BLACK BEAN CACAO BROWNIES

Serving size: 9

Black bean brownies might be one of my best recipe remake deceptions of all time. Not one single person I have served these to has ever guessed that there are black beans hidden inside. They taste like a good old-fashioned ooey-gooey, decadent and rich chocolate treat but are secretly packed with fiber, protein, antioxidants and more. Plus, the combination of protein & fiber in here won't cause your blood sugar to spike and will actually digest slowly in the body keeping you fuller for longer — now that's exactly how I want to end the night, satiated and satisfied.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups black beans (one 15 oz can)

• 1/2 cup oat flour

• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1/4 cup avocado oil

• 2 tablespoons cacao powder

• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup vegan semisweet chocolate chunks

Avocado oil is great for baking because it has a neutral flavor and a high smoke point which means it doesn't release toxic compounds when it reaches a high temperature. Plus, avocado oil is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, as well as vitamin E.

I exclusively use the Enjoy Life brand of semisweet chocolate chunks because I've found them to be the best tasting chocolate chips, even including non-vegan chocolate chip brands.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all the ingredients (except the chocolate chunks) in a food processor or high-powered blender and purée until completely smooth.

Remove the batter from the food processor, stir in the chocolate chunks, then pour into a greased 8 x 8 square baking pan. At this point, I like to sprinkle several more chocolate chunks on top.

Bake the brownies for 15-18 minutes and allow them to cool completely before cutting.

Feel free to stir in and/or top the brownies with any other add-ins of your choice before baking such as walnuts, pecans, cacao nibs, flaked sea salt, or even some vegan mini marshmallows.

These are equal parts cakey, chewy, and fudgey with an intensely rich chocolate flavor and a dense, super moist texture. Brownies are a timeless hit and making them with black beans significantly boosts their nutritional profile. Let's not also forget that using nutrient-dense *cacao* instead of processed *cocoa* adds an additional boost of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals shown to improve mood, metabolism, and skin health.