Special Brownies...The Black Bean Kind

Diets are all the rage. Whether you're pretending you're a cave man or pretending you live in the Mediterranean, there is a fad diet for you to obsess over.

Recipes for these diets fill my Pinterest feed and I can't help but think that some of them actually sound decent. {And the photos aren't half bad either}

I have tried a few healthy dinner options and those work out just fine usually, because there are lots of things to supplement for fattie foods like heavy cream or a stick of butter. BUT - and that is a big but - I get really skeptical when it comes to "healthy" desserts, because how the hell do you make chocolate and sugar healthy and still taste good? <<VERY IMPORTANT

Well, since the summertime fat blues have officially kicked in, I figure it's time to try some, because sweets {chocolate specifically} are my weakness. I came across a great blog on Pinterest and hallelujah, it focuses on healthy food, desserts specifically!

Katie from Chocolate Covered Katie, is a girl after my own heart and now her recipes are gracing my kitchen counters! {Well one is...multiple to go}

This weekend I started my "healthy desserts" journey with her recipe for black bean brownies and I have to say that as I was adding the ingredients into my food processor, I was giggling to myself because I couldn't wait to serve these bad boys to everyone without telling them what they were.

Side note: I don't have kids yet, but I have a husband and sometimes I feel like he is a child... and I knew that if I handed him a brownie and told him it was made with beans he would immediately have turned up his nose and swore that he could taste them. In comes wife trickery...

So what was the verdict? 15 minutes after I cut them, there were none left!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed very well) (250g after draining)
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder- dutch or regular (10g) (add a little extra if desired)
• 1/2 cup quick oats (40g)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave (Honey will work, but not for strict vegans.) (75g)
• 2 nunaturals stevia packs or 2 tbsp sugar (or omit and increase maple syrup to 1/2 cup)
• 1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil (40g)
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup chocolate chips (115-140g) (Not optional. Omit at your own risk.)
• optional: more chips, for presentation

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine all ingredients except chips in a good food processor, and blend until completely smooth. Really blend well. (A blender can work if you absolutely must, but the texture—and even the taste—will be much better in a food processor.) Stir in the chips, then pour into a greased 8×8 pan. Optional: sprinkle extra chocolate chips over the top. Cook the black bean brownies 15-18 minutes, then let cool at least 10 minutes before trying to cut. Makes 9-12 brownies.

I loved this recipe because I got to use products I have never used and now have on hand for another new recipe. Next time I think I will add nuts and double the batch because the 8X8 didn't last long at my house!

And the best part is, these bad boys are only about 115 calories each! Thanks Katie - I can't wait to try these, these and these!

What healthy recipes were you skeptical about, but loved once you tried them??
- Lindsey Nicole