Chocolate Orange Bean Brownies
Low Fat Brownies Made with Black Beans
A whole naval orange adds zing to these low-fat black bean brownies.
Chocolate and orange are natural partners. They complement each other in many baked goods, from orange chocolate chip cookies to chocolate orange cream cupcakes.
But the orange flavor is fairly strong in these chocolate brownies. So if you're planning to serve these brownies to kids, you may want to start with just the fresh juice from the orange, rather than the whole orange. The recipe will work just fine, and you can gradually work up to using the whole orange once the kids get used to it.
This low fat brownie recipe is not only tasty, it provides a nice serving of fiber, protein and iron, too, thanks to the additon of black beans. Serve these black bean brownies to the kids with chocolate cherry smoothies for a vitamin-packed, after-school snack that will keep them going the rest of the day.
Chocolate Orange Black Bean Brownies
- 12 oz. good-quality dark chocolate (60% cacao or greater)
- 5 Tbsp. butter
- 1 naval orange
- 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup egg substitute (such as Egg Beaters)
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- 2 Tbsp. mini semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Place chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe container. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds on 50% power. Stir and repeat until chocolate is melted. Set aside.
Cut orange into quarters (do not peel). Place orange quarters and drained black beans in the work bowl of a food processor. Add the water. Process until smooth. Add the eggs, egg substitute, sugar and vanilla extract to the mixture in the food processor. Process again until smooth. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl. Gently fold in the melted chocolate mixture.
In a small bowl, whisk together the baking powder, salt and flour. Stir in walnuts, if using. Stir into the wet ingredients until well-blended. Pour into prepared pan. Top with mini chocolate chips. Bake 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Makes 24 brownies.
Per brownie: 189 calories, 6 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 24 mg cholesterol, 32 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 4 g protein, 3% vitamin A, 6% vitamin C, 3% calcium, 7% iron
For more healthy brownie recipes, see also:
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Brownies
- Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
- Chocolate Raspberry Brownies
- Chocolate Brownies with Peppermint
- Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Dark Chocolate Brownies
