There are plenty of great reasons why people love brownies and blondies — they’re rich, indulgent, fudgy, and decadent desserts that never seem to go out of style.
Whether you’re someone who prefers the crusty, crispy corner pieces or dives straight for the fluffy middle section, brownies and blondies appeal to people of all ages — and now, we’re letting you in on a little secret. There’s a way to enjoy these classic treats in a healthier way, without compromising on flavor. How, you ask? By making them with beans!
It’s true. Not only are beans inexpensive, loaded with protein, and packed with healthy carbohydrates that don’t spike our blood sugar, you can also make them into dessert. Additionally, beans also have a large amount of B Vitamins and iron for energy, and are a simple, non-perishable food source to keep in the pantry. The best part? You won’t taste them in your sweets — all you’ll taste is deliciousness.
Check out 15 recipes from our Food Monster App that demonstrate how to successfully create satisfying and crave-able brownies and blondies using different beans.
1. Raspberry Black Bean Brownies
These Raspberry Black Bean Brownies are super tasty and incredibly healthy to boot. And, depending on your mood, you can throw in some extra raspberries, pecans, or even – more chocolate.
2. Fudgy Kidney Bean Brownies
Nobody will be able to guess the secret to what makes these brownies so perfect. These Fudgy Kidney Bean Brownies use kidney beans add a dense texture while just a hint of coffee balances everything out and keep them from becoming too sweet. These fudgy kidney bean brownies are a dark chocolate lovers’ dream!
3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Chickpea Blondies
Forget the cocoa powder and forget the black beans, because we’re talking about an alternate universe here. Blondies are the new brownies. Or might we say, Chocolate Peanut Butter Chickpea Blondies are the new brownies!
4. Cinnamon Chickpea Blondies
These Cinnamon Chickpea Blondies will be your new go-to treat! They are moist and tender in the center with just a bit of a crackly crust on top. They are perfectly sweet, healthier than your average blondie recipe, and oh-so addictive! While these do contain a good amount of sugar, they are also packed with protein, fiber, folate, and iron, so you can feel good about your new afternoon treat! Oh, and guess what? They are gluten-free and oil-free too!
5. Almond Flour and Black Bean Brownies
These decadent, fudgy Almond Flour and Black Bean Brownies are sure to be a crowd favorite! While they taste just as chocolaty as any other brownie, these are actually pretty unique. For one, they are made with almond flour, so they are 100 percent grain-free. Secondly, they have a boost of protein, antioxidants, and vitamins, because they are infused with black beans! Serve these straight out of the oven for a gooey treat or allow them to set in the refrigerator for a firmer bite.
6. Protein-Packed Flourless Black Bean Brownies
Packed with protein, and with no refined sugar, these Protein-Packed Flourless Black Bean Brownies are sure to be your new favorite recipe! They’re fudgy and soft, with a perfectly chewy top layer. With results this good, nobody will ever guess that they’re made with black beans and no added sugar — just fruit.
7. Fudgy White Bean Blondies 
You would never guess that these Fudgy White Bean Blondies are made from beans — and neither will anyone who tries them. This recipe uses less oil and less sugar than your typical baked good, using a blend of apple and banana purée instead. You can add dairy-free white chocolate to the mix if you like it sweet, but they taste amazing without them, too. The final touch is a coconut glaze and white chocolate topping — yum!
8. Flourless Avocado Black Bean Brownies 
If you have a soft spot for chocolate, these Flourless Avocado Black Bean Brownies will make their way into your regular dessert rotation. The avocado makes them smooth, creamy, and decadent. But the best part about this recipe is that it’s healthy … as far as brownies go, at least.
9. Chocolate Covered Black Bean Brownie Pops
Here’s what you need to know about these lip-smackin’ Chocolate Covered Black Bean Brownie Pops. They’re no-bake. They’re seriously fudgy. They’re drenched in creamy melted chocolate. They’re vegan. They’re nut-free and oil-free. How are these little bites of heaven secretly healthy? From black beans – the magical ingredient – but your taste buds won’t know that.
10. Hidden-Ingredient Tiramisu Protein Blondies
These Hidden-Ingredient Tiramisu Protein Blondies made with no refined sugar and reminiscent of tiramisu. They have a soft, coffee base, cookie crumble topping with melted chocolate and a light dusting of cacao. Don’t worry, they’re totally not bad for you!
11. Black Bean Brownies With Two-Ingredient Ice Cream 
These Black Bean Brownies With Two-Ingredient Ice Cream are packed with protein and flavor; plus they have the rich, fudgy constancy of any good brownie. Plus, they are served with a simple homemade ice cream that provides the perfect, delicate contrast to these decadent chocolate treats.
12. Black Bean Brownie With Berry Brulee
Aren’t these Black Bean Brownies With Berry Brulee gorgeous? Agar agar is used to bind the brulée together and a sprinkling of white sugar on top before torching gives it the perfect burnt cream texture. This is a unique treat that will have you and your guests mmm-ing and ahh-ing in-between every creamy and crunchy bite!
13. Chocolate Peanut Butter Black Bean Brownies
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Black Bean Brownies are made with black beans, peanut butter, and cocoa. Instead of flour, this recipe uses oats. That’s a lot of healthy ingredients for something that tastes so decadent. The addition of peanut butter adds another dimension to all the chocolate. We like chocolate chips in our brownies, but you can use chips and/or nuts if you like. Just chop the nuts and add them to the batter when you add the chips.
14. Low Sugar Fudgy Black Bean Oat Brownies 
These Low Sugar Fudgy Black Bean Oat Brownies are perfectly fudgy and sweet (even though they are actually low in sugar) and absolutely delicious. You feel like you’re cheating but you aren’t!! At only 59 calories a pop, how could you go wrong?
15. Black Bean Fudge Brownies With Sweet Potato Caramel 
Everybody loves brownies, but brownies with caramel are by far the best. This recipe for Black Bean Fudge Brownies With Sweet Potato Caramel uses a rich chocolate, black bean, and date brownie batter and then marbles homemade sweet potato caramel.
There you have it! If you liked this brownies and blondies roundup, then we also highly recommend checking out These 15 Decadent Vegan Brownie Recipes, and our guide on how to make Fudgy Versus Cakey Brownies.
