Kidney Bean Brownies

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Healthy kidney bean brownies are fudgy and rich, making them a tasty dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth when that chocolate craving hits!

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kidney bean brownies with one in front and a bite taken out of it. a small bowl of chocolate chips in the background.

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Why You'll Love This Kidney Bean Brownies Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
How to Make Fudgy Kidney Bean Brownies
Variations & Substitutions
Mix-Ins & Toppings
Pro Tips
Storing & Serving
Recipe FAQ
Other Recipes You May Like
Kidney Bean Brownies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Kidney Bean Brownies Recipe

Kidney bean brownies are a great recipe to make when your sweet tooth is calling but you want to stick to your healthy diet! They're the real deal and may be some of the best brownies out there that are high protein and excellent source of dietary fiber.

While the texture of any sort of bean brownie is a little bit different than traditional brownies, this recipe is has so many healthy alternatives to regular brownie recipes, making it a great option to try. The texture is dense but cakier than traditional brownies and full of rich, dark chocolate flavor.

16 kidney bean brownies on parchment paper, dusted with powdered sugar.

Equipment

Blender or food processor - either of these will give this healthy brownie recipe a smooth texture by really blending up all of the ingredients.
Medium mixing bowl (optional) - you can either fold any mix-ins into the batter in the blender jar or bowl of a food processor, or pour the batter into a separate bowl and then mix any add-ins!
Rubber spatula - a rubber spatula is perfect for mixing any add-ins you want to bake into the batter. Plus it helps get every last drop of brownie batter as you scrape it into the prepared baking dish!
Parchment paper - this is key when baking! It really prevents any batter (or dough) from sticking to a baking pan or dish.
8x8" baking dish - this is the perfect size to make the perfect brownies! Using a different pan size may affect the cooking time.

Ingredients

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Red kidney beans - kidney beans are a complex carbohydrate and an excellent source of dietary fiber, which is beneficial for digestive health. They're the main secret ingredient in these healthy kidney bean brownies, giving them a dense texture.
Pure maple syrup - I love using maple syrup as a more natural sweetener compared to white sugar! It's definitely worth splurging on the good stuff (the ingredients should be just "maple syrup") because the cheaper maple syrup is corn syrup with maple flavoring and other artificial additives.
Eggs - these help to bind the brownie batter together. I haven't tried using flax eggs as a vegan alternative but let me know in the comments if you do!
Oats - old fashioned oats or quick oats can be used here! The oats act like an all purpose flour and hold the ingredients together (while also adding some fiber). The oats combined with the kidney beans help to maintain steady blood sugar levels compared to regular brownies.
Unsweetened cocoa powder - a must in any brownie recipe! I use unsweetened 100% cacao powder to give these red kidney bean brownies an intense chocolate flavor.
Black cocoa powder - I love baking with black cocoa powder because it gives baked goods such a delicious chocolatey flavor but is processed in a way that removes a lot of the bitterness. Plus it adds a deep black color (like in these black cupcakes and healthy chocolate zucchini bread!).
Pure vanilla extract - even though chocolate and vanilla are opposites, pure vanilla extract really enhances the flavor of baked goods.
Baking powder - since these healthy brownies are pretty dense, baking powder helps them to rise and become a little cakier.
Salt - salt helps to balance out all of the sweetness in this recipe!
Mini chocolate chips(optional) - this ingredient is totally optional, but I love how well mini chocolate chips bake into these red bean brownies so there's a melted pool of chocolate in every bite!

How to Make Fudgy Kidney Bean Brownies

ingredients for kidney bean brownies in a blender

1: Combine all of the ingredients in the jar of your blender or bowl of your food processor, except the ½ cup chocolate chips (or whatever mix-ins you choose to use!).

2: Blend on high until totally smooth, ~1-2 minutes.

kidney bean brownie batter in a blender with mini chocolate chips

3: Add the mix-ins to the blender or food processor and stir with a rubber spatula.

*You can pour the brownie batter into a medium mixing bowl and then add the mix-ins if you prefer!

kidney bean brownie batter sprinkled with mini chocolate chips in an 8x8" baking dish

4: Pour the brownie batter into a prepared 8x8" baking dish lined with parchment paper.

*Feel free to sprinkle any extra mix-ins on top here or swirl in some almond, cashew, or peanut butter!

kidney bean brownies in an 8x8" baking dish

5: Bake 30-35 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, or until mostly set in the middle. It's okay if there's a slight jiggle in the middle, the brownies will continue to cook as they cool! Let them cool for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing and serving!

Variations & Substitutions

To intensify the chocolate flavor or give these brownies a "mocha" vibe, you can add a Tablespoon of instant coffee or espresso powder to the blender or food processor before blending.
If you don't have or can't find red kidney beans, you can use a can of black beans instead! I also have the best black bean brownies recipe with dried cherries that is absolutely delicious!
I haven't tried making mini kidney bean brownies but you could try pouring the batter into a prepared muffin tin lined with paper liners and baking for 15-20 minutes, or until mostly set in the middle. Let me know in the comments if you try this!

Mix-Ins & Toppings

If you're a fan of sweet and salty like me, I highly recommend sprinkling some course sea salt on top of the brownies as they come out of the oven.
I use mini chocolate chips, but you can use any type of chocolate: large chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc.
Since peanut butter and chocolate are one of the best food combinations out there, you can swirl natural peanut butter into the batter right before putting them in the oven for a delicious twist! Almond and cashew butter would also work well.
In addition to or instead of chocolate chips, chopped pecans, walnuts, peanuts, and/or almonds add a nice crunch to these fudgy kidney bean brownies!
Unsweetened shredded coconut is a tasty add to this healthy dessert.
Chopped up candy bars make a fantastic addition to this recipe! If you have any laying around (like leftover Halloween candy), chop the bars into small ½" pieces and fold into the brownie batter before baking.

a stack of 3 kidney bean brownies dusted with powdered sugar

Pro Tips

Use a blender or food processor for this recipe, as opposed to an electric hand mixer or stand mixer. The high speed blender/food processor really gets the texture of the brownie batter right!
I like storing these red kidney bean brownies in the refrigerator to make them last longer, and then pop whatever is left after 6 days in the freezer!

Storing & Serving

STORING: These kidney bean brownies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want them to last longer, they last in the fridge for up to 6 days! They also freeze really well and keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- If you freeze these brownies, I recommend popping them in the microwave for 10-20 seconds (or longer, depending on your microwave) to thaw.
SERVING: I highly recommend serving these healthy kidney bean brownies fresh out of the oven (after letting the cool for 20-30 minutes) with a dusting of powdered sugar, scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream, homemade whipped cream, or a big glass of cold milk.

a kidney bean brownie resting on another one with more in the background.

Recipe FAQ

Do canned kidney beans need to be cooked?

Nope! You can absolutely cook them in other recipes but for these kidney bean brownies, canned kidney beans do not need to be cooked.

Are red beans and kidney beans the same?

They're similar but not exactly the same! Kidney beans are larger and longer than red beans. However, any bean can be used in this recipe!

I don't have black cocoa powder - can I use all regular cocoa powder?

Absolutely! I love black cocoa powder because it adds such a rich, chocolate flavor with minimal bitterness. But you can use ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder instead of 2 Tablespoons of regular cocoa and 2 Tablespoons of black cocoa.

Are these kidney bean brownies gluten-free?

Technically, yes! Just be sure the oats you use are certified gluten-free. Otherwise, there should be no gluten in these brownies.

Other Recipes You May Like

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