Gluten, Free Vegan Black Bean Brownies

These oat-rageously healthy black bean brownies are a must-have recipe for your chocolate cravings. This oil-free, gluten-free recipe uses whole grain oats and oat flour. Naturally sweetened with dates, they are a nutritious and delicious plant-based treat.

Oat-Rageously Healthy Black Bean Brownies (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Baking with Dates: A Whole Foods, Plant-Based Technique

I’m on a mission to cook with whole foods, avoiding ingredients like refined oil and sugar. By using whole ingredients like dates, applesauce, black beans, and whole grain flour, I can create recipes that are delicious and nutritious.

In particular, sugar can be strongly addictive. Our biology is hard-wired to seek the energy that comes from sugar. Refined sugar (like cane sugar, brown sugar, agave, and maple syrup) all pique that addictive instinct. However, using dried fruits like dates counters that addiction. The fiber and other nutrients in dates helps slow our cravings and counter that addiction.

Mexican Date and Black Bean Vegan Brownies with Chipotle and Cinnamon - Healthy, Oil-Free, Plant-Based Dessert Recipe from Plants-Rule — Dates naturally sweeten these healthy, whole foods, plant-based brownies

These chocolate black bean brownies are perfect for lunchboxes and afternoon snacks. You can make a batch on the weekend and then portion throughout the week. Enjoy this allergy-friendly recipe that you can pack for school.

Black Bean Brownies: Healthy Vegan Baking

Another trick to these whole foods, plant-based brownies is using black beans. Black beans help give a rich, dense texture to these brownies. That’s because of the protein and fiber they contain. The same protein and fiber that makes them healthy also help make these brownies delicious!

Chef Katie’s Bean Tip: If you don’t have black beans on hand, you can swap with another kind of canned bean. I’ve made this recipe with Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and red kidney beans.

How to Use Whole Grain Oat Flour

The whole grain flour used in these brownies is oat flour. Oat flour is milled from the whole grain, retaining the bran and fiber of this whole food. In turn, you get lots of healthy nutrition with fiber, protein, zinc, and other key nutrients.

In addition, these brownies use quick oats. The quick oats help absorb some the moisture to provide a chewy brownie that is also tender. If you only have whole or rolled oats, pulse them in the blender 10-15 times, until they’re chopped up into smaller bits. Steel-cut oats will not work in this recipe.

Are These Black Bean Brownies Gluten-Free?

Yes! These plant-based vegan brownies are naturally gluten-free. However, if you have a severe sensitivity to gluten (or are Celiac), be sure to use gluten-free certified quick oats and oat flour.

Adding dried fruit or vegan chocolate chips can add satisfying texture and extra sweetness

Adding Texture to Vegan Baking Recipes with Fruit and Nuts

These plant-based black bean brownies get an extra pop of sweet flavor from dried cherries and vegan chocolate chips. Adding extra texture from dried fruit can help provide extra sweetness. Especially as you transition to eating less refined sugar, something as simple as dried currants can help you adapt to the changes in your diet. Besides dried cherries, you can also use dried cranberries, raisins, currants, or chopped up dried mango.

If you prefer a more nutty flavor, you can add a couple tablespoons of chopped nuts, seeds, or toasted coconut to these brownies. Chopped pecans, walnuts, and pistachios all make lovely additions.

I’ve tried all sorts of variations, and they’ve always been delicious. Use this recipe as an opportunity to use up some spare ingredients you have in your pantry.

Cocoa powder is naturally bitter, not sweet. Pair it with spice like chipotle or cinnamon for bold Mexican flavors — Cocoa powder is naturally bitter, not sweet. Use a high-quality baking cocoa powder for rich, fudgy brownies

You’ll love these healthy, oil-free, plant-based, whole foods vegan Brownies:

You’ll love this recipe for healthy, oil-free, plant-base gluten-free Oat-Rageous Black Bean Brownies. This whole foods vegan recipe is:

Full of chocolate flavor
Sneaks in heart-healthy black beans
Gluten-free and Allergy-friendly
Naturally sweetened with dates — no refined sugar or syrup
Uses whole grain oat flour — no refined white flour
Oil-Free
Easy to make
Freezes well

Make a batch of these brownies on the weekend to use for lunches and snacks throughout the week

Watch the Cooking Video for these Mexican Spiced Vegan Black Bean Brownies:

Chef Katie’s Plant-Based Cooking Tips:

Want some spice? If you want a little spice in this recipe, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon makes a nice addition.

Parchment Paper: Line your baking pans with parchment paper to avoid using baking spray. This is healthier. Plus, it won’t leave your brownies with a greasy coating.

Off-Set Spatula for Spreading: A small offset spatula makes it easy to spread this batter evenly in the bottom of your baking pan.

Whole Food Ingredients: I’m on a mission to use only whole food, plant-based ingredients. You won’t find any refined flours, sugars, syrups, or oils in my recipes. Only whole food, natural goodness.

Oat-Rageously Gluten-Free Black Bean Vegan Brownies

Medium
Servings: 16
Ready In: 75 minutes
Yield: 16 brownies

If you like these, you’ll also love Spiced Up! Mexican Date and Black Bean Vegan Brownies, Chocolate Secret Spinach Oil-Free Plant-Based Muffins, Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana “Monkey’ Bars, 5-Ingredient Cocoa Peanut Butter Energy Bites, and 4-Ingredient Raw Chocolate Walnut Brownies.

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