I created this recipe for a sweets loving friend who owns a design workshop in exchange for a fabric remnant for a new art direction.

I think we both got a pretty sweet deal.

And since the base of these moist fudgy confections are black beans, you can think of each brownie as a serving of vegetables. 😉

The Best Espresso Black Bean Brownies with Banana, Chocolate Chips & Walnuts aka Chunky Monkey Brownies

Yield: 9 brownies

1-15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed well
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutched)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or 1:1 gluten-free substitution
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons flaxseed meal whisked with 1/4 cup water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken; whisk again before using
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoons powdered espresso dissolved in 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (Tia Maria is considered vegan-friendly; Kahlua is not due to bone char filtering)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 banana, halved lengthwise and sliced thinly
1 cup vegan chocolate chips
1 cup walnut pieces
Optional garnish: a few more chocolate chips and walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray, line bottom and up two sides with parchment paper or foil, and spray again.

In a food processor, place all ingredients except banana, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Process until very smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. If consistency is more cookie dough than thick brownie batter, you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons additional water or coffee liqueur. Remove blade and gently stir in banana, chocolate chips, and walnut pieces.

Spread mixture evenly into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips and walnut pieces evenly over surface if desired.

Place brownies in center of preheated oven and bake about 33 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with just the slightest bit of moist chocolate coloring it (not really clinging to it). Cool pan on a wire rack. Serve or cover tightly until serving time.