Black beans? In brownies? You’ve got to be kidding.
Our editor told us about a friend who claimed that you can take a box of brownie mix, add nothing but a can of black beans and—voilà!—delicious, fudgy brownies. So I tried it.
It wasn’t exactly that simple, but pretty close. The beans (a 15-oz. can) have to be drained and rinsed. Then you put them back in the can and add enough water to fill it back up. Pour the contents into a blender and process until smooth. Mix the puréed beans into the dry brownie mix (a 19.5-oz. box) and pour into a greased baking dish. (I added walnuts to my batter.) Bake according to package directions.
The resulting brownies were quite tasty. No one could believe (or detect) that they were made with black beans. I will definitely make these again.
Sarah, our Senior Associate Editor, joined The Old Farmer's Almanac in 2003. If not outside with her husband and son enjoying a kayak trip down the Saco River or skiing in the White Mountains, you'll find her baking sweet treats in the kitchen.