My favourite recipe for heart-healthy chocolate fudge brownies
There are enough surprising ingredients in this recipe to make you suspect that the more of these brownies you eat, the healthier you’ll actually become. Just kidding about that last part, dear Heart Sisters. But who puts black beans, coffee, cayenne pepper, and the kitchen sink into a heart-smart brownie recipe? It’s a hybrid of a number of different recipes – a bit from here, a bit from there. Even vegans will love these unique chocolate brownies. Hint: don’t spill the (black) beans when you serve these to family or friends. Let people guess in advance what the secret ingredients are. So far, we’ve never had anybody guess correctly!
Carolyn’s Heart-Smart Black Bean Chocolate Fudge Brownies
First, preheat your oven to 350 and lightly spray or oil an 8 x 8 baking pan.
In a small bowl, combine:
- 1 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 c. raw sugar
- 1/4 c. strong coffee, cooled
In a large bowl, combine:
- 3/4 c. flour (I use 1/4 c. whole wheat, 1/2 c. unbleached white)
- 1/3 c. cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. baking powder (reduce to 1 tsp. if you prefer fudgier brownies)
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 c. ground flax seeds
- cayenne pepper to taste – warning: start low, go slow: my first try was too *hot*
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the applesauce mixture. Then add:
- 1 c. mashed, cooked (or canned) black beans
Mix until just combined, then gently fold in:
- 1/2 c. semi-sweet or dark vegan chocolate chips – from your health food store
- 1/2 c. cup coarsely chopped unsalted natural almonds (optional)
Spread in prepared pan and bake in preheated oven 25-30 minutes, until centre is firm and not sticky. Cool completely before slicing into squares.
Enjoy, and smile.
What do you think of this recipe? Share your opinions below, or return to homepage
on February 10, 2010 on 8:46 am
Is there somewhere I can get a nutrition breakdown on these recipes, such as calories, fat and fiber?
on February 10, 2010 on 9:06 am
Hi Maryanne – I’ve adapted this recipe from a few different recipes, but here’s my best-guess rough estimate of the nutritional breakdown, per serving: 77 calories, 3 g fat (0.7 sat fat) and 2 g of fibre. Hope you enjoy them…
cheers,
C.
on January 31, 2010 on 7:13 pm
These brownies are so delicious and nutritious that I may well start eating them for breakfast!
Thanks for sharing, Carolyn
on January 31, 2010 on 7:28 pm
Hi Paula – how about we just rename them “Breakfast Brownies”!
on January 19, 2010 on 8:48 am
I will add this website to my Stumble Upon favorites!
on January 18, 2010 on 6:32 am
Delectable recipe!
. I love your site.
Remembrance from Russia.
on December 26, 2009 on 2:48 am
Thank you for giving us such an informative site. Your website is not just knowledgeable, but also very creative too. We keep looking for content like this!! Can’t wait to try this out in our own kitchen.
on November 18, 2009 on 12:04 pm
This has become our newest family favourite dessert, and because it’s so high protein, we don’t even feel guilty enjoying it. We even served it last weekend as my son’s birthday cake and it was a hit. Do you have other great heart-smart chocolate recipes or a good resource to recommend? Please run more of these great healthy recipes. I’ve often thought that special once-in-a-while treats for my kids don’t all have to be 100% junk to taste good, and these brownies prove that to be true. THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on November 9, 2009 on 12:03 pm
Love, love, love, love this recipe! Such a creative and unusual mix of ingredients – keeps the family guessing right to the last chocolatey crumb. They all loved it too.
on November 7, 2009 on 1:05 am
We made these yesterday to take to a potluck dinner and they were the hit of the party. Definitely a keeper. Nobody could believe what your “secret ingredient” was! Thanks for this – We’re forwarding to all our friends who love to bake but still want to stay healthy.
on October 30, 2009 on 1:43 am
I tried this recipe and it is fabulous! Nobody guessed what the ’secret ingredients’ were. Not only delicious but actually healthy. Thank you for this – I will definitely be distributing this recipe to others.
on August 11, 2009 on 5:21 am
Many feel that chocolate is not good for health. But some are good for health like, unsweetened chocolate, bitter-sweet chocolate, raw chocolate bar. One can add ground cacao beans to smoothie preparations, sweet dishes, tea or beverages, yoghurts, granolas, ice-cream. One can even make a beverage by blending the powdered cacao with hot water or with milk substitutes like hemp milk, multigrain milk, or coconut milk. Also chocolate sauce can be made.
on August 9, 2009 on 9:10 pm
This recipe does look fabulous! I am going to make one tomorrow night – it sounds so good!
on July 30, 2009 on 10:50 pm
This recipe looks fabulous! Maybe you’ll enjoy checking out my blog:
rachelscottagehouse.wordpress.com