Chickpea Brownies
These chickpea brownies are rich and fudgy with an intense chocolate flavor. You won’t believe these vegan flourless brownies are made with beans!
Why I Love This Recipe
Ever since I made these chickpea chocolate chip cookies I’ve been fascinated with using beans in baking! I made these black bean brownie bites and they’re so tasty, but I wanted to make a pan of classic brownies, too. They’re easy to make and they turned out just as fudgy as I hoped.
These are also a great option if you’re vegan or gluten-free, because they’re flourless and they don’t require any eggs or butter. Whether you’re looking for an allergy-friendly treat or you’re in the mood for a dessert that tastes rich and delicious, but also gives you some protein and fiber, these brownies are the answer!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chickpeas– Reserve 2 tablespoons of the liquid in the can, then rinse and drain the chickpeas.
- Coconut oil– Be sure the coconut oil is melted before adding.
- Cocoa powder– This is what gives these brownies the classic chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla– Vanilla extract helps add a sweet flavor.
- Peanut butter– I recommend no-stir creamy peanut butter.
- Brown sugar– You can use brown sugar or coconut sugar. Firmly pack the sugar when measuring.
- Baking powder– Baking powder adds lift to the brownies.
- Salt– A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor.
- Chocolate chips– I used mini chocolate chips but any chocolate chips are fine.
How to Make Chickpea Brownies
Add the chickpeas and the chickpea liquid into a food processor and blend until smooth. Then add remaining ingredients, except for the chocolate chips. Continue to blend until completely smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Tips for Perfect Brownies
- Be sure the batter isn’t too warm when you mix in the chocolate chips, otherwise they may melt when they’re stirred in.
- I like saving a few chocolate chips to sprinkle on top of the brownies just before baking.
- Line your baking dish with parchment paper to avoid the brownies from sticking to the pan.
- Let the brownies cool completely before removing them from the pan. They’re a bit crumbly, so be careful when cutting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use dried chickpeas in this recipe? Yes, but you’ll need to cook them completely before using them in this recipe. I recommend cooking them until they are very soft. The softer they are, the easier they are to blend.
What if I don’t have parchment paper? Spray the bottom and sides of your baking dish with non-stick spray to avoid the brownies from sticking to the pan.
Why are my brownies crumbly? I’ll warn you these brownies are a bit more crumbly than a traditional brownie. That’s because they’re gluten-free. But if you want to minimize the mess, place your brownie in a bowl and enjoy it with a fork.
Can I add frosting? Absolutely! Try these with chocolate frosting or add a dollop of peanut butter on top!
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
- Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Black Bean Brownie Bites
- Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies
Chickpea Brownies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 16 brownies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These chickpea brownies are rich and fudgy with an intense chocolate flavor. You won’t believe these vegan flourless brownies are made with beans!
Ingredients
- 1 15oz can chickpeas
- 2 tablespoons liquid from the can
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 360 degrees.
- Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the chickpeas and 2 tablespoons of the chickpea liquid into a food processor.
- Blend until smooth.
- Add the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, and vanilla and continue to blend.
- Add the brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt and blend until combined.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
Keywords: chickpea brownies
These are great! Really fudgy! No one would be able to tell they’re made with chickpeas. Mine did not turn out as firm as yours though – mine break apart – so I probably wouldn’t be able to actually “fool” anyone (which I love to try to do!). One of my daughters is not a huge fan of the PB taste, but I, and my other daughter, like it!
A keeper for sure – will probably be making a *little* too often 😉
★★★★★
Actually, now that they are cool – they DO cut up nice and firm! My fault for trying to eat them right out of the oven! :):)
What a fabulous and innovative way to make brownies. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
★★★★★
If I had not personally made my brownies I would not have guessed they were vegan. Great texture and flavor as well as a user friendly recipe.
★★★★★
I have never heard of chickpea brownies, but I’m very intrigued by this recipe! I love this idea!
These chickpea brownies are so delicious and I love how they are healthy and protein-packed! They were such a treat, thank you!
★★★★★
I just made them and my mind is blown at how amazing they tasted. Never expected chickpeas to work so great. Thank you!
★★★★★
I made and served these without telling my family they were made with chickpeas. No one believed me because they tasted like fudgy brownies. I had to show them the can to prove it to them. So tasty!
★★★★★
I’ve  made chickpea blondies before but not brownies!  Yum! This looks like an awesome recipe for our next dinner party!
★★★★★
We made this for a dinner party we were hosting, as one of our friends was vegan. Â I had no idea that you can use chickpeas this way, absolutely delicious!!
★★★★★
Love that these are completely vegan and also use up something I have a lot of in my cupboards (chickpeas)!
★★★★★