Spiced Up! Mexican Date and Black Bean Vegan Brownies

Vegan Date and Black Bean Brownies

Add some devilish heat to your Halloween with these Mexican Spice Black Bean Brownies. This oil-free, plant-based vegan recipe is the perfect chocolatey treat. Naturally sweetened with dates, they are both nutritious and delicious. With Mexican spices Ceylon cinnamon and chipotle powder.

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.

The Perfect Brownies for Halloween!

These chocolate black bean brownies are perfect for Halloween. The Mexican spices add a “devilish” kick to traditional brownies. Plus, the orange dust adds a festive color.

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!

How to Use Whole Grain Flour

The whole grain flour used in these brownies is whole wheat pastry flour. Whole wheat pastry 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.

Can you Make These Black Bean Brownies Gluten-Free?

The wheat flour has gluten, which helps create a chewy texture for these brownies. I’ve tried using gluten-free whole grain flours like oat and brown rice, but the texture is lacking. For a gluten-free version, I recommend either using an All-Purpose gluten-free baking flour. Or, if you enjoy a nutty flavor, try using buckwheat flour.

Adding Mexican Spice to Vegan Baking Recipes

These chocolate black bean vegan brownies get Mexican flavor from two key spices: Ceylon cinnamon and chipotle powder. The combination of these two spices adds a subtle kick to this healthy, plant-based recipe. However, you can use this trick for any baking. Add this combination to Chocolate Muffins, Vegan Pecan Vanilla Frosting, or Chocolate Coconut Oat Balls.

Orange Mango Dust? Replace Powdered Sugar with Freeze-Dried Fruit Powder

The orange dust in this recipe is made from freeze-dried mango. Many baking recipes will use powdered sugar to add a fun finishing touch. However, freeze-dried fruits can replace these for a healthier recipe. Mango (and a dash of turmeric) create a beautiful orange color. You can also use strawberries for red, blueberries for blue, and bananas or pineapple for yellow.

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

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

• Full of chocolatey flavor
• Sneaks in heart-healthy black beans
• Packs subtle, spicy Mexican flavor
• Naturally sweetened with dates — no refined sugar or syrup
• Uses whole grain flour — no refined white flour
• Oil-Free
• Easy to make
• Freezes well

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

Chef Katie’s Plant-Based Cooking Tips:

Want less spice?  If making this recipe for kids or anyone sensitive to spice, you can omit the chipotle powder. I still think a touch of cinnamon adds a nice, warm flavor.

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.

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Mexican Date and Black Bean Vegan Brownies

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

If you like these, you’ll also love 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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Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving: One brownie with Orange Dust

These facts include the orange dust, which adds about 10 calories and 2g sugar per brownie

Nutrition Facts
Servings 16.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 143
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 1 g	1 %
Saturated Fat 0 g	1 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 60 mg	3 %
Potassium 243 mg	7 %
Total Carbohydrate 33 g	11 %
Dietary Fiber 6 g	23 %
Sugars 20 g
Protein 3 g	7 %
Vitamin A	11 %
Vitamin C	21 %
Calcium	7 %
Iron	7 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

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