Fudgy Black Bean Brownies
Rich, chocolatey brownies packed with fiber from black beans and whole grain oat flour. Sweetened naturally with maple syrup and studded with dark chocolate chips for a satisfying treat.
Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Total
65 min
Makes
9 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Leslie + Lila
Leslie created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
A steadier afternoon
Give your day a solid food foundation
Being properly fed cannot solve a hard day, but a substantial meal can remove hunger and an energy dip from the list of things you are juggling.
Notice: mood + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Total
65 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Oven · Blender · Food processor · Colander
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8-inch (20cm) square baking dish…
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 12 steps complete
Next: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and…
- 01
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and…
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8-inch (20cm) square baking dish with parchment paper.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Rinse and thoroughly drain the canned black…
Rinse and thoroughly drain the canned black beans in a fine-mesh sieve until water runs clear.
Look for: water runs clear
Tap card to mark done - 03
Add the black beans
Add the black beans, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract into a food processor or high-speed blender.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Puree on high speed for 2 minutes
Puree on high speed for 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides, until completely smooth with no remaining bean skins.
Look for: completely smooth with no remaining bean skins
Tap card to mark done - 05
Add the cocoa powder
Add the cocoa powder, oat flour, and baking powder to the processor bowl.
Tap card to mark done - 06
Pulse 6 to 8 times until a…
Pulse 6 to 8 times until a thick, uniform batter forms.
Look for: a thick, uniform batter forms
Tap card to mark done - 07
Fold in three-quarters of the dark chocolate…
Fold in three-quarters of the dark chocolate chips using a spatula until evenly distributed.
Look for: evenly distributed
Tap card to mark done - 08
Transfer the batter into the prepared baking…
Transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top into an even layer using the spatula.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
Tap card to mark done - 09
Sprinkle the remaining dark chocolate chips evenly…
Sprinkle the remaining dark chocolate chips evenly over the surface.
Tap card to mark done - 10
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22 to…
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 22 to 25 minutes, until the edges look set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
Look for: the edges look set and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs
Tap card to mark done - 11
Place the baking dish on a wire…
Place the baking dish on a wire rack and allow the brownies to cool completely for 30 minutes before slicing into 9 squares.
Allow: 30 minutes
Tap card to mark done - 12
Store leftover brownies in an airtight container…
Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
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