Red Bean Brownies

I know… I know… you’re going ‘huh?, Red beans and brownies… I don’t think so!’ But, they tasted just like brownies and accounted for less butter / oil. I happened to come across this recipe by Melissa d’Arabian on her show Ten Dollar Dinners on theFood Network around the same time my mother-in-law was boiling some red beans in our kitchen. The recipe called for black beans, but since red were being boiled, I decided to give it a shot.

Yields 12 brownies
Cook time: 20 minutes
Level: Easy

1. 1.Butter, for greasing pan
2. 2.3/4 cooked black or red beans
3. 3.1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
4. 4.2 eggs (or use egg replacer)
5. 5.1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
6. 6.2/3 cup sugar
7. 7.1 tsp instead coffee
8. 8.1 tsp vanilla extract
9. 9.1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, divided
10. 10.1/3 cup flour
11. 11.1/2 tsp baking powder
12. 12.1/2 tsp salt 

Method

1. 1.Preheat oven to 350F/175C. Grease a 9 by 9-inch baking pan.
2. 2.In a blender, puree the beans with the oil.
3. 3.Add the eggs, cocoa, sugar, coffee and vanilla. 
4. 4.Melt half the chocolate chips and add to the blender. Blend on medium-high or until smooth.
5. 5.In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the blender and pulse until just incorporated. 
6. 6.Stir in the remaining chocolate chips.
7. 7.Pour in prepared pan. Bake until the surface looks somewhat matte around the edges and still a bit shiny in the middle, about 20 minutes.
8. 8.Invert on a cooling rack and let it cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.