Healthy Bean Brownies

These healthy bean brownies are rich, fudgy, and naturally sweetened with dates. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients, they come together easily in the food processor and bake into a soft, chocolatey treat you’ll want to make on repeat. Trust me, no one will guess they’re made with beans.

Why you’ll love this recipe

These bean brownies check all the boxes:

• Fudgy and chocolatey, just like a good brownie should be
• Naturally sweetened with dates
• Made with simple, nourishing ingredients
• Gluten-free and dairy-free
• Easy to make in under 30 minutes

They’re perfect for an afternoon snack, a healthier dessert, or whenever you’re craving something sweet but still want to feel good after.

What is a flax egg?

A flax egg is a plant-based egg substitute made from ground flaxseed and water. Once mixed, it thickens into a gel-like consistency that helps bind ingredients together in baking.

To make 1 flax egg, stir together:

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 2.5 tablespoons water

Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it thickens. For this recipe, you’ll need 2 flax eggs.

Why we use cooked beans instead of canned

For this recipe, you’ll need fully cooked white beans that are soft and ready to blend.

Cooking your own beans gives you more control over the final result. You can skip unnecessary additives like excess salt and ensure the beans are perfectly soft, which makes a big difference in the texture of these brownies.

If you don’t have cooked beans on hand, you can follow our separate guide on how to cook white beans from scratch.

Cooking beans in larger batches is recommended, so you always have some ready to use for recipes like this.

Which dates should you use?

You can use different types of dates for this recipe, depending on what you have on hand.

Medjool dates are our go-to. They’re soft, juicy, and naturally caramel-like, which makes them perfect for blending into a smooth brownie batter without much effort. Make sure to remove the pit.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, Deglet Nour dates work just as well. Since everything gets blended, you won’t notice a big difference in the final taste. These dates are a bit firmer though, so it helps to soak them in hot water for about 10 minutes before using. This will soften them and make blending much easier. Another advantage of this type of date is that we sell them without pit, which saves time.

Recept afdrukken

Healthy Bean Brownies

Kookmethode: Mealprep Gangen: Dessert, Snack

Moeilijkheidsgraad: Beginner

Ingrediënten

Opdieningen

• 2 cups cooked cannelini beans
• 2 cups pitted dates
• ³⁄₄ cup almond butter
• 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp broken flax seeds, mixed with 5 tbsp water. Let it soak for 15 minutes.)
• 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• ¹⁄₃ cup cacao powder
• ¹⁄₃ cup pecans, chopped
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions

2. Start by preheating your oven to 180°C (350°F) and lining a baking dish with parchment paper.
3. In a food processor, combine all the ingredients, except for the pecan nuts. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
4. Spread the batter evenly into your prepared baking dish.
5. Place the pecan nuts on the batter.
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is just firm.
7. Let the brownies cool completely before slicing. They’ll firm up as they cool and develop that perfect fudgy texture.