Garbanzo Bean Brownies are gluten-free, grain-free and refined sugar-free. This healthy brownie recipe is moist, fudgy and amazing!
Let’s go to brownieville!
I love making treat recipes out of whole foods. Creating something decadent out of something healthful to achieve an outcome that is both mouth-wateringly delicious and nutritious sounds almost too good to be true!
You know what else sounds almost too good to be true?
Brownies made out of beans.
I know, crazy, right? Who would have thought something that is meant to be eaten alongside a plate of tacos could metamophosize into a brownie?
As it turns out, the bean you love to put in your chili makes a fantastic treat when blended up with chocolate. The main ingredient of hummus? Sure, let’s make brownies out of it!
If you are trying to find alternatives to wheat-based recipes, and prefer keeping treats on the nutritious side, this recipe may cater to your needs too. Garbanzo beans are very high in fiber (two cups of the bean give you all the fiber you need for the day) and the type of fiber fuels the cells in your intestinal wall and promotes colon health.
Plus all the antioxidants from the dark chocolate chips and cocoa powder? Smooooooth move!
The consistency of this treat comes out somewhere along the lines of fudge, brownie and holy mother of yum. It’s thick, smooth, and dense and you have no clue, not even a smidge of an idea that you’re eating mooshed up beans.
Not a bean person, you say? That don’t matter none…you can’t taste them, I promise!
Also: mega trick alert – want to fool your friends? Feed them these, and see if they can tell what they’re made out of!
They’ll love the fact that they’re gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and decadent as can be!
More Healthy Brownies Recipes:
- Espresso Keto Brownies
- Flourless Avocado Brownies (Paleo)
- Paleo Sweet Potato Fudge Brownies
- Black Bean Brownies
Garbanzo Bean Brownies
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
- 2 eggs
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract see note
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Confectioner’s sugar for garnish optional
Instructions
- Add the chocolate chips to a small sauce pan and heat over medium low. When the chips begin to melt on the bottom, slowly stir with a spoon until chips are completely melted. Although this may take a couple of minutes, I prefer melting chocolate over the stove as opposed to the microwave to ensure it does not overcook or get burned. Set melted chocolate aside.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Add all ingredients (except chocolate) to a blender and blend until completely smooth.
- Add the melted chocolate and blend until combined. The batter will be very thick – this is marvelous.
- Line an 8” x 8” baking dish with parchment paper (or lightly oil it with olive/grapeseed oil). Pour the brownie batter into the parchment-lined dish and smooth with a knife. The batter will not change form very much (it won’t rise much or spread out), so make sure it appears the way you want it to.
- Bake brownies for 28 to 30 minutes (28 was the magic number for me) and test the center with a toothpick to be sure they’re cooked all the way through.
- Allow brownies to cool a few minutes then pull the edges of the parchment paper to remove the whole brownie block and set it on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut brownies and garnish with powdered sugar if desired.
- Serve fresh out of the oven and refrigerate any leftovers
Perfect! I really love these. I had some black bean brownies a few years ago and loved them, but had never thought to use garbanzo beans! Thanks so much for this recipe.
I’m loving these recipes for brownies with beans instead of standard ingredients, spiking the nutritional value but no sacrifice in the taste whatsoever! Pretty genius
I’ve never heard of this! But if they taste as good as they look, this recipe is a winner! Adding this to my list of things to try in the near future.
Glad to hear you’re interested in trying the recipe! As long as you like chocolate, you’ll love the brownies 😉
I made brownies today! THese look yummy, and I love that they’re made with beans!
Brownies are one of my favorite treats on the planet. Glad you like the recipe!
I ALWAYS keep garbanzo beans on hand. They are sort of like the cashew of beans, you can use them in just about any recipe!
We’re the same way! We always have an assortment of beans, which makes throwing bean brownies together a cinch! 🙂 Let me know if you try the recipe!
Hey! How effectively would these turn out with egg white substitutes? I looooove this idea and I can’t find a vegan version.
Hey there Alexander, thanks for asking. I’ve never used egg white substitutes but if you have ever used it in regular brownies, I’m very confident it would work with garbanzo bean brownies. I read that using 1/2 a banana can replace one egg, so maybe try mushing up a banana or use whatever substitute you are accustomed to using. You can probably also use applesauce to replace the eggs. Try 1/2 cup of applesauce and an additional 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder. Let me know if you end up trying it with the substitute and if it works out.
I have heard of this but have never tried it. I love beans, and I love brownies. How bad can it be? Thanks for the recipe!
Definitely give them a go! You’d never be able to tell they are made with beans – they really come out tasting similar to fudge! Let me know if you try them!
Soooooo….I tried the whole black bean brownie route a long time ago and it was a major fail. I NEED to try it with the garbanzo bean. These look so good!!
Oh girl, you MUST try the recipe! I also suggest giving the black bean brownies a go again too…we’ve been using this recipe for black bean brownies quite a bit: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/flourless-brownies Good luck and let me know if you try out either recipes! 🙂
Beans in brownies?! I have to try this. Happy new year, love!
Happy New Year to yo too! Let me know if you try the brownies!
I’m going gluten-free starting tomorrow…definitely going to keep this recipe around. Thank you!
You’ll love this recipe, then! Black bean brownies are also delicious and I also enjoy making treats out of almond flour and coconut flour. Good luck on your GF quest – it’s not as hard as it may sound and it’s actually really fun to try new recipes! 🙂
Yum! I’m a bean person for sure! I love a dessert with beans 🙂
Ooh, I’ve heard about black bean brownies, but never garbanzo bean! I’m intrigued. It’s definitely the time of year for making treats healthier!
Genius!! I love garbanzo beans and buy them in bulk. I might make this for Friday night, we have company.
Thanks, Yosef! The flavor and texture turn out wonderfully, so as long as you and your company like chocolate, they’ll definitely please!!
Dang these look fudgy and irresistible! I’m so impressed they are completely flourless, a must try.
I have also heard of black bean brownies. Mine never turn out. I am going to have to try these.. they look great!
Hmm…I wonder why they don’t turn out…If you want to compare your recipe for black bean brownies to this one: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/flourless-brownies from Whole Foods, it may give you an idea of what needs to change. My bf’s mom has prepared this recipe a handful of times and it’s always turned out great. Let me know if you make the garbanzo bean brownies, they’re pretty dern amazing! 🙂
Just perfect. I can’t wait to give this updated brownie recipe a try. I’ve heard of this…but usually black beans. I prefer garbanzos, so I’m eager to enjoy these! Thank you for sharing!
My boyfriend’s mom makes a killer black bean brownie – hers turn out fluffier than mine, which I really like. This recipe is more fudge-like and dense, but it definitely hits the spot and I love that they’re wheat free! Let me know when you try the garbanzo kind!!