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There is nothing more decadent, fudgy, and delicious than these Gluten Free Brownies. They are made with simple ingredients and yield an unforgettable brownie that you will want to make time and time again.Super fudge-y, moist, chocolatey, and absolutely amazing: you won't believe that these brownies are flourless, gluten-free, low-fat, low-sugar, all-natural, and less than 100 calories per brownie!
The secret ingredient will surprise you...
These brownies are made with black beans.
Yup. That's right. BEANS.
You have to try it to believe it, but these don't taste like beans at all, they just taste like brownies! I took them to a dinner party where there were a bunch of kids all under the age of 8, and they all gobbled them up just like they were regular brownies. We didn't tell them they were healthy (shhh 🙂 )
Most healthy brownie recipes I've tried in the past have been too dry, or too cakey, but not these guys. They're an actual guilt-free treat.
The next time you are craving something sweet, rich, and filled with chocolate, then these gluten free brownies are exactly what you need. There is no more guilt when it comes to eating brownies because these are much healthier than your typical boxed brownie mix.
Tools and Equipment You'll Need
Recipe Ingredients and Notes
- Black Beans: The black beans replace flour in this recipe, but you won't taste them at all. Instead you'll just find they add moisture and richness to the batter!
- Eggs: To make these vegan, you can use flax eggs instead
- Cocoa Powder: 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Sugar: You can use granulated sugar or coconut sugar if you want to make it slightly lower glycemic
- Coffee: Critical to getting that rich chocolatey flavor from these brownies!
- Chocolate Chips: You can use semisweet or dark chocolate chips. You can also use an 88% dark chocolate bar cut up into chunks to lower the sugar and increase the chocolate flavor in these brownies.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a nonstick 9 x 9-inch square baking pan with baking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
Step 2: Blend the black beans, eggs, cocoa powder, sugar, oil, milk, balsamic, baking soda, baking powder and coffee in a food processor or blender until smooth and pour into a bowl. Fold in half of the chocolate chips until combined.
Step 3: Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips evenly over the top of the brownies.
Step 4: Bake the brownies until a toothpick comes out clean, about 30 to 32 minutes. Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing them into squares.
What Makes These Brownies Healthy?
Of course, brownies should always be eaten in moderation because of the sugar content, but there are a few things that make these brownies healthier than most:
- Low Calorie and Low Fat: Most traditional brownies will run you about 150-180 Calories, 8 grams of fat, and will have about 16 grams of sugar in them. One of these brownies has under 100 calories, only 3 grams of fat, and 10 grams of sugar!
- Antioxidants: Black beans, cocoa powder, and chocolate are all valuable sources of antioxidants which help in reducing inflammation in the body.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Thanks to the black beans - copper, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and folate can all be found in these brownies.
Will Kids Enjoy These Gluten Free Brownies?
I recently served these brownies to a group of kids and they were literally gone within minutes. Kids will gobble up these brownies and won't have a clue that they are actually eating a healthier brownie! Their irresistible flavor and how gorgeous they look are inviting to kids. Even with the black beans as an ingredient, they won't even notice!
Recipe FAQs
Are Black Bean Brownies Actually Good?Absolutely! These brownies are so rich and fudgy, no one will have any idea they have black beans in them. You'll be amazed that these gluten free brownies actually taste just as sweet and indulgent as regular brownies.
How Do You Cut Brownies So They Don't Fall Apart?There is nothing more frustrating than putting in the work to make a batch of brownies, and when you go to cut them, they fall apart. Here are some tips to make sure you get perfect brownie pieces when you go to cut them:
Be sure they have cooled all the way: Warm brownies tend to bunch up as you cut them, and they will fall apart.
Use a plastic knife: Plastic knifes will stick to the brownies less than metal knives or a butter knife. After each cut, you will need to wipe off the knife. This ensures that brownie crumbs don't accumulate on the knife and you'll get a cleaner cut.
Use parchment paper in the pan: This will prevent the brownies from sticking to the pan and will be less likely to come apart when removing from the baking pan.
Recipe Variations
There are always some fun things you can add to brownies to make them extra special. Here are some of my must-try variations.
- Nuts: Adding nuts gives you a fantastic crunch but also adds some flavor too. Any nuts will do too. Pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts are my favorites.
- Almond Extract: If you want a super rich brownie that has a little extra pizzazz, add 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract. It's so fun and tasty. You can even try 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract to switch things up!
- Cayenne Pepper or Cinnamon: I know it might sound a little crazy, but if you haven't tried brownies with a dash of cayenne or cinnamon, now is the time. It's a great way to bring out even more sweetness in the brownies, and the spice is nice too.
- Make Them Vegan: Substitute flax eggs for the regular eggs and almond milk for the 1% milk and you'll end up with brownies that are both gluten free and vegan!
Top Tips For Making Gluten Free Brownies
- It's essential to use a blender or food processor for the batter. If you try to make them by hand the beans won't get mixed as well, and you may end up with chunks. Because you are trying to hide the beans, getting them blended in all the way is a must.
- Don't overbake the brownies. They won't be as fudgy if you bake them too long. Take them out when they're just barely set - as soon as a toothpick comes out clean, they are done.
- Be sure to measure all the ingredients properly. While with other recipes you can guestimate how much you add, when it comes to baking it needs to be more exact.
- If you can, use a glass baking pan instead of a metal one - the heat distribution will be more even in a glass pan.
