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Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

Serves: 12

Category: Desserts
Author: www.drfuhrman.com
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Average Rating:
Rated by: 89 members

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(Give a recipe one to five stars. Click the appropriate star to submit your rating)

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked or canned no-salt-added or low-sodium black beans

10 medjool dates or 1 1/4 cups regular dates, pitted

2 tablespoons raw almond butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup natural, non-alkalized cocoa powder

1 tablespoon ground chia seed

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Combine the black beans, dates, almond butter and vanilla in a food processor or high-powered blender. Blend until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and blend again. Spread into a very lightly-oiled 8 x 8 inch baking pan. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Cool completely and apply topping if desired. Cut into small squares.

Store in a covered container in the refrigerator up to one week.

Optional Topping:
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons natural, non-alkalized unsweetened cocoa powder
5 medjool dates
splash vanilla extract

Blend topping ingredients in a high powered blender.

Calories 123; Protein 4 g; Carbohydrates 25 g; Sugars 14 g; Total Fat 2.4 g; Saturated Fat 0.5 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 2 mg; Fiber 5.6 g; Beta-Carotene 18 ug; Vitamin C 0 mg; Calcium 40 mg; Iron 1.4 mg; Folate 48 ug; Magnesium 59 mg; Potassium 320 mg; Zinc 0.8 mg; Selenium 1.4 ug

Comments (58):

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Christine

08/06/2012 02:08 PM

Rated this recipe:

So great to have a chocolate treat i don't feel guilty eating! We keep them in the refrigerator and enjoy them for at least a week. It did not mix well in the blender...much better in the food processor. This recipe requires a bit of an acquired taste but are really awesome warm with a bit of ice cream, regular or Fuhrman style. I am looking forward to trying the other brownie recipe. I only had this one from the Dr. Oz show.

fcristiano

08/10/2012 02:21 PM

Rated this recipe:

they are amazing i may be eating to much of them. what are the calories here for this dessert?

bsonic57

08/20/2012 03:09 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

I put it into the recipe calculator on Sparkpeople.com and it came out to approximately 60 calories if you cut it into 16 squares. Not bad!!!!!

annaul

08/31/2012 07:31 PM

Rated this recipe:

Excellent brownies. Love them! If you cut them into 9 pieces it would be 144 calories each.

Rami

09/08/2012 02:17 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

All I have is a Magic Bullet, which makes the
process of mixing the ingredients a bit torturous... I added fewer dates and a couple of scoops of Stevia to offset the bitterness of the unsweetened cocoa powder. I also added some goji berries. When it was all blended the result was sensational - like a velvety chocolate moose! Absolutely delicious! I liked it better as a moose than as a brownie, actually. This is a great way to increase my intake of legumes.

naturegirl

09/18/2012 07:00 PM

Rated this recipe:

I love these! A small brownie is very filling and satisfying. I make this recipe alot and it keeps me out of other trouble...lol

cagle2

09/28/2012 03:02 PM

Rated this recipe:

I'm making these now. They are in the oven so I'll let you know how they turn out. I did not have almond butter but I did have some homemade almond cream, used 2 tbl of that instead.
Also do not have an 8x8 inch pan instead used a 15 mini muffin pan.
calories per serving for mine | 3 mini brownies
calories 193; carbs 37g; fat 2g; protein 10g; fiber 10g
now that's a healthy dessert

okay they are out of the oven. I baked them half the time since they were in the mini muffin tin. Turned our INCREDIBLE which is why I gave them 5 stars. Fudgy just as Dr. Fuhrman states. Thank you!

This comment was last edited on 09/28/2012 06:14 PM

MargieM

10/10/2012 07:38 PM

Rated this recipe:

As for preparation, I had to add half a cup of almond milk to get the batter wet enough that my Cuisinart could process it. I also stirred in chopped walnuts after the rest was all smooth, and that was a happy addition. I cut down on the dates and found the brownies were not sweet enough to cover the bitter of the cocoa. Next time I'll know not to do that.

This comment was last edited on 10/26/2012 02:45 PM

Jeffk24

11/03/2012 02:47 PM

Rated this recipe:

The first time I made them, I thought they were awesome, probably because its been years since I have had a real brownie. I have been gluten free and vegan even before joining this program so I have not had a real cookie or brownie in a long time but boy I have been craving them. I love these, they taste great and have a real fudge like taste. I also got the recipe from dr oz and used a banana ice cream topping and it's delicious. I served it to some friends and they loved it! The 2nd time I made them and once again I loved them but I served them to a different group of friends (less healthy, standard American diet people) and they thought it tasted like a healthy, "weight watchers", brownie that only healthy people eat. So clearly it's not for everyone, but I love them and I will make continue to make them as a good treat.

As FYI a few things about the recipe. I used cashew butter instead of almond butter and add a splash of hemp milk to help it mix in the blender.. It is very hard to mix it in a blendtech blender but after doing it about 10 times. It comes together nicely.

This comment was last edited on 11/03/2012 02:50 PM

Renaissance12

11/18/2012 10:35 PM

Rated this recipe:

These turned out quite well! I had to add about 1/2 cup or so of soy milk because it was so dry, there was not way it was going to blend into any kind of batter otherwise. I also did it in a muffin tin and cooked it for about an hour. Probably could have left it a bit longer as was quite soft inside still. Avocado icing turned out well--altogether a very rich dessert!

tracyspr

12/24/2012 11:44 PM

Rated this recipe:

My husband doesn't like these but loves the oat nut bars. I on the other hand absolutely love them. To me they taste better than traditional brownies as they remain fudge soft. Since I was the only one eating them, I got to have one every day afte supper and NO GUILT. Love these and I gotta go cause it's time to make some more. By the way, I added the 1/2 cup of almond milk as well because they needed the moisture and they were perfect.

This comment was last edited on 12/24/2012 11:46 PM

cafnu

02/20/2013 11:08 PM

Rated this recipe:

I've made these a few times. This last time, I prepared the optional topping first in the Vitamix and did not rinse it prior to mixing up the brownies. By far, the best batch!

Rachel

04/01/2013 07:29 PM

Rated this recipe:

Loved these! The texture was a little off-putting at first, but I think it's because they were still warm. I kept them in the freezer and after trying them cold, I had a hard time not eating the whole batch! I can't wait to share these with my SAD friends!

Barbnye630

04/25/2013 01:59 PM

Rated this recipe:

Hard to make in the blender and I had to add liquid. They are sensational

Linda P.

05/20/2013 09:12 AM

Rated this recipe:

I just made this and it's fantastic! Delicious and healthful. Thanks for sharing.
-Lise

joette0502

06/02/2013 10:21 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

I make these alot and pass them out at work. My girlfriends beg me for more! I add 1/2 cup of water to the mix and usually make a double batch at a time! They are amazing!

This comment was last edited on 06/02/2013 10:33 PM

Jane

06/08/2013 11:21 AM

Rated this recipe:

Absolutely one of the best foods I've ever eaten. This makes me feel like I'm 'cheating' because it tastes like something between a brownie and fudge. I cut it up into 25 squares and froze half of the batch and then took a square with me in my lunch for my afternoon treat. When I finished them up, I put the frozen brownies in the fridge and they defrosted and were just as good as the fresh ones. I used the food processor and added a little almond milk to help with the dryness. I put the little brownie in a bowl and covered with sliced strawberries....heavenly.

This comment was last edited on 06/08/2013 11:21 AM

NHarper19

06/12/2013 10:35 AM

Rated this recipe:

I ended up hand mashing these because they did NOT move in my Nutribullet at all. I missed a couple of the whole beans and was worried they would taste terrible. I put them in the freezer and ate one, with a whole bean, and it had the texture of a chocolate chip! So delicious!!! I'm actually thinking of leaving a few whole black beans in there when I make them next time!!!

This comment was last edited on 06/12/2013 10:35 AM

NHarper19

06/12/2013 10:36 AM

Rated this recipe:

champagne

06/12/2013 09:45 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Everyone is posting calorie content, but you shouldn't be thinking about calories if you eat to live. If you are eating this way, then having a black bean brownie a couple of times a week won't hurt you. They just shouldn't be eaten every day. It is a treat.

Susan

06/21/2013 01:24 AM

Rated this recipe:

This was really quite delicious. I definitely recommend adding a 1/2 cup of soy milk or almond milk. As a very new adherent to the Nutritarian Diet, it wasn't exactly like a brownie in terms of texture, but was perfect in terms of taste. Before refrigeration, it had the texture of re-fried beans. AFTER a night of refrigeration, it was MUCH more brownie-like. Overall, definitely something I will make again and again. P.S. It was also excellent with strawberries on top, slightly warmed, and nuts inside (but not too many).

Cynd

07/13/2013 10:44 AM

Rated this recipe:

I made these last night and they are so good! I am just starting out on the plan. I am happy to find out that I really like black beans. I followed the suggestions of other posters and added a little almond milk because the cocoa powder would not mix in. Just a small serving satisfies my desire for chocolate. I am so grateful for this healthy alternative. They are rich and delicious. I used a Cuisinart. I just bought a VitaMix but I think the food processor would works better for this recipe.

This comment was last edited on 07/13/2013 10:46 AM

Sally

08/30/2013 01:13 PM

Rated this recipe:

I did not like the texture--not chewy enough for a brownie, not creamy enough to consider it fudge.

btkooi1

08/30/2013 02:54 PM

Rated this recipe:

My husband and I thought these were terrible. I threw the whole batch out. Maybe I did something wrong while making them, but I followed the recipe exactly, so maybe it's the recipe. I'm going to try variations and see what happens.

nicholep

09/07/2013 03:19 PM

Rated this recipe:

This is almost too good because my three-year-old twins, husband, and I wanted to eat it all in one sitting. The optional topping was also amazing, and I will start making that as a pudding on it's own.

mjensen

09/14/2013 08:15 PM

Rated this recipe:

Really great recipe! I took the recommendations of other reviewers and added 1/2 cup natural soy milk to the batter and stirred in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts at the end. This really helped with the consistency. I wasn't able to blend it in my blendtec without the added milk. Baking now, can't wait for the end product, but as one who has done much baking in her life... these seem extremely promising, and I had to stop myself from eating all the dough as it was going in the oven... very tasty!

Mom4Life

11/18/2013 02:58 PM

Rated this recipe:

I made a double batch of these last night for my family of ten. I had to add about 1/4 cup of hot water and double the almond butter in order to get them to mix properly in my Cuisinart. The batter was so good that my daughter and I had to stop ourselves from eating too much before it was baked! However, I found that they came out very dry, and were not nearly as sweet after they were baked. My family decided they tasted more like protein bars than brownies! However, out of 30 pieces cut, there were only 3 pieces left (I only had one and my 4 year old had two)! Although they ate them the family was not terribly impressed, but I am going to try again with a shorter cooking time. My daughter is getting ready to move to another state and is definitely planning to take the recipe. We also thought it might be good substituting peanut butter for the almond butter.

This comment was last edited on 11/18/2013 02:59 PM

Elaine Garces

01/11/2014 06:47 PM

Rated this recipe:

Delicious. I especially enjoy using fresh cooked black beans instead of canned ... Ok, either way is good! Mine bake for one hour rather tha one and a half. I add walnuts and cinnamon. Made several times and will continue to make ... Next time I'll include the topping.

pastor

01/28/2014 08:00 AM

Rated this recipe:

Woo-hoo! These were so delicious and my partner loved them! I really wanted my partner to like it so I gave him a sampler plate with 1/2 brownie with nutritarian mango coconut sorbet, 1/2 with nutritarian cashew cream, and 1/2 with fresh strawberries. He thought they all were winners. Based on the other comments, I knew I would need to add 1/2 cup almond milk; however, I ended up adding 2 cups so the brownies were more mousse like with a brownie topping. Next time I will try soaking the dates and/or using Medjool so I don't use as many dates and/or soak the dates in the almond milk that I will put in the batter. Or once I get the same batter, I may take it out of the Vitamix, put it in a bowl, add some almond flour, and then blend it with a Kitchen Aid mixer. I agree with others that the batter was yummy! I could not believe how chocalatey it was with no bean taste whatsoever. This is a definite keeper!

This comment was last edited on 01/28/2014 08:07 AM

free2choose

03/22/2014 08:23 PM

Rated this recipe:

I was so skeptical of this. So I took about a tablespoon of black beans, a date, a teaspoon of almond butter, a splash of vanilla, a teaspoon or less of cocoa and a half teaspoon of ground chia seed. Stirred it all up in a tiny bowl and put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds. Yum! Tasted just like a brownie! I never would have believed it if I hadn't tried it. Doing it this way makes a quick dessert for one. I haven't tried the frosting yet... Didn't need it!

SandraB

04/06/2014 06:40 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

I enjoy these brownies very much. Made them again today.

CanadaAmy

05/21/2014 10:07 PM

Rated this recipe:

Huge hit with everyone we've ever made them for. Very nice with raspberry sauce.

Congruence

11/25/2014 05:33 PM

Rated this recipe:

These are fabulous!! I can't believe the texture. It's so fudgy and brownie like. I use one can of black beans and 25 deglet noor dates plus the rest of the ingredients. I use the food processor and after spreading the dough into the pan, I sprinkle about a half to an ounce of pecans into the uncleaned processor bowl and pulse it a bit, then spread that on top. I suggest tasting the dough as you add ingredients and add more or less dates or cocoa powder because the flavor doesn't really change with cooking. I also suggest not telling people what's in it. Because they will love them as long as they don't know. It does have a bit of an off taste on first bite. I just tell people it's because I sweetened with dates. Love them!

stacie222

12/14/2014 08:27 PM

Rated this recipe:

I just made these and the taste is phenomenal! I can't stop eating them! I did take the advice of many and added 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk to the batter so it would blend better which it did, but had a little hard time blending it in my Vitamix. Also, instead of oiling the pan, I recommend lining the pan with Reynolds non stick aluminum foil. I found the consistency kind of gooey, not cakey but nonetheless, sooooo delicious!! I think adding some nuts on top would make it even better.

Nichole

02/01/2015 06:25 AM

Rated this recipe:

I made the recipe exactly as stated but was ready with some unsweetened almond milk in the event my Kenmore food processor couldn't mix all of the ingredients. Surprisingly, it had no trouble at all! They are very fudgy but not overly sweet so people who expect a sugar-surge might be a bit disappointed.

The oven temperature seemed really low but I suppose that contributes to the fudginess. I expect that in the summer I could cook them simply by putting them on the windowsill!

monica_forbes

02/06/2015 07:39 AM

Rated this recipe:

I prepared the brownies and the topping. The brownies were very moist, however, I think I used too much cacao powder in the topping. [it was a little too bitter for my children]

HeidiH

02/14/2015 10:51 AM

Rated this recipe:

Delicious!! I'll definitely be making them again. I did have to add 2 Tbsp of water to make the mixture blend better, plus I added 1/4 tsp chocolate extract (Watkins brand). I didn't do the topping and they were just fine on their own. Love them!

Nichole

02/27/2015 07:13 AM

Rated this recipe:

I made this recipe a second time and my food processor had trouble blending everything. Then I realized that the first time I made it I soaked the dates in hot water for about 30 minutes. I think that's what did the trick.

The brownies were excellent both times!

Louko

03/04/2015 07:38 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

I made these with adzuki (red) beans instead of black, which worked fine. I used peanut butter instead of almond, and added a few tablespoons of coconut milk to make sure it was not too dry. I also substituted half of the cacao with carob. They turned out great!

Lfaisal

09/19/2015 10:56 PM

Rated this recipe:

Love these! I add some chopped walnuts and it is even more amazing.

Agessner

11/18/2015 10:37 PM

Rated this recipe:

My 3 year old loves these!

tamson120

12/15/2015 12:01 AM

Rated this recipe:

Believe it or not, these were surprisingly good and there was sick satisfaction that I was eating beans instead of junk. I really liked the batter raw as well. Would make a yummy dip with a fruit platter. One of my kids kept on eating the brownies and batter. That alone is win-win for me. Will definitely be making these again and again.

djbmcg

04/03/2016 03:24 PM

Rated this recipe:

I made these some time ago in my Vitamix and had to add almond milk. This time I used a food processor and it worked much better. I added 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce as it needed a little extra moisture. I left out the chia and stirred in 1/2 cup chopped pecans by hand at the end. The end result was a slightly crispy top with the rest being more fudge-like.

Eisenzopf

01/08/2017 09:05 PM

Rated this recipe:

The mouth feel of these is great. Dense and goey. Try topping these with any nice cream. I topped them with a cherry banana nice cream and it paired well. The wetness of the nice cream offsets the somewhat dry consistency of the brownie.

This comment was last edited on 01/08/2017 09:06 PM

kandtc

01/23/2017 10:01 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

These are really good. I have made a few times. But! I am looking to substitute carob powder. I don't want caffeine. Any suggestions?

Bralis4

03/11/2017 08:39 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

These are great. If you're making this recipe for the first time don't be alarmed by how dense the batter is after it's blended. It will bake so much fudgier that way. I agree with others that it's alot to ask of any blender without added liquid. I've made it in the Blendtec quite a few times but the thickness of the batter is easier to remove out of a food processor. The time that I did add liquid cost me a lot of the fudge texture. I haven't soaked the dates before but I wil try this next time.

Jules

05/10/2017 08:55 AM

Rated this recipe:

I just baked these and my husband and I both thought they were a great substitute for the real thing! They do NOT taste like the typical sweet brownie, but reminded me more of the taste of chocolate bars that contain a high percentage of cocoa. I didn't have black beans, so used garbanzo beans instead. And due to the other comments, I soaked 20 deglet dates (approximately 1 cup) in 1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk (didn't have medjool dates) and used the almond milk in the recipe as well. Otherwise I followed the recipe as stated, also baking for 1 1/2 hours at 200 degrees. I forgot to add chopped walnuts, definitely will add next time. I will also add a few more dates (the recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups domestic dates) since I only used 1 cup.

Sheila965

05/30/2017 02:01 PM

Rated this recipe:

These were absolutely delicious! You cannot tell they are "healthy." My husband and I love them! The topping itself it like a whipped pudding treat! I would recommend a couple of changes, which really helped me the second time I made them. First, chop the dates in a high powered blender (Vitamix), they are easier to mix in once you get it all in a food processor. I like the dates with pits in them because sometimes the pitted dates ended up being dry. It takes almost no time to pit a date. I am almost tempted to make a batch and take them to work and see if the guys like them without telling them they are made from black beans. :-)

creatarian

08/16/2017 01:04 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

I made this for a dinner party. My daughter suggested I serve it with coconut cream. We poured it as a sauce, added one drop of stevia into the sauce and it looked like whipped cream served with brownies. Visuals are everything. I made it a second time, this time I used peanut butter instead of almond butter and I forgot the chia seeds. This batch came out fudgier. I eat these as a snack and I can hold off till lunch or dinner. The first time I put it in the Ninja blender and the dates didn't chop conpletely, maybe because it was too dry. The next time I put it in the Ninja food processor and let it blend for a while, it cam out very creamy. This recipe is a keeper

I just dont know the difference between the Medjool dates and regular dates.

Webgypsy

12/17/2017 06:34 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Thanks to the comments that told me they had to add a liquid. My VitaMix could not handle this. Even after I added some almond milk I had to leave what seemed like quite a bit in the blender. I could not get it out. I can tell you that between my grinder taking extra muscle and my blender choking I burned a bunch of calories. The jury is out for me. I'm hoping the effort will be worth it. If so, I will update my comment!!

Update: The finished product was good enough to warrant another attempt. This time I used my food processor for the mixture and it didn't require extra liquid and it was much easier. First time I ended up with very little avocado because mine was mostly rotten. This time my frosting has a full avocado. This is a success in my book. I put walnuts on top for crunch and flavor.

This comment was last edited on 12/22/2017 09:10 PM

coleson

05/06/2018 03:00 PM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

Made these brownies for the first time tonight and while we all loved the taste, they were very dry so I will definitely be adding liquid next time. Also don't think they need to cook for an hour and a half in the oven, Will try again as taste/texture were great. Any other tips woudl be appreciated especially for a more moist brownie.

Gspea01

07/03/2018 07:03 PM

Rated this recipe:

Love these brownies. Go great with berry sherbet! 1:10 time made them moist and fudge

migracyn

07/14/2018 03:08 PM

Rated this recipe:

My whole family loves, loves, loves this recipe. I have never made the optional topping but the brownies are fabulous. Warning, they are NOT sweet. They ARE chocolately though! I never tell people they are made with black beans until after they have tried them, and they all love them! I usually just say that the brownies do not contain sugar so they are not very sweet, but they are healthy and lo-cal. I usually double the batch since I am going through the effort of making it. I bought a new food processor specifically for this recipe and the extra power makes it easier to blend everything. Still, I add 1/4 cup of unsweetened natural apple sauce to help blend everything better. I have made it several times, and here is the best taste and consistency when making a single batch as directed (brownies only, not the topping):

add 2 extra dates
add 1/4 cup natural unsweetened apple sauce
add 1/4 cup or more unsweetened shredded coconut
add 1/4 cup or more chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds

This comment was last edited on 07/14/2018 03:13 PM

pollyannaj

10/04/2018 01:23 AM

Rated this recipe: (no rating)

This is delicious and forgiving. I forgot to grind the chia seeds but in they went. Added an extra date. Used peanut butter instead of almond butter. Cacao powder instead of cocoa. Also needed to add a 1/4 cup of almond milk (next time I'll go with a 1/2 cup). Man these were good. Served them to my two year old for her bday and she loved them. So did my mom and her friend and my friend and her 4 year old. Whoosh! Gone! Next time I'll add coconut and maybe some nuts and make a double batch. These will be what I'm bringing for dessert to Thanksgiving. Just so damned thrilled with these. Yum yum!

Fuhrboy

11/18/2018 03:45 AM

Rated this recipe:

We have made these with different beans, Black, adzuki, and a Rancho Gordo bean similar to pinto bean texture. Using a mushier bean is better. Adzuki came out nice. It blends beautifully in the Vitamix, fluffy and lightly sweet.

vicki45

12/24/2018 06:38 PM

Rated this recipe:

As with many sweet, baked goods, freezing them and eating then straight out of the freezer brings out the sugars and sweetness (imho).

This comment was last edited on 12/24/2018 06:39 PM

veclark249

01/28/2019 11:13 AM

Rated this recipe:

These were better after chilling in the fridge for a day. I made them in my food processor and added 1/2 cup of almond milk as others had suggested. Instead of the topping, I put about half a cup of sliced strawberries on top. This made a nice dessert.

This comment was last edited on 01/28/2019 11:13 AM

pippen

02/18/2019 01:52 PM

Rated this recipe:

My Blendtec could not blend this without adding some soy milk. What am I doing wrong? They were good anyway. I also added 2T date paste, since I couldn't get the dates to blend thoroughly. I make date paste in my food processor, so maybe I should have used that instead of the Blendtec. I made with 1/2 black beans and 1/2 lentils, since that is what I had, and it didn't make any difference. It still had a nice brown chocolate color. I will share this with some friend tomorrow. I didn't bake it. It was too lovely raw and none of the ingredients need to be cooked. What I ended up with was more of a chocolate mousse.

Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Comments (58):

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