Black Bean Brownie Cake
Wait… there are BLACK BEANS in this brownie cake?!
Yes. And no, you absolutely cannot taste them.
Ingredients:
For the Brownie Cake
- 15 oz / 425 g BPA-free canned or boiled black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 flax eggs (3 tbsp ground flaxseed & 9 tbsp water – Mix together & let it sit for 10–15 minutes until thick and gel-like)
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- 2 tbsp almond milk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- ¾ cup walnuts, chopped – optional
- Pinch of sea salt
For the Chocolate Avocado Frosting
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2–3 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
- 1–2 tbsp almond milk or water, only if needed for a smoother consistency
- ½ tsp vanilla extract – optional
Preparation Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Drain and rinse the black beans extremely well. Add the black beans, flax eggs, maple syrup, cocoa powder, melted coconut oil, non-dairy milk, vanilla and sea salt to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, with no visible pieces of beans remaining.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl and gently fold in the chocolate chips. If using walnuts, fold them in as well.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for approximately 30–40 minutes, or until the centre is set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Don’t overbake, the brownies will firm up as they cool.
- Allow the brownie cake to cool completely in the pan before frosting. For an especially fudgy texture, refrigerate it for a little while before decorating.
Chocolate Avocado Frosting
- Add the avocado, cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla to a food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick, add the non-dairy milk or water one teaspoon at a time until you reach a spreadable consistency. Taste and add a little more maple syrup if desired.
- Spread over the completely cooled brownie cake. Top with any of the following: Chopped walnuts, Dark chocolate shavings, Cacao nibs, A light sprinkle of sea salt, Fresh berries.
