Mocha Black Bean Brownie Cake

I have never been a chocolate or a sweets kinda person. It’s savory salty foods that I like. So when I had kids I started to bake and  make sweet treats at home with healthier ingredients. In a way I liked the idea because we were in control of what went into their treats while we baked together and cooking together became a fun project. This also gave me an opportunity to bond with them and I felt they would not only learn to cook, but also to make healthy choices and enjoy them.

These brownies are full of chocolatey goodness, ooey-gooey and nutty. The blackbeans replace the flour and provide a thick foundation to the brownie that flour, eggs, oils would provide in traditional recipes.

Mocha Black Bean Brownies

Makes about 10- 2*2 inch brownies

Ingredients

• 1 -15 oz can plain black beans that’s about 1 1/2 cups rinsed, drained and patted dry( most plain canned blackbeans are with salt added, so rinsing is important)
• 3 tbsps e.v olive oil or coconut oil ( I prefer olive oil as its lower in saturated fats)
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon almond milk
• 1-2 shots of espresso(optional) but highly recommended as it amps the chocolatey-ness
• 5 soft pitted dates, more if you like it sweeter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup oat flour, gluten-free if needed. You don’t have to buy oat flour, simply blitz the amount in a food processor till flour like consistency
• 1/4 tsp sea salt, skip if black beans have been cooked in salted water
• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 2 tbsps ground chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1-2 oz dark chocolate melted, 70% at least
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, save a few for toppings

Here’s how

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Lightly grease a small baking pan.
2. In a food processor add all the dry ingredients and pulse a few times then add all the wet ingredients and blend for a couple of minutes until smooth.
3. Stir in the chopped walnuts and spoon into a greased baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Leave it to cool completely.
4. Melt the chocolate for 2-3 minutes in a microwave. Using a spoon drizzle the melted chocolate all over the brownie. Garnish with the remaining walnuts. Cut into 2*2 inch squares. Enjoy with a glass of cold plant milk or by it self.
5. **Note the center will feel soft, the brownie will continue to firm while it cools. Make sure it’s completely cool before cutting. The brownies will be gooey and soft.