Cacao Mint Black Bean Hazelnut Brownies | Vegan

Melt in your mouth, oil-free, plant-protein packed with that feeling of decadence. Yup, these brownies pass the test.

Bring this to a dinner party and fool everyone.

Vegan brownies?

Yup.

There’s black beans in there?

Yup.

Fresh mint?

Uh Huh.

The fresh mint from the garden adds a subtle zing to complement the cacao hazelnut combo to make this brownie a little out of the ordinary and unique in it’s own way.

This is incredibly easy to do and only uses one contraption in your kitchen – the mighty food processor (a high-speed blender does the trick as well with some elbow grease as you will have to scrape down the sides a bit more and put that tamper to good use).

 

Benefits:

Black beans pack the protein, fibre, folate and phytonutrients. They’re a great option for a plant based protein that help lower your cholesterol and keep you regular.

Hazelnuts give you the vitamin E you need for your healthy hair and nails.

Cacao is overloaded with antioxidants to counteract any of those oxidized cells in your body and prevent cancer and disease.

 

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Servings: 12 brownies

 

Ingredients:

-1.5 cups black beans

-2 tbsp chia seeds (for chia egg, you could use flax meal instead)

-3 sprigs mint (from the garden is best!)

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-2 tbsp coconut nectar (or maple syrup)

-1/3 cup coconut sugar

-1.5 tsp baking powder

-1/3 cup chopped raw hazelnuts

-1/4 cup dried coconut flakes

-1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth except for hazelnuts, coconut, chocolate chips
3. Add rest of ingredients and pulse until combined
4. Spoon into non-stick muffin tin
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes (test with tooth pick- if it comes out without any brown stickiness, that’s it honey!)
6. After a few minutes out of the oven, remove from tin and let cool on a cooling rack.

 

Serving ideas:

Serve with Banana Soft Serve

Top with coconut and hazelnuts

Drizzle date caramel over top (drool)

*How to make date caramel*

-Blend 10 gooey medjool dates, 1 tsp vanilla, dash salt in food processor or high speed blender

-Add hot water slowly until desired consistency