Black Bean Brownies

You may be thinking-EWW, black beans in a brownie?! But you will be saying MMM!  These brownies will wow everyone who eats them! While making them, I have to confess, I did lick the bowl clean (that's how good these are!).
What makes these brownies high in protein are (drumroll...) black beans! Yes-I know, I was completely hesitant, and a little bit grossed out at the concept.  But I had heard many people say that they were good.  I looked at various examples, and then designed the recipe below to cut down on the sugar and fat that most of these recipes were high in.  The result, a brownie everyone will love.  Just wait until the pan has been devoured to tell them the ingredients :)

Ingredients:

1 can or 1 3/4 cup of black beans, drained (we make ours from organic dried beans, click here to learn how)

1/2 c of cacao powder 

2 eggs (or flaxseed equivalent for vegan: 2 tbsp flax meal + 5 tbsp water)

1/4 c agave nectar plus 1 tbsp (you can substitute with traditional sugar)

2 tbsp coconut oil (or canola oil)

2 tbsp apple sauce (no sugar)

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp coffee grounds (we saved some from our morning coffee)

2 tsp baking powder 

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup chocolate chips 

Ingredients in Topping (optional):

2 tbsp unsweetened, shredded coconut 

1 tbsp chocolate chips

Directions:

1) Place all of the above into a food processor, except chocolate chips, adding balsamic last

2) Pour into a bowl and mix in chocolate chips

3) Greese an 8x8 or 9x9 pan and pour in batter

4) Top with additional tablespoon of chocolate chips and unsweetened coconut if desired

5) Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, or until knife inserted comes out clean

**Kids only critique (they still don't know there're black beans in this) is that it needed a little more sugar.  You can up the sugar to 1/2 c of agave.  I think they're perfect as is :)

Nutritional Benefits:

Black Beans: high in protein, a nutrient essential for healing damages tissues, as well as potassium, which aides in nerve conduction

By replacing beans for flour, you are greatly increasing the amount empty calories with high protein, high fiber nutrients.  

Coconut Oil: zero cholesterol, anti-inflammatory, vegan

Agave Nectar: while a sugar, agave nectar has a lower glycemic index, meaning it is more slowly absorbed by the body, decreasing rapid increases in blood sugar like table sugar does

Total Nutrient Values in entire recipe (makes 16-20 servings):

Beans: 

calories: 397

Fat: 1.6g

Protein: 26.7g

Carbohydrates: 71.4g

Fiber: 26.2g

Iron: 35% of daily value

Potassium: 1, 068 mg 

Coconut oil: 

Calories: 260

Fat: 28g 

Agave:

Calories: 300

Carbohydrates: 80g

Eggs:
Calories: 185
Fat: 14g
Protein: 12.5g

Chocolate chips:
Calories: 350
Fat: 22.5g (includes addition on top)
Carbohydrates: 50g

Total Fat in entire recipe: 66g, or 4g per brownie (if making 16 squares)-not too shabby for a brownie!
Total Protein: 39.2g or 2.5g per brownie (if making 16 squares)