These Easy Vegan Black Bean Brownies with Walnuts from Plant-Powered for Life by Sharon Palmer are the most delicious “healthy” brownies you will ever taste. Heck, they might even be some of the most delicious brownies, period!
A bold statement. I know.
To tell the truth, I’ve had “Make Vegan Black Bean Brownies” on my To-Do List for some time now, and thanks to Sharon and her gorgeous new book, I can now cross this one off my list. Make Black Bean Brownies
Raise your hand if you get a thrill from crossing things off your to-do list like I do!!!
I’ll share the vegan black bean brownies recipe with you in one sweet chocolate loving minute, but first let’s talk about the book which is one part “simple tips” {52 of them to be exact} for adding more plant based foods in to you diet, along with 1 part delicious and nourishing plant based recipes {125 of them} that will appeal to vegetarians, omnivores, flexitarians like me, and vegans alike. Images above provided by Sharon Palmer.
A review of the book-Plant Powered for Life by Sharon Palmer, RDN
Sharon’s book begins with an introduction to the health and environmental benefits of plant-based living, which doesn’t mean you have to become a vegan or even a vegetarian, but instead to embrace plant based foods {grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds} and make them the superstars at your meals, and showcase them front and center on every plate.
“Whole plants, which have sustained humans throughout the centuries, possess the power to keep you healthy, functional, and fit-to help you live a long rich, full life. It’s that simple.”
3 Easy Ways To Move Towards a More Plant Based Diet
- Take meat off the center of your plate. Some of the healthiest diets around the world are centered around plants, and meat, if it is used at all, is used as a “seasoning”, not the main event. These types of meals have been dubbed “poor man’s diets” by researchers, and the people that eat this way tend to have lower rates of chronic disease, than people who eat a traditional Western or American diet where meat is served in large portions as the main course.
TIP–>When you plan your menu for the week, try adding in one or more plant based meals, or center your meals around plants using meat as a “condiment.”
2. Make variety your motto. If you eat the same foods over and over again, you may be missing out on key nutrients, as one veggie may be rich in calcium, while another may be a good source of iron or vitamin C.
TIP–>You don’t necessarily have to get 100 % of each nutrient everyday, but if you plan out your weekly menus with a wide variety of foods, you can fill in any nutrient gaps over the course of the week.
3. Shop thoughtfully and purposefully. Ignore the bold statements on the front of the box and read ingredient lists and nutrition facts panels instead. Choose products with ingredients you recognize and understand. Look beyond nutrition-learn about the way your food is grown, or find out what your favorite food companies are all about.
TIP–>Support the best food companies with your shopping dollars.
What you’ll love about the recipes in Plant-Powered for Life…
- All recipes, like these vegan black bean brownies, are 100 % plant based, and vegan with the exception of those that list honey as an optional ingredient. These recipes can be easily swapped out for agave, maple syrup, or your sweetener of choice.
- Many of the recipes are also gluten-free, or have suggested recipe adaptations to make them gluten-free.
- Each of the 52 tips in Plant-Powered for Life are followed by 2 or 3 recipes that show you how to incorporate the tips, and the back of the book contains a Seasonal Recipe Chart, dividing the recipes up in to spring, summer, winter, and fall-love this!
- Nutrition information is provided for each recipe including calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, saturated fat, fiber, sugar, and sodium. Star nutrients {vitamins and minerals} are also provided for each recipe.
- Gorgeous, mouth-watering images from food photographer and Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes blogger Heather Poire are featured in the book. Just a few that sound pretty amazing to me…Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Pistachio-Orange Pesto…Mediterranean Eggplant and Artichoke Lasagna…Tuscan Kale Salad with Nectarines and Brazil Nuts…and the delicious list goes on and on!
BUY PLANT-POWERED FOR LIFE HERE!
And now for these amazingly delicious vegan black bean brownies…
These Vegan Black Bean Brownies are SO Easy to Make!
- Gather your ingredients: a can of black beans, your preferred sweetener, cocoa powder, chia seeds, vegetable oil, chocolate chips, walnuts, and a few other baking essentials.
- Throw everything (except chocolate chips and walnuts) in a high speed blender and blend away!
- Spread batter in a greased baking dish and sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts on top.
- Bake, cool (try and resist!), slice, EAT!!!
Easy Vegan Black Bean Brownies with Walnuts
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- One 15-ounce can black beans, no salt added, rinsed and drained (or 1 3/4 cup cooked)
- 1/2 cup honey or agave nectar, I used maple syrup
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons canola oil, expeller pressed (I used expeller pressed high oleic sunflower oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup dairy-free, dark-chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, I used pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Spray an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the black beans, honey, cocoa powder, chia seeds, vanilla, canola oil, and baking powder in a blender. Process until smooth. Scrape down the sides halfway through blending if needed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips and walnuts evenly across the top of the brownies.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the edges pull away from the side of the pan and the brownies are firm.
- Cool for a few minutes, and slice into 16 squares.
Notes
To keep the nuts from getting too brown or burning, either stir them in to the batter, or place a piece of aluminum foil on top of the brownies half way through baking.
Nutrition
Let’s Chat! Have you made vegan black bean brownies before? Have you tried other bean based desserts? Do you try to include a lot of plant based recipes in your diet?
