Chocolate Brownies

These delicious, fudgy brownies are sugar-free, wheat-free, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and loaded with goodness.

Some people may not even give these a try if they know the main ingredient hiding in them. Therefore, maybe it's best to keep that a secret!

​Since most of the "black bean" brownie recipes out there contain not-so-healthy ingredients, I thought I would create a healthy version. Even those die-hard brownie lovers think they are pretty awesome! 

Please buy organic ingredients whenever possible, for you and the planet!

This is one of our recipes from the Healthy Holiday Recipes ebook. Check out the full ebook here. 

Now for the recipe!
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​Ingredients:

1 tablespoon ground flax seed
2 tablespoons ground chia seed
3/4 cup filtered water

6 large dates, soaked in water for 10-15 minutes if they are dry  (or substitute 3/4 cup monk fruit)
1 3/4 cup cooked black beans* (see directions for preparing beans in Instant Pot below)   (or one 15 oz. black beans)
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​1/3 cup cacao powder 
1/3 cup almond flour (or substitute with cassava or tapioca flour)
3 Tbsp. monk fruit
1/4 cup almond butter
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon maple extract or peppermint flavoring (optional)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup Lily's dark chocolate chips (Lily's now has a variety of flavors, however the dark chocolate ones are the only ones that are dairy-free).

Directions if using food processor:

• ​Combine flax, chia and water in food processor with S-blade. Let sit for 10 minutes while getting remaining ingredients together.
• Add dates and black beans and blend until smooth.
• Add remaining ingredients, except the walnuts and chocolate chips and run food processor for 10-15 seconds until smooth. Try not to blend more than 15 seconds or the brownies will turn out flat.
• At this point you can either fold the walnuts and chocolate chips into the batter or spread the batter into parchment lined 9” square baking pan and sprinkle the walnuts and chocolate chips on top.  If you sprinkle them on top, gently press them into the dough so that they don't fall off after baking.
• Bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes.
• Let cool completely and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. They are too doughy if eaten before cooling. (They will not harm you if you eat them before they are cool since they do not contain eggs, however they taste so much better if allowed to cool).

Directions if using Vitamix

• Combine dates, black beans and water in high-speed blender container.
• Transfer to large mixing bowl.
• Stir in remaining ingredients, except the walnuts and chocolate chips.
• At this point you can either fold the walnuts and chocolate chips into the batter or spread the batter into parchment lined 9” square baking pan and sprinkle the walnuts and chocolate chips on top.  If you sprinkle them on top, gently press them into the dough so that they don't fall off after baking.
• Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes.
• Let cool completely and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. They are too doughy if eaten before cooling. (They will not harm you if you eat them before they are cool since they do not contain eggs, however they taste so much better if allowed to cool).

This is one of our recipes from the Healthy Holiday Recipes ebook. Check out the full ebook here. ​

Instant Pot Black Beans 
To prepare beans, soak 3/4 cup of dry black beans in 4 cups of water for 8-12 hours. Rinse beans 2-3 times with fresh water. Place the beans in your Instant Pot with 2/3 cup water. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes with natural release. You can also let the beans sit for 2-3 hours longer before opening the lid for a softer bean.

You can use canned beans for this recipe, but I prefer to cook mine since it is so fast and easy. Also, those of us with histamine intolerance should avoid canned foods.

Many Instant Pot recipes say there is no need to pre-soak beans before cooking, which is actually true if you are in a hurry, however there are many benefits to pre-soaking for optimum nutrition, including:

• Reducing phytic acid, polyphenols and tannins, therefore improving our body's absorption of vital nutrients, such as proteins, calcium, zinc and iron.
• Increases the production of beneficial enzymes that make the beans easier to digest
• Decreases the compounds that cause flatulence.

It's really not hard to pre-soak beans, nut, seeds and grains when you get in the habit of doing it as the last step before going to bed at night. It helps us to make healthier choices by thinking about what you will be preparing for your meals ahead of time. 

In the following video, I prepare the brownie batter in a food processor:

In this video I prepare the brownie batter in a high-speed blender:

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Looking for an easier way to make this recipe? Check out our Plant-Powered Brownie Mix!

With the mix, you will just need water, cooked black beans, coconut oil, almond butter, dates, walnuts (optional), chocolate chips (optional) (we love Lily's Chocolate Chips because they are dairy-free and sweetened with Stevia). The rest is done for you!

Click here to get your Plant-Powered Chocolate Brownie Mix
Find all our mixes on the Store Page.

Plant-Powered Chocolate Brownies Mix (Makes 16 Brownies)

$9.99

order here

In the following video I demonstrate how to make homemade vanilla powder with just 2 ingredients.

These taste just as great after they have been frozen, so make a double batch and freeze some for later!

Plant-Powered Chocolate Brownies Mix (Makes 16 Brownies)

$9.99

Order Here

Now that you see how easy they are to make, make yourself a treat! Take pictures and share with us here and on our Grateful Way page on FaceBook! 

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My goal is to help you make all of your meals healthier and increase the amount of plant-based meals in your diet. I hope that when you make these recipes you are excited to find that eating healthy can also be delicious. You don't have to be an expert in the kitchen to make any of these recipes. Preparing healthy recipes can be fast and easy with the right ingredients and equipment. Let's put the FUN and HEALTH back into our kitchens!

​Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.