texture though; they'll be more fudge-like.

Can I make these vegan black bean brownies in a food processor?

Absolutely. I used the blender because it gets the beans extra smooth. A food processor works well too though!

Can I use a different type of bean, like kidney beans?

I have not tried this recipe with kidney beans, but if you do please let me know!

What is tahini?

Tahini is a paste made from ground up sesame seeds. Without it, the ganache will be too hard. You can skip the ganache or substitute the tahini for peanut butter or almond butter.

Do these brownies freeze well?

Yes, they freeze very well!

You'll love these other chocolate-y recipes:

Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Chocolate Cookie Dough Bites

Dark Chocolate Hummus

Skillet Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookie