Who doesn’t loooooooove Chocolate! This is so cool! You can have these High Protein, Low Carb, Healthy “Brownie” Dessert Bars when you’re on your 4-hour body Diet. Yes, that is right! Do treat these the same way you would treat hummus or nuts though. Don’t go crazy with these. I suggest making them on your cheat day and then you could have one here or there throughout the following week, if you absolutely need to have something sweet.
There is no need to forgo your pencil skirt for those sweatpants when you eat these healthy little bundles of joy because these are made with fiber rich black beans, un hun, that’s what I said…Black Beans! I know it sounds kinda gross, but they are not. These are delicious, rich and chocolaty.
Using stevia instead of sugar makes these low carb so you get that natural sweetness. I have to say that I am 100% real when I say that these are the BEST LOW CARB BROWNIES I’ve ever made. If you are in need of a quick fix…MAKE.THESE. If you seriously don’t have the time, this is your answer.
Let’s say you have an event that you need to bring something…like a pot luck thingy, or even your cheat day on the sofa, bring these. No one will ever know that these are a High Protein, Low Carb, Healthy Brownie. They’ll think that they’re the real thing and then you can surprise them in the end. Just say “Surprise!” These are actually healthy and I just saved your ass! Literally! LOL!
I like to top these with raspberries but it’s not necessary. On your cheat day, you could melt some leftover chocolate chips and frost them. The raspberries make them look pretty when you bring them to a party.
These are insanely “fudgy” in texture, in the way where you might have to stop and ask yourself “Are these actually good for me?” I can say YES and they are all-around super delicious. Go ahead and indulge now.
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup carob or cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup coconut oil or melted butter
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp instant coffee
- 1-2 tbp stevia
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Either line an 8 by 8 baking dish with parchment paper and leave a little out on 2 sides to make it easy to lift out after they're baked, or Grease baking dish with butter or use non-stick dish.
- Mix all ingredients in a food processor until batter consistency.
- Pour batter into baking dish and level it out.
- Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool for 10 minutes then remove by holding edges of parchment paper to lift out.
- Let cool for another 10 min. and then slice to squares on a cutting board.
- Store in the refrigerator for 5 days.
- JUNE 28, 2016 AT 8:30 PM
- My total, for what I purchased, came to 187 carbs and cut into 16 pieces, would be 11.68 carbs each.
- Thanks Marcie!
I have been searching for a Black Bean Brownie Recipe, and there are plenty out there, but I liked this one the best, However I have a few comments. In the instructions I think #3 is an error, as if you use parchment paper you don’t need to also grease the pan. (and parchment is the way to go here, So easy to lift the brownies out of the pan and cut.)
Then I am not sure but shouldn’t you add the Choc Chips to the batter after it has been processed? ( I actually keep out 1/4 cup to sprinkle on top).
I also use 1T Whole sugar but omit it if I use Semi Sweet chips instead of Dark Choc chips.
Thank you so much for your comments. Yes, that should say with or not to do both, so I appreciate you pointing that out. I updated it now. I usually process the chips so the blend easier, but you could see how it turns out the other way. You could use all real sugar but because this is for low carb/slow carb, sugar is a no no. I’m so happy you like these!
I put the ingredients into an app that I use. For the entire recipe there are 224 carbs. If cut into 2 inch squares, each serving would have 14 carbs. A serving of standard Betty Crocker brownies has 23 grams. This does cut the carbs quite a bit.
I meant to put this under the carb question. Sorry!
You are awesome Monica! Thank you for doing that. Would you mind sharing the app you used so I could use it for my future recipes?
Yes I would like.to know what app it is as well. My 10 year was just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes amd that would help me out ALOT. THANKS!
Really interested in the app you have. Where can I find it?
You can use my fitness pal or the calculator on the spark recipe site to calculate recipe nutritional information; I have used both and currently use my fitness pal the most. Hope this helps
What app are you using? I’m new to the low carb thing and need something to help calculate carbs. Thank you.
Do you have the carb/sugar count for these?
I would like to know the calorie, protein, and carb count for these, please.
Would these be ok for someone whos had a gastric sleeve?
That’s a great question Lisa. That would be something your doctor would have to answer for you. I’m not educated on that subject to give you an answer to that. Thank you for your comment. When you find out, it would be great if you could post the answer to that in case there are others wondering the same thing.
I recently had gastric sleeve surgery. Made these as a treat for my bday. It’s low carb, low fat, sugar free, and has protein. So yes, VGS approved!
Awesome! Happy Birthday!
I have Gastric Bypass and yes, these are acceptable, like everything we eat, you should be aware of your macros and what fits into them…also everything in moderation is a good rule to live by! 🙂
Do you have the carb count on these?
Hi! Not yet but, I’m getting lots of requests for that. I’ll put it together asap. Thanks for your comments!
I am looking forward to trying this recipe as you suggested, to take to a bring-a-dish lunch. I think they will be a hit because so many people are trying to eat “healthy” but often everyone has a different idea of just what that means. These should appeal to quite a few people! I would note however that if you eat a low carb diet, most would not agree that these are truly “low carb” because they have the black beans in them; true low carb means no beans other than green beans because they spike your blood sugar and the whole idea is to keep blood sugar as level as possible. I am not an expert on any of this, just have been doing quite a bit of reading since going low carb about six months ago. Thanks again for a promising recipe!
If you’re using black beans these are not lowcarb.
HI! Thank you for your comment. The 4 hour body is actually considered a slow carb diet and recommends eating beans and legumes to keep you feeling full instead of carbs that quickly convert into sugar. Beans, lentils and legumes are allowed on this diet and do not spike your insulin levels like other “white” carbs would. Another reader, Monica calculated that these brownies contain only 14 grams of carbs compared to Betty Crocker Brownies that have 23 grams of carbs. so they are much lower than your typical brownie. Really appreciate your feedback though. Have an awesome day!
There is a site called sparkpeople.com that has a nutrition info generator for batch recipes. That might make it easier, rather than calculating it all by hand.
These look so good. Officially going low carb tomorrow and have been looking for desserts to satisfy sweet tooth.
You could use the My Fitness Pal app to figure out the stats.
For the lady that asked about making these after a gastric sleeve- yes, these would be a great option. I am post-op 10 months and have lost 105 pounds so far. I’m planning to make these for a pot-luck. 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, and congratulations on your 105! That’s awesome!
Would love to know the nutritional numbers if you have them. I’m getting ready to make them now.
For the entire recipe there are 224 carbs. If cut into 2 inch squares, each serving would have 14 carbs. A serving of standard Betty Crocker brownies has 23 grams. This does cut the carbs quite a bit.
I’m a little late to the game but I came up with a slightly different carb count. Different name brands have different carb counts and you should always check. Others suggested using an app, but I always read my labels. My total, for what I purchased, came to 187 and cut into 16 pieces, would be 11.68 carbs each. I think the type of chocolate chips is a factor. Not trying to be sassy, just helpful. Definitely going to make a batch tomorrow! Excited to try them!
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What other bean could be used instead of black beans if I have trouble finding them. Also are dried beans okay as long as I rehydrate them?
You could probably use pinto or white beans and yes, if you soak, and prepare the dried black beans as you would to consume them in a meal so they’re soft, that would work as well. Just make sure they are soft and cooked. The white beans may not look as rich and chocolatey as the black beans, but they may taste okay. I’ve never tried it, but if you do, let us know how they turn out!
Thanks Heather. My lovely local IGA supermarket got them in for me and they are cooking as I type this! My husband is freaking out saying “beans for sweets – what the?” ha ha. I hope they turn out ok. PS I’m going to use agave nectar instead of stevia. I will let you know the results
Awesome! Just know that Agave isn’t low carb. Although it’s healthier than sugar, it spikes your insulin levels like sugar, honey or syrup would.
I hope your hubby likes them, and would love to hear about it.
Thanks!
I just made these for a girls night in tomorrow, I am so anxious to see how they all come out, we have all had either gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery, so we are all looking forward to a low carb, high protein treat! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Let us know how they turned out. I hope you like them!
Hey! These look great, would love to make them but I have one question. Which Stevia are you using? I can’t tell if it’s the cup-for-cup crystallized stuff, or a more concentrated version. Thanks!
I use the Stevia in the packets usually. Not crystallized but more of a fine powder.
Hi, I am excited to try these. Maybe I missed it but can you share the Calorie, Fat, and Protein for these brownies? I see you posted the carbs but could you post the rest?
Thank you,
Audra
Coffee stains are very straightforward to eliminate.
You should use a dry towel to soak up as a lot of the stain as potential and use a damp towel to scrub the remainder.
Pour a small quantity of vinegar on the stain, wait a couple of minutes and soak up the vinegar and the remainder of
the espresso with a damp towel.
Would you be able to advise if I used Swerve or Splenda. I have a friend who has cannot do stevia. Thank you!
See how it goes, with Swerve. I add it gradually to the desired sweetness. Usually around 1 packet of Stevia, but you could use Swerve instead.
I made these 2 days ago. I was a bit hesitant about how they would taste due to the use of black beans. However I was pleasantly surprised! These brownies are absolutely delicious!
Glad you like them! It’s time for me to make some more. Now that I have a 4 year old, these black bean brownies are a great way to sneak veggies into his diet too.
This recipe has over 250 grams of carbs. It’s nowhere close to being low carb.
Thank you for your feedback. Compared to a regular brownie, they’re low carb.
Thank you for your feedback. These are way lower carb than your typical brownie. They’re high in fiber as well. Not to mention, a healthy alternative for kids.
Would they still turn out if I skipped the instant coffee?
Yes. It, may not have as rich of a flavor though. It adds a bit of depth.