Lifestyle_Beanthere01Congratulations, you made it through another semester—almost. It’s the final push before freedom. Whatever your situation, whether it’s your last semester at VIU, or the end of your first, at this point in the year I think we all deserve a pat on the back. Celebrate with something sweet and healthy for all your efforts—you deserve it. Taken straight from The Power of Pulses, this brownie recipe is sure to take your taste buds to a whole new level as the campus settles down for the exam period.

Ingredients

For brownies

  • 2 cups cooked black beans
  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup cocoa
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup sugar

Optional: 1 tbsp espresso powder (can also be instant coffee granules dissolved in cream)

For espresso ganache

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1/2 cup 35 per cent cream
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp espresso powder
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. Pulse beans in food processor to form paste. In a large bowl, combine beans and melted chocolate. Add remaining brownie ingredients and stir.
  3. Pour batter into greased nine-inch square pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  4. Place pan on a rack and allow to cool completely before cutting.

For the ganache

  1. Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Add remaining ingredients to boiler and remove from heat.
  2. Allow mixture to cool before spreading over brownies.

Makes approximately 12 brownies.