Black Bean Brownies

Ok for all you super healthy eaters, here's an ultra "clean" brownie recipes which is refined sugar free, grain free and dairy free. Brownies made with black beans! Domini Kemp published this recipe in September last year and when I read it,  I thought I may have discovered the ultimate healthy, delicious treat and just had to try them. I have to admit they just didn't tick that "treat" box for me, is was more of a "well at least it was healthy" snack that I kind of struggled through. I did however do a bit of research and I brought the brownies out to all the parents collecting their sons and daughters from my children's school that day. Feedback was mixed (to my surprise!) and I found those who really liked dark chocolate with high cocoa content seemed to like them. So if you're brave enough why not give them a go - you may have discovered your "guilt free" treat! Black Bean Brownies

Refined Sugar Free, Grain Free and Dairy Free

(Domini Kemp recipe from The Irish Times, Saturday 13^th September 2014)

Makes 12-16

2 tins of black beans rinsed and drained

130g virgin coconut oil melted

4 eggs

85g cocoa powder

150ml maple syrup

2tbsp vanilla extract

2tsp instant coffee

130g raw macadamia nuts chopped (I used walnuts)

2tbsp raw cacao nibs

Preheat over to 170 degrees Celsius. Blitz beans in food processer, add melted coconut oil and blitz again to a thick paste. Add whisked eggs and then cocoa powder, syrup and vanilla extract and coffee and blitz. Grease a 24-20cms tin. Pour mixture in (it is quite liquid). Cook for 7 minutes then pour over nuts and cacao nibs. Return to oven and cook for a further 30 minutes. Cool and chill. Serve chilled.