As you may remember, I had a pretty busy weekend. BUT no weekend is to busy for baked goods! Due to a visiting friend’s moral/dietary complex, the project was less decadent-layer-cake and more vegan-exploration than normal, (I’m none to judge – I’m sure she thinks my weekly mileage is inhumanly insane –we all have our quirks!). ![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0XPxZ-loUKk2J0Yna7Ge9r_UG1Tk8g-Hr1yujP9ytecNxwbeRCvVWaTCbNqOTqv-Za5M3M0tecHzlvDgLZ304p2jNX3miO3sxPPCChF-J3djjkE6FcsgfZFICSIYc5hZZY_YzT-fuIAj/s400/scaled.DSCN6291.JPG)
And a final selling point – they’re ridiculously good for you in all ways possible: protein (beans), vitamins (banana), and really low-calorie (so you can eat like 3 of these brownies for every one regular brownie!!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLADdgJdPjxsgMEsrpN51s6Oeg4pRH4X47WUnGoyfl_ouxGkieHrpvhbADCkyCsqVDG11w2TYBxvwQd5UA94yMCnaN5fjv_su5SOusIlxKzGktVNgCnEknA-DPeE7hxdz24qPBRggt_5Y/s200/6a00d83451fa5069e200e54f789e368834-800wi.jpg)
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It’s not that I don’t love animals, or think the meat industry is disturbing, or recognize that the best way to “go green” is to stop eating red meat. The thing is, I just really love food, and the thought of limiting my eating possibilities is just too depressing. I’m happy to eat vegan and vegetarian food (and do so often), I just do not want to be limited by self-imposed dietary constraints.
Anywho, I was actually very pleased with the results of this vegan experience! Especially when eaten with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and a sprinkling of granola for crunch.
[Sidenote: get some rice-cream if you’re going for the pure-vegan, or check out this site forDIY vegan ice cream.]
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The brownies did not taste like beans at all (let’s be real, beans don’t actually have that much flavor anyways). There was definitely a strong banana flavor going on – but that’s pretty yummy when combined with chocolate. They had a really legit-brownie fudgy texture too! We went for the extra ¼ cup of sugar, and the instant oats. We also added half a bag of chocolate chips, but skipped the walnuts – I think that both would have been a bit much.
Makes 9 squares:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLADdgJdPjxsgMEsrpN51s6Oeg4pRH4X47WUnGoyfl_ouxGkieHrpvhbADCkyCsqVDG11w2TYBxvwQd5UA94yMCnaN5fjv_su5SOusIlxKzGktVNgCnEknA-DPeE7hxdz24qPBRggt_5Y/s200/6a00d83451fa5069e200e54f789e368834-800wi.jpg)
Ingredients:
15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 bananas
1/3 cup agave nectar
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_KbKqa7M-Tz3FvaVrF-_12-lVhN5_dtpPq9AhQ7ZQ4Z4e4GGSDdSevV7RfxGVsk5FIAsuaU0qIQ4PD9z-PFwCBKLpeQiKuad7Rxy59D6uwrZDl7HA_Wop2yTQcrh5cDXfgxRjakzu-F5/s200/agave-nectar_kalynskitchen.jpg)
1/4 cup cocoa
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
or a few drops mint extract
*optional
1/4 cup raw sugar
*optional
1/4 cup quick/instant oats
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD9c1B4xGMr5OX-8HvKCBLGe4stoR542eTk-ZRV81HRrAGCVZcvnrRKa6yviTPwB6EisM71OeXNkBtnB1Oi05t8LK-UBH2mQ5QUlAaXDFdzz8cOWa-f5FDdVZRamMDvzb34FXxkJdb3lk/s200/banana.jpg)
*optional chocolate chips
*optional
chopped walnuts
** if you’re bananas are really ripe (browning) you probably won’t need the extra sugar; I suggest making the batter without it, then taste testing it to see if you need to add more sugar.
Directions:
1. Preheat 350F
2. Combine all ingredients, except oats, in a food processor or blender
3. Blend until smooth, scrapping sides as needed
4. Stir in the oats
5. Pour into a greased 8×8 in pan
6. Bake approx 30 minutes, toothpick test
7. Allow to completely cool before slicing
** if you find these brownies are too soft or too fudgey, add another 1/4 cup oats or flour
Nutritional Info:
(without optional ingredients)
each: 85 calories, 1g fat, 16g carbs, 4g protein
(with additional 1/4 cup sugar)
each: 105 calories, 1g fat, 21g carbs, 4g protein
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And if you liked this, you might what to try these: Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes.