Outrageously Healthy Black Bean Brownies

This recipe is a keeper! I put a bit less black beans and put 1 mashed purple sweet potato instead. Everyone loved it!

The first time I made these I subbed applesauce for the date syrup and it was a fail. Tried again with date syrup, because how can you ignore all the positive comments, and WOW! The texture is amazing—very fudgey, not cakey. Not too sweet for me (working on that sugar-seeking urge), and you’d never guess they contain beans. I added some vanilla and ended up using a few tablespoons of maple syrup because I was short on date syrup. It’s not my old recipe with butter and flour but it certainly hits like an indulgent treat. We will make this again and again. Thank you!

I just used what I had in my kitchen so I used maple syrup and unsweetened applesauce. I had cacao powder. I added a little vanilla, peanut butter powder, and vegan vanilla protein powder to add more flavor

I love how healthy these are…I added walnuts, some hazelnut instant coffee powder and some almond extract. On top I sprinkled stevia sweetened dark chocolate chips & sliced almonds. They were divine with my decaf and so quick & easy to make!

@Sandra - Hi, yes, carob has tested out at least as poorly as the chocolate, unfortunately. I was raised by a healthy-only mother and grew up eating carob and nut balls as "candy" treats, so I am aware of the sub, but the plants similarly take-up and concentrate the bad stuff. IMHO, it just isn't worth it...or near as appealing! I used to be a lifelong carnivore/omnivore - keep your sweets and gimme the meats. I was recently cutting a steak for someone and I about puked. I couldn't believe I used to "eat that stuff." Just grosses me out now, not to mention its effects on the body. The Game Changers movie challenged me to change my game and, inspired by their results, I did. Funny how much stigma and blindness are on the other (before) side of PBWF. I used to think vegans were nutty and I couldn't do without meat! I laugh at that clueless moment of my former self now. Now we need to be sure we aren't swapping one bad for another. Replacing milk with soy milk sounds good...but organic doesn't cover or regulate metals in soy...we are being deceived about almost all foods and possibly everything. See the Calley Means interview with Tom Bilyeu or Eating our Way to Extinction. I don't miss chocolate or meat at all. If I want either, I indulge. About 20 minutes later, I feel awful and remember afresh why I quit them. Vegan/vegetarian and you don't have crazy cravings anymore; it's awesome. I replaced the chocolate cookie I would have just had with a handful of grapes - a better treat and my body approves. You have to do your due diligence on everything these days, settling only for full truth and context, or turn a blind eye. That is today's world.

Based upon other comments, I put the rolled oats into my Vitamix and ground them into flour. Used 3/4 cup of date syrup, which, btw, used up a good portion of a bottle of Date Lady syrup that I just bought on Amazon for about $13, and 1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce. The cake came out moist, with no crumbling, albeit with sort of a weird smell and taste, nothing specific, just strange. On the whole, though, it was a success, the first one I've had with a Forks Over Knives recipe. I'd make it again.

Amazing recipe! Forks over knives, is the nutritional information per 100 gram? Or is this for the whole recipe?

Made these and substituted the date syrup with 3/4 cup of honey and they turned out great!!

Well these passed the kid test. I did not tell the kids that they were made with beans but let them know they were vegan and fairly healthy. They were gobbled up, and then I told them lol. So I will be making this recipe again for sure.

These were wonderful— even my children gobbled them down! I used about 3/4 cup date syrup and ran out, so used maple syrup for the rest. Next time I think 3/4 cup would be enough.

I am going to try this with a mix of carob powder and Dandy Blend. If you haven't tried Dandy Blend, you are missing out!

Is 1 cup date syrup aboit 300 grams? That looks insane to me.

My favorite brownies! One time I didn't have date syrup so I substituted 1/2 agave nectar and 1/2 pomegranate syrup. Totally different but also amazing flavor!

Everything was great but they were very crumbly. Even my husband enjoyed them which surprised me! Taste is wonderful.

Hi Ange, try this recipe with carob powder. Many people use it in place of cocoa. Not sure if carob beans have been tested for heavy metals but it does have other health benefits.

Do you use oat flour or just dump in roll oats???

Moderator - Please publish this Comment this time. People have the right to know what they're eating (truth in labelling). Otherwise, you're "one of them," complicit with the corruption that has rendered this world into its current state, and it's worsening shockingly fast. Feel free to remove this note, but post the comment. Everyone wants a "better world," but they don't want to do and be what that requires. Et tu, Brutus?? _______ These look amazing however, the "outrageously healthy" part is misleading... literally and figuratively. Cocoa powder especially, as well as all chocolate, has tested out as containing high levels of heavy metals. This should be something *everyone* is made aware of, since they bio-accumulate in the body. The metals grow into the beans from the soil, so separation isn't possible. You are eating this and giving it to your children, and supporting companies with dangerous products. There is an excellent article, as well as a Table for entering in chocolate products and seeing how they tested out, on Asyousow.org called Toxic Chocolate. Neflix’s ‘Rotten: Bitter Chocolate shows the truth about chocolate sourcing. I first noticed the topic due to Trader Joe's chocolate lawsuit (Google it, and the Consumer Reports articles on chocolate). Caveat Emptor.

These look amazing however, the "outrageously healthy" part is misleading... literally and figuratively. Chocolate powder especially, as well as all chocolate, has tested out as containing high levels of heavy metals. This should be something everyone is made aware of, as they bio-accumulate in the body. The metals grow into the beans from the soil, so separation isn't possible. There is an excellent article, as well as a Table for entering in chocolate products and seeing how they tested out, on Asyousow.org called Toxic Chocolate. This is why you see companies trying to hide Prop 65 warnings on their products, on Amazon pages, on their websites - disclosure is required when they exceed max levels. You are actually not only eating & serving these elements to your family, you are supporting companies that sell such products. Cocoa powder has the highest levels; I dumped all mine and eliminated all but the smallest bit of occasional, tested-out chocolate. Forks over Knives should include Voting with Your Money as a lifestyle across the board on all products. Watch Rotten: Bitter Chocolate for the truth on chocolate sourcing. I first noticed the topic due to Trader Joe's chocolate lawsuit (Google it). I emptied my pantry of all chocolate products the next day! You can't assume anymore. Most everything is contaminated nowadays in some way. We need to know about our ingredients and support the companies who are honorable and operate with integrity. Black beans are great, but they won't protect you against the leaded/loaded chocolate. There is an orange cake made with only whole oranges and almond flour; it's amazing. Treats are possible, but chocolate is an industry that does terrible harm and almost nobody knows it; they hide that info. Consumer Reports also has an article (Google them with "high heavy metals"). If you cook with or eat chocolate (who eats 1 ounce of chocolate, lol), at least be aware of what you are eating & giving to your family as a "treat." Caveat Emptor.

Yummy but crumbly. I want something that holds together a but better. What could I add?

Rich and satisfying my sweet tooth. What a great healthy alternative. I love that there aren't any eggs.

I've made several healthy-ish brownies from scratch, and these are the best! Nobody would know they're not conventional - they taste totally indulgent.

Hi! And OMG these look so delicious!! I'm wondering if you can substitute something for the date syrup, if you don't have dates or syrup handy and you just have to have some of these???

Date paste is just equal parts water dates and boil down.

Do you have nutrition values for this brownie recipe? Ex: carbs?

Love this so much! I make it every week. I used the 6 oz bottle of Trader Joes date syrup and it was plenty sweet. But just tonight I learned that Trader Joes discontinued their date syrup. I then went to 3 other stores and was shocked by all the higher prices. (One store was asking $9/bottle.) To keep my brownies affordable, it looks like I must either make my own syrup OR find a different healthy sweetener. Would maple syrup work? And if so, is it more or less sweet than date syrup?

Oh, and 2 T ground flax with the 4 T. water too!

I cut the date paste to 1/3 cup, unsweetened cocoa to 1/4 cup, rolled oats to 1/2 cup. Added 1/2 ripe banana, 1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk and 1 small container of unsweetened apple sauce. Oh, and 2 cups cooked black beans instead. Otherwise keep the same ingredients. This is plenty sweet enough and tasty for me - also, alot less calories (even though I don't count)!

I think this is a great recipe for a sweet treat that seems pretty nutritious really. I did a little change, though. I had made adzuki beans which is the traditional red bean paste in mochi and other Asian foods. They had been sweetened just a bit already with date syrup but not by much. I used those ~ 16.5 ozs because that's what was in my jar partially smashed. I also used maybe 3/4 cup of date syrup because that's what I had left in my bottle. (FYI I get good deals on date syrup at Home Goods stores pretty often). I pulverized my oatmeal and I used slightly less than 1/2 cup of cacao powder because that's all I had. I added some cacao nibs in the batter and decorated the top with cocoa dusted walnuts and dark chocolate pieces. It baked up in under 30 mintues. Tasted great but certainly the flavor of the beans and date syrup stood out making this more a dessert cake and not necessarily a brownie IMO. My husband thought it was great - I never told him what was in it. He thought it was simply a brownie.

I don't think I can make these again - I can't stop eating them! I substituted the date syrup for apple puree and the cocoa powder with carob powder. Was still good. I've ordered some carob syrup and next time I make them I will use that for the date syrup. I will just need to make sure someone else is around so I don't eat all of them.

For those of you who are using date paste (soaked dates blended to a paste), what kind of dates are you using? I don't remember if the recipe specifies, but the type makes a difference. Medjool dates are not dried and are sweeter than deglet dates which are dried. Ignore my comment if the date type is specified.

The flavour of these brownies is outstanding but the texture is kinda mealy what with the oatmeal and the beans. Next time I’ll try to blend them in my vitamix. The date syrup really adds to the flavour but it’s very expensive, I’ll try to make some but it sounds like a sticky, messy process.

I am using carob syrup as I don't have any date syrup at the moment.

Followed recipe exactly. My brownies were too liquid. Baked another 5 minutes, little improvement.

I can't wait to try these, but i don't see anywhere what kind of pan to bake them in...a square 9 x 9? A 13 x 9? Somebody please let me know so I won't mess it up!! (LOL)

Absolutely delicious!! Thank you so much. So easy to make. I put mine in the air fryer on bake for 20 minutes

I made these for a ladies get together. They came out beautiful and my friends were eager to give them a try. I really like them but the other ladies said they weren't sweet enough. I used the full amount of date syrup from the Date Lady. I saw many comments saying that the brownies were too sweet so I was surprised that they weren't. I thought they were just right but for non PB eaters it wasn't. If I make them again for another get together I will add more syrup or add a couple of dates to the bean mixture.

I personally love your site;Me & my Mom made this recipe,the brownies were fudey and delisous!!!

WOW! Made these yesterday and I was licking the bowl like I was a child. These brownies are fantastic and will be making them again....

Outrageously Healthy Brownies recipe

Has anyone ever doubled this recipe? If so how long would you cook them if they baked all in same glass pan with parchment paper? Thanks Janet

Amazing!!! So good even non PB peeps like.

Excellent brownies! I had no pistachios so I subbed with raw walnuts otherwise I followed it exactly. Delicious! They look like any yummy brownie you would make. It will be nice to enjoy these guilt free brownies as an occasional treat! Go Chef AJ!

After reading other reviews, I also ground my oats into flour first, reduced the date syrup to 3/4C, and added 1/2C plant milk. Because there are no eggs or wheat flour in this recipe, you can always taste the batter and adjust the sweetness before baking. When serving at a dinner party, I drizzled with the chocolate sauce from Frozen Grapes With Chocolate Sauce recipe (Also delicious BTW)

I've fixed this recipe numerous times and served it to both plant-based and non-plant based eaters. Everyone has raved about them, and I don't tell the latter group what's in the brownies. Good topped with date syrup or strawberry-pineapple preserves, too. I put the pistachios in the batter.

We could make these Carob brownies, and use Carob powder instead of cocoa powder! I remember when carob was used in a lot of Vegan cooking! Let's give it a try! This is an awesome recipe , because the black beans add that extra boost of protein, and fiber! Thanks

This turned out rally nice, even my grandchildren loved. I subbed the date syrup with 1 cup of dates soaked in some soy milk

Made this with hesitancy but WOW...so surprisingly good!!!!

I happen to have unsweetened cacao powder on hand instead of cocoa powder. Can I substitute with cacao powder?

does this recipe freeze well?

Delicious! I used cannellini beans as I didn't have black beans. Added some maple syrup as didn't have enough date syrup and crushed hazelnuts to the top as I didn't have pistachios! Very popular with the whole family! Will definitely have to make them again.

Looks yummy

These are ridiculously good!!! And healthy!’

What is the nutritional breakdown? Specifically the carbs and sugar.

we love them and I am going to make them before Thanksgiving so we can have Dr Joel Furnham's pumkinpie because we love that too

Absolutely delicious! I've made these several times and they are always a hit. Question:. Can I freeze them?

I have learned that it’s really important not to overcook the brownies. If you do they will come out dry. They may not seem quite done when the time is up but they will set once they have cooled. Baking too long will definitely make them dry. Depending on where you live and the relative elevation and humidity, you will have to experiment with this. When they are good, they are very very good!

Aloha, I read through all the comments and picked and chose what I wanted to add to my first try at these little beauties. I opted for a little vanilla, oatmeal flour and chopped pecans. A little extra water at the end. My brownies turned out perfect! Can’t wait to make more for my Halloween get together. No one will ever know the better nor guess there are black beans in dem brownies- ha! Dey are da bomb! Mahalo for such an amazing recipe.

Oooey Goooey and gooood! So rich and satisfying with nothing in them that spikes allergies for me like nut butters. I left off the pistachios because I’m allergic to nuts but sprinkled a few chocolate chips on top. So good. Will make these again for sure!

Excellent

The first time I made these, I disliked the texture of the bits of oat that were left when following the order of the recipe as written. I made them again, processing the oats into a flour first, then proceeded. Much smoother. I also decreased the date syrup to 2/3 cup and replaced the remainder with plant milk - still plenty sweet. Yum!

Love this recipe and made it multiple times. I have made adjustments based on my taste. Too sweet so I use half cup of date syrup and half cup of unsweetened applesauce. Everything else the same.

I make these brownies all of the time. A family favourite. Can you please tell me the fat in each serving.

I followed the directions to a T. No substitutions. My brownies came out dry and not sweet at all. Not sure how others say they turn out sweet and gooey?? I have read other reviews about using maple syrup instead of date syrup for the sweetness. Following the reviewers that used blended dates instead of date syrup should help the moisture level, but I was also thinking of adding applesauce for moisture... Anyone try this? Maybe I should have left some liquid with the beans after rinsing them?

I used Date Lady date syrup and they turned out WAY too sweet even though I increased the cocoa powder to 3/4 cup. I may try them again, but would definitely cut the date syrup in half and just add water.

Carb count/nutritional info on all your recipes would be really helpful for type 1 diabetics.

I am making these now. Idk why, however, I cannot stomach dates. So I will be using maple syrup,

Absolutely DELISH! Defi improved with vanilla flavouring and I add some pre-soaked sultanas

I might give these a try. But date syrup is expensive so I would sub with pure maple syrup and use half a cup to 3/4 of a cup max.

10/10 on first attempt, double batch. Will def make again. I ground up the rolled oats (ROLLED OATS == OLD FASHIONED OATS) in the food processor separately before combining other ingredients. Only had 3/4 cup of date syrup (out of the 2 cups total needed), so made up the difference with pure maple syrup. Added 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for fun based on comments here.

I made these with homemade date paste the first time and did not love them. The second time I also used homemade date paste but added a banana, soymilk, oat flour instead of rolled oats, and a bit of peanut butter. They were definitely better. I think I might try them again but next time add maybe another banana, a bit more flour, maybe a flax egg, and bake them a bit longer.

Why is this recipe not on the actual site?

Delicious! I used 1 cup of dates pureed. I added, I banana, 1/3 cup of peanut butter and about 1/4 cup of soy milk. Also 1 cup instead of 3/4 cup oats. I love all of the comments. Next time will add coffee and vinegar. I like that with chocolate brownies.

I made these without any sweetener. Then plated a slice and lightly sprinkled with turbinado sugar. That was a lot less sugar, not sure what the FOK docs would think...

Is there a table on this site for amounts to switch sweeteners? Like how much stevia to maple syrup to date syrup, etc? I’m thinking of doing half Truvia and half maple syrup. I have to cut back on sugars. Too lazy to make date syrup. Or is there a better bean brownie recipe for me? Thanks.

Yummy and filling!

I loved these, soft fudgy, chocolaty, delicious. I did read through the reviews and make some minor changes and additions, used oat flour, added vanilla and Tahini. Will definitely make these again. Mindblown they are made with black beans but taste like a brownie. I am going to try adding coffee in the next batch. Recently started following The Meditteranean way of eating and came across balck bean brownies, did a little research and found this recipe. This gets 5 stars for me!

I halved the recipe and baked in an 8” loaf pan but I made a mistake and used the entire can of beans and they still turned out fine and less sweet than if I had used half a can. I also used 1/3 cup of oat flour instead of the rolled oats and I added 1 tsp of vanilla and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon. I mixed in chopped walnuts and topped with whole walnuts. The first time I tried them I really missed the buttery flavor of regular brownies and the lack of fat reminded me of Snackwells cookies from the 90s lol, but in subsequent days I got used to the taste and they satisfied my dessert cravings. Next time I want to use a high end cocoa such as Valrhona and Adzuki beans as someone suggested, and perhaps add a little tahini for fat and top with a few salt flakes…

These brownies are so fudgy delish! Even my meat eating friends love them and have no idea how they are made ; )

Best brownies I have ever eaten. Fooled our grandkids

I made these today and they were pretty good, but they need a little salt. I used maple syrup instead of date syrup because that's what I had. I agree with someone else who said they would use oat flour instead of rolled oats next time to create a smoother texture.

Fabulous! These tasted just like conventional brownies, great texture too. I added: -1/2 tsp vanilla -1 tsp. instant espresso powder (to enhance the chocolate flavor). -1 tablespoon ground flax seeds -1 tsp white vinegar (a necessary acid to give the baking soda a quick lift). I topped the brownies with walnuts & vegan chocolate chips.

Awesome. Excellent consistency. A delicious chocolate delivery system that doesn't make me sugar crazy. I'm a little bit lazy so I use a combination of whole dates and maple syrup. And i add a splash of soymilk.

Yum! I just made them and had to convince myself to save more for tomorrow! I added 1 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract, which was the BOMB. Next time, though, I would sub with oat flour or another ground up grain, because the rolled oats made the texture rather gritty.

Delicious!! Even my non vegan family members love them and ask for again and again. Have always made them exactly as the recipe except without any nuts. Just know that if you use date paste instead of date syrup they will turn out different. Not bad, just different than the original recipe.

I’ll be making these next weekend for Valentines Day to share with my beautiful wife. I know I am supposed to make them because date syrup was the only thing I don’t have close at hand and when I went to Trader Joe’s yesterday on the “new products” shelves was Trader Joe’s Date Syrup! I’ll send a review after we’ve tried them next week.

I just made it and it is delicious. I used 3/4 cup of maple syrup instead of date syrup and it was sweet!

Holy cow! These are AMAZING! So moist and rich! I just cannot get over the fact that the main ingredient is black beans! I felt no guilt any time I wanted one - I will be making these regularly (probably too regularly ;)). Thank you!

Wish I could post a picture, nobody knew the difference.

I followed the instructions and made date syrup and then, step by step, I followed the recipe. The results are brownies that are very dry and in need of sweetening. So disappointed.

These ARE delicious! I used a cup of date paste instead so they weren't overly sweet but they still gave off a true brownie impression. The texture was nice, it held together easily but didn't feel heavy. I don't like things too chocolatey so I thought the half cup cocoa was perfect. I did add a spoonful of vanilla and instead of chocolate chips on top, a teaspoon of powdered sugar covered the whole pan and fooled your tastebuds into thinking the brownies were far sweeter than they really were. My husband says to spread rasberry jam on one and make a brownie sandwich but I leave that idea up to you!

Just made these today. They are amazing!!

I asked my 8 and 9 year old grandkids to taste test, letting them know that they were healthy enough to have for breakfast. They both asked for seconds and gave 5/5 stars. Delicious. I did make my own date syrup/paste. It was a bit thick. The brownies were soft and chewy.

Horrible

Doesn’t anybody just make it according to the recipe? I want to know how the recipe turns out please.

Instead of date syrup, I soak 1 cup of dates in 1 cup of hot water for about 1 hour or longer. But all the other ingredients and amounts are good. This recipe is a winner

I made these and they didn't turn out very good. So I got online and went to Chef AJ's youtube to watch her making them and see what I did wrong. She calls for added ingredients in her recipe which are 1/2 cup of unsweetened plant milk; 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds and 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Those are in addition to the other ingredients listed in this recipe. I will try her recipe next and see if it makes a difference. I am wondering if anyone else has tried this.

No body will ever know this was made GF, SF, DF, and with BEANS. It is a straight up chocolate brownie that takes less time and is more tasty than traditional brownies.

OMG You have the audacity to give this recipe only 1 star WHEN YOU DIDN'T EVEN FOLLOW THE RECIPE! LOL

Easy to make and provides a nice dense chocolatey dessert that is even sneakily healthier than others. I don't drain the beans (sometimes partially) or add pistachios, and find it to turn out gooey and tasty especially when warm. (The first time was on accident, then I kept making them this way). Tried it with maple syrup when I was out of date syrup. It was spongier in texture and tasted OK, but I prefer date syrup. I've shared it with a few others and it's been a hit or miss pending individual preferences (if they do/don't like darker chocolate taste or prefer conventional brownies) but it's become a staple dessert to make.

date syrup? what is that

What a game changer! Thank you for this recipe. I was a bit nervous if it didn't taste good, what with a CUP of date syrup, that is expensive. I made mine with carob also so there was no caffeine from cocoa, and well, it was FANTASTIC. Yum Yum.

What the purpose of the oats? Are they used as a binder? Can homemade almond meal or chopped walnuts be used instead?

Yummy! Made this by using 1/4 cup of date syrup and 1/4 cup of maple syrup. I added walnuts too.

I'm allergic to oats any other option to use? I'd rather not use quinoa flakes as a replacement as they do have a strong flavor.

Get in my belly!!!! I just made these suckers...substituted pinto for black beans as that was what I had. Added vanilla and tablespoon of tahini. I double the recipe. I will be taking these to church functions going forward just to get the church ladies tongues a wagging!

These are great. I used homemade date syrup (1 cup hot water + 1 cup packed dates, blended with a high-powered blender) and skipped the toppings. Used an 8" baking pan lined with parchment paper, and 35 minutes at 350°F was just right. Delicious!

I just made this. Moist and rich but a bit too sweet with a full cup of date syrup. Not bad with a cuppa strong black coffee. Will use less date syrup next time and maybe add walnuts.

Which diameter bake pan for that temperature and cooking time?

I haven't made these yet, but have made black bean brownies before, by modifying a non vegan recipe. Instead of sugar I use date paste. 1:1 ratio. The key is not to bake it for too long. The middle should not be as dry as the edges. Black bean brownies are fudgie and moist and delicious. The concept or preference of a brownie's texture is subjective to each individual.

These didn't turn out well at all. Used maple syrup instead of date syrup, and added some vanilla extract and a bit of salt. They were really bland and dry, practically inedible, and ended up in the trash.

Made a few modifications. Half cup maple syrup (replace one cup date syrup), ground almonds (replace rolled oats), one teaspoon baking soda (instead of half). Blended with everything else in one go. Topped with chopped Lindt 70%, no other nuts, baked for only 25 minutes, left to cool in pan for 7 minutes before turning out on wire rack to cool completely. Result - decadent, rich, moist and just right on the sweetness, that the whole family loved.

Delicious!

These surprised me. I’ve made black bean brownies before and could taste the beans. I couldn’t taste them here and could swear they were made with flour. I also appreciate that they’re not overly sweet. I added walnuts on top. Excellent!

This was delicious!

These brownies taste so good! They did turn out to be a little dry, so unfortunately, I have to make another batch to make it even better ;). I used quite a big cake form, so I baked the brownies for only 25 minutes on 180 degrees. Also, I added pistachios to the mixture (so not only on top), which turned out really well. I think I'll add a bit of vanilla next time. Oh, and I used half the amount dried (but sticky) dates and half the syrup. Maybe that's why they turned out a little dry, so I will soke the dates next time and use a little more. Long story short: I recommend these brownies! Greetings from The Netherlands

Absolutely delicious. Made a double batch with Blue Agave instead of date syrup, and served with the FOK Aquafaba whipped cream and it was delicious.

It means date syrup as in the Date Lady date syrup (which still has 2g of fiber in each Tbsp.). Do not use date paste. We use D'Vash brand date syrup and it's wonderful in these moist chocolately decadent brownies..enjoy!

I made this as directed. The brownies tasted terrible- the flavor and texture were nothing even remotely close to traditional brownies. No one in my family liked them. When I took a bite, it was so wretched that I had to spit it out.

When you list “date syrup” does this mean the product such as Date Lady date syrup or a homemade date syrup that is more like a paste and includes all the date fiber?

I made this last night and cannot believe how delicious it was! They taste just like Little Debbie's Cosmic Brownies! What's even better, my kids devoured them! I loved being able to tell them after the fact that they're made with black beans. We'll finish off the pan today (Day 2), I'm sure of it. Looks like I'll be making a batch of these weekly, if not daily. ;)

Very good, vegan or not

I love this recipe. I’ve made it a handful of times already and it’s one of the few ways I can get my 3 year old to eat beans at the moment. Thank you!

I don't have a food processor so I put the beans and syrup (and a tablespoon of vanilla) in the blender until smooth. I put all of the dry ingredients, including the cocoa, into a large bowl. I added the liquid mixture to the dry mixture and used a hand mixer to blend. Worked perfectly. The only suggestion I would make on this recipe is to double it because 8 brownies this good won't last!

I am very picky about brownies. These are absolutely amazing! I used Date Lady date syrup and followed it exactly. So excited to have a delicious brownie again!!!!!!!

These are seriously easy and delicious. They’re not going to be like a traditionally full-fat brownie, but are hands-down the best healthy alternative I’ve ever had. I’ve made these 4 times now, once with bottled, date syrup, once with dates/water blended first into syrup, and twice with maple syrup. I’ve even made these in an old blender while visiting my parents, just pulsed oats first. I like to add a few tablespoons strong coffee and because I only have a toaster oven, I bake at 325 for 20-30mIn depending on how thick they are. I’ve made in aluminum pans and ceramic, and as long as you keep an eye on them toward the end of baking they’ll come out fine.

Just made these! OMG! They are so yummy! My husband loves them too! Super moist and not overly sweet. Love these brownies!

These are AWESOME. I added blueberries, crystalized ginger, apricots, almonds, walnuts and then rolled them into balls and covered in long shredded coconut...

Deserts look delicious

I've already made these twice and they are delicious! Not overly sweet which is why I like them and also very filling. I didn't have date syrup so I used maple syrup and they came out so good.

Because I was in a hurry to try this recipe and didn't have date syrup, I decided to improvise. I had dates on hand and just pulled with water until I had a good consistency. I added all other ingredients and am so impressed on how moist these brownies are. Thank you for this great recipe.

Made these last week, turned out great, even my wife, who is not plant based, loved them! Thanks FOK.

I used organic maple syrup vs date syrup and they were delicious !!! I would love to know the nutritional information of this receipe.

These brownies were delicious! My husband who is a tough critic loved them. I also added 1TBS of vanilla and a splash of coffee to the batter to enhance the chocolate. Will definitely be making these again. I also think you could sub maple syrup for the date syrup.

Made exactly as recipe calls for . Simple and delicious! No one will know they are eating beans or healthy!

To meet my pantry inventory, I used some sweetener (erythrit) and a cup of water instead of the dates syrup. Also 2 extra tbsp cocoa powder and a pinch of salt. What a nice treat for a Sunday :)

Can coconut or almond flour be used instead of oats?

If we don’t have canned black beans what alternative can be used ?

It didn’t work for me. I made the date syrup as per the instructions given before the recipe. It turned out to be a paste and not a syrup. I used dates and water in equal parts by weight. I don’t have a big food processor and I used my vitamix. It couldn’t blend all the ingredients without the help of some liquid and I had to use 2 cups of water to get it to blend. I continued to bake it for 1 hr and it was as wet the batter. I am a baker and I have baked a lot of regular cakes and brownies which means that I can follow instructions to the t. I am not sure what I did that was wrong. Should I be using a store bought date syrup? It’ll be helpful if the author puts in a link to the ingredients he/she used. Clearly I am very disappointed!!!

Sounds interesting but more fiber rich foods could have been added.

Where is the nutrition info? Looking for calorie count, because you know if I make these, I'll want to eat them all in one day!

I used Monk fruit sugar instead of date syrup to reduce calories and carbohydrates dramatically. I also added a little bit of vanilla. It needed more liquid so I put it in a little almond milk and to bind it I added a quarter of a cup of flaxseed meal and water

OMG! I must admit I was a bit skeptical at first so I made a half recipe in an 8 in loaf pan & baked it for 25 mins. I ate half if it when it was barely cool. So good. Satisfies any sweet tooth.

Can you substitute the black beans with another kind. Maybe chickpeas or Northern White beans?

I tried the recipe using ¾ cup of Carob powder instead of the cocoa powder, and my husband and I thought they were great! Best of all, he can now have a brownie, and not get a migraine as he would have with the chocolate. Thanks for the recipe!

I haven’t made these yet, but wonder if anyone has substituted carob powder for the chocolate. Chocolate being a trigger for husband’s migraines, I want to try carob. Thank you.

Really good but I purchased ready-made date syrup (which was really hard to find in my area - had to get it on Amazon) and they were way too sweet. Maybe instructions should be included in the notes of the recipe for the homemade version of the syrup (in the comments) so no one else makes the same goof.

I made this recipe for our Mother's Day dinner. This was so easy to make and so chewy and delicious!

How do I make date syrup

I love these dense fudgy brownies! I never seem to have enough ingredients on hand when I go to make something, and often sub. Once I only had half the cocoa so added some strong coffee to amp up the chocolatiness. I didn't have enough dates last time and made up the difference with pureed prunes, raisins and apricots instead of resorting to sugar... still delicious. Where there's a will there's a way!

Swap out the black beans for adzuki beans and they turn out even better! Same texture but the adzuki are a sweeter, less beany tasting bean :D yum

Wow! These are irresistible brownies!All the family raves about them!!! I baked them in mini muffin silicone pan and I plant a walnut on top or a pecan. Bake on 350 for 18 minutes. These are a must have dessert at any party. They are so cute on a fact tray!

These didn’t taste like brownies at all and were very dense. The batter tasted okay but once they were cooked I didn’t even want to eat one. 2 stars because my husband liked them.

Don't let the title scare you away if you have a sweet tooth like me! Super rich and yummy. It doesn't feel like I'm missing anything.

All the chocolate without the guilt! I couldn't resist licking the mixing spoon afterwards...

SO good for any brownie cravings. Trader Joe's is my go-to store to find vegan chocolate chips!

Went with both the nuts and the chocolate.

A healthy yet deliciously rich brownie! Super easy to make and so moist.

Browni-licoius

So delicious!

These brownies are so good. This would be a good item to take to a potluck. No one would ever guess the base is black beans.