I just joined the forum, but I have been reading and researching here for several weeks now, and I'm glad to have found such a wealth of information!

I spotted this recipe on another website and made some changes to it, and it is excellent! You would never guess there were beans in them!

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate *(if you're not 'unhinged' by it)
1/2 cup coconut butter
1/2 cup ghee
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed *(better to be soaked or sprouted and cooked)
1 cup of soaked almonds
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
4 eggs
2 tsp stevia divided

Preheat oven to 325. Line baking pan with parchment paper.

Melt chocolate and coconut butter and ghee in double boiler, stirring until smooth. Place beans, 1/2 cup of almonds, salt, vanilla extract, 1 tsp of stevia and a couple of spoonfulls of melted chocolate into food processor. Blend until smooth. Batter should be thick and beans smooth. Taste to see if it's sweet enough. If not add more sweetener, blend and taste again.

Chop the rest of the almonds and put them in the remaining chocolate mixture. Set aside. If you don't like chunky bits of nuts in your brownies, leave them out.

In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer, beat eggs until light and creamy. Add other teaspoon of stevia and beat well. Set aside.

Add bean/chocolate mix to nut/chocolate mix. Stir until well blended.

Add egg mixture. Mix well. Pour batter into pan. Bake for 30-40 min until brownies are set. Let cool completely before cutting. I couldn't wait that long though and I cut into them while still warm! So good!

You can sub the appropriate amount of wondercocoa or organic cocoa powder in this recipe.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Linda,

Hey Belly Dancer,

I really like this recipe!! Mine didn't get too sweet though. I used cocoa instead, because that's what I had. Maybe that's why . . . . I'm going to try them again and I'll post my concoction when I get it right. I had to make them because my family thought beans and almonds were such an odd mix!

Just like many posts I've read, when it doesn't turn out quite right, you improvise! So I mixed some almond butter with some veggie glycerine to get a smooth consistentcy, like frosting, and topped them off with that. Tasted kinda like a Reece's!

Thanks for this recipe. Very fudgy consistentcy. It hits the spot.

Gay

I made this last night and I substituted unsalted butter beans (that is all I had) and it was really good.

Also, I have a chocolate peppermint plant so I added 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons fresh mint to the food processor lot.

Instead of the tablespoon, I only used 1 tsp van. and 1 tsp. mint extracts (only because I'm not crazy about the taste of van).

Then I froze them and they are even better straight out of the freezer! They remind me a little of the girl scout thin mints!

Oooh, Gay and Sarah! Thanks for the feedback and the new ideas! Frosting these would be a great variation. I wonder if you could put that into a bag and pipe it on??!! Hmmm.....

The mint flavor is an excellent idea! Those flavors are so good together.

Hey, what's a chocolate peppermint plant. I never heard of that, but I want one! It sounds so yummy. I will definately have to add the mint. Now my husband is really rolling his eyes. . . Beans, Almonds, and Mint. He thinks we're all turning into a bunch of Frankensteins with our concoctions. He's just being funny! He eats most of what I make.!

Gay

Does this really mean 2 teaspoons of stevia? The liquid stevia? I only ask because I don't want to ruin my brownies!

I bought some tahini to try the other day, couldn't stand the stuff so I thought I'd add some stevia to it. I had about a pound of tahini so I squirted in two dropperfulls, mixed it up, and it was AWFUL! Unfortunately the whole thing went in the compost! I don't want to mess up something else!

You're funny! I threw out my first bunch of tahini too. Now I buy it all the time and put it in my avacado smoothies and hummis. My taste buds have changed dramatically in the last year. But I know the feeling - "People eat this stuff?!?"

I used 2 teaspoons of the stevia/chicolin mix. It isn't as sweet as pure stevia. Mine didn't turn out sweet enough though. So I sprinkled the stevia/chicolin on top and ate them like that. Could you do a little taste test of the batter first?

Let us know how they turn out.

Gay

quote:

Originally posted by GayAnn:
You're funny! I threw out my first bunch of tahini too. Now I buy it all the time and put it in my avacado smoothies and hummis. My taste buds have changed dramatically in the last year. But I know the feeling - "People eat this stuff?!?"

I used 2 teaspoons of the stevia/chicolin mix. It isn't as sweet as pure stevia. Mine didn't turn out sweet enough though. So I sprinkled the stevia/chicolin on top and ate them like that. Could you do a little taste test of the batter first?

Let us know how they turn out.

Gay

Heehee! Glad I'm not the only one

I just wanted to make sure! I'm cooking my beans now so it'll be a bit yet but I'll be sure to let you know!

It's two teaspoons of powdered pure stevia.
Can't wait to read how they turn out!

Joi

A chocolate peppermint plant is just a type of mint that has a slight hint of chocolate to it... I found mine at a farmer's market, but you can find seeds online. Very easy to grow and makes great tea!

What is coconut butter? I asked today at Whole Foods and they only knew of the non-ingestible version. I bought coconut oil. Is it the same thing?

I'm trying to do some Christmas baking for my mom who's on the diet.

Thanks,
Denise

Hi Dense, and welcome to the forun.

I use coconut oil. I think it's the same thing. And in some recipes, when I run out of coconut oil, I use olive oil.

You are a wonderful daughter! It's so nice to have the support of your family.

You go girl!

GayAnn

By the way, Denise, this is not my favorite recipe. I prefer the recipe for Delicious Brownies. When I made them this time, I added a half cup of baked yams. Added nice moisture, but made them more of a limit. Here's the link:

http://wholeapproachforums.com...9073/m/663106618/p/1

Too bad I forgot the baking soda!! They were a little flat, but that didn't stop me from eating them.

Happy Baking!

Thanks. I was on the diet about 3 years ago. After about six months and 30 pounds, my doctor said I could slowly start adding non-diet foods again. I'm starting to see the return of some symptoms...probably will be baking for myself within 2 years.

You all have a great Christmas and New Year!
Denise

Hi Denise,

Have you thought of joining your mom now. I bet she's love the support and you could avoid die-off.

I've tried to make this my way of life. Not so strict on the diet lately, and I'm paying for it.

Not telling you what to. LOL Just reminding myself mostly!

Gay

Gay,
Mom had me make two batches while visiting. She also had me make two batches of the Pumpkin Nut Loaf.
I used walnuts rather than almonds for the brownies. Mom froze the brownies and pumpkin bread in tidy little packages. With all the Christmas baked goodies around, her mouth watered for something sweet. She was delighted with the brownies and bread. Everyone else was surprised at how good they were. Don't know if that was a reflection on my baking or the black beans. :-)
Mom's not one much for computers. I added this site to her Favorites. Hopefully, she will use it.
Thanks for your help.
Denise

Good for you, Denise! Those treats that we can eat make all the difference in the world!

Glad you like the black bean brownies. I liked the texture, but I had chocolate from one end of me kitchen to the other! LOL I'm not much of a baker!

Hope you had a nice Holiday!

Gay