Healthier Brownies Recipe, “Tonya Friendly”, GF,DF

I did a 10 day detox 2 weeks ago and want to continue to feel great. I had a hankering for chocolate last week and a little something sweet. I didn’t want to slide back into downing bags of Trader Joe’s dairy free choco chips and other bad habits that sneak in so I decided to improvise.

Before I even get started telling you the ingredients I just want to tell you that my 13 year old son that is super picky on texture and taste in his food and drink was going back for more. My husband who is strict with his diet 90% of the time caved and had some after I was bragging about how tasty the second batch was fresh out of oven. He agreed it was delicious and then then the next few days had a few nibbles that were in the fridge. Keep in the fridge or better yet freeze some of them for a cold treat.

Okay, so here goes the main ingredient. Adzuki beans, no not “dookie beans brownies” as I told a client when online training him and he repeated. Bahaha! Now, let me tell you that if you do end up eating more than you should in a day you will have some good bowel movements the next few days. Remember that coconut oil is a medium chained triglyceride which can stimulate bowel movements and soften the stool. See two different variations of the recipe below. I preferred the second batch with honey in lieu of maple syrup but then drizzled a little bit of maple syrup atop when finished cooking.

Vigna angularis, also known as the adzuki bean, azuki bean, aduki bean, red bean, or red mung bean, is an annual vine widely cultivated throughout East Asia for its small bean. The cultivars most familiar in East Asia have a uniform red color, but there are also white, black, gray, and variously mottled varieties. They have a nutty, sweet flavor.

Side effects: They may help promote heart, liver, digestive, and kidney health. Adzuki beans may also aid in weight loss, enhance muscle mass, and lower cholesterol levels. However, excess intake of these beans may lead to digestive issues like gas, nausea, and mild diarrhea.

Recipe 1: (brownies with no crust)

• 1.5 cups adzuki beans (cooked) (if starting from dry beans cook about 2 cups of beans)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• splash of coconut milk
• 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon (I used peppermint extract but you can use 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract or alternative)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teapoon baking soda

Instructions

1. I used a rice cooker to cook the beans. 2 cups beans and 4 cups water (had to drain a little of the water 3/4 way through to cook faster)

2. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients, except eggs, until smooth in a food processor. I used my vitamix in this batch and a small food processor in next batch. Then add eggs and pulse until combined.

3. Use coconut oil to grease small pan (8 inch square pan). Recipe called for parchment paper but I did not use and it turned out fine. Bake for about 25 minutes until the middle is firm.

4. All the brownies to cool before slicing into squares. I am impatient and actually like a little hot so pretty much dug into and instantly.

NOTES: if using black beans, use a 16-ounce can of unsalted ones.

RECIPE 2 (with ingredients tweak and crust)

• 1.5 cups adzuki beans (cooked) (if starting from dry beans cook about 2 cups of beans)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup HONEY
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (I used less oil to reduce fat since the crust has fat to make up for less oil)
• 1/4 teaspoons salt
• splash of coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon (I used peppermint extract but you can use 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract or alternative)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teapoon baking soda
• A drizzle of maple syrup to top serving when finished cooking

Crust: 1 Cup raw walnuts (grind in food processor), 1.5 cups Nature’s Path Golden Tumeric cereal, 4 teaspoons of dairy free butter. Soften butter in microwave and combine ground walnuts. crush cereal into mix and place on oiled pan as crust.

Instructions

1. I used a rice cooker to cook the beans. 2 cups beans and 4 cups water (had to drain a little of the water 3/4 way through to cook faster)

2. pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients, except eggs, until smooth in a food processor. I used my vitamix in this batch and a small food processor in next batch. Then add eggs and pulse until combined.

3. Use coconut oil to grease small pan (8 inch square pan). Recipe called for parchment paper but I did not use and it turned out fine.

4. Put your crust into pan

5.  Pour brownie mix atop and smooth over crust.

6. Bake for about 25 minutes until the middle is firm.

7. All the brownies to cool before slicing into squares. I am impatient and actually like a little hot so pretty much dug into and instantly.