The Most Delicious, Chewy Brownies or Cookies

This tasty treat will have you in disbelief at the secret ingredient... Black beans! But you would never know with this chocolate-y deliciousness. The beans plus flax seeds and chia seeds combine to provide an extra bit of fiber with this nearly guilt-free desert. The batter can be used to make a pan of brownies or individual cookies. Best to use a raw or minimally processed sugar to reduce any unnecessary spike in blood sugar.

Increasing dietary fiber has been long recommended for weight loss as well as prevention of some types of heart disease and Diabetes. One small but particularly interesting study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reported that adding dietary fiber to a high-fat, high-calorie meal actually helps to lessen the inflammatory effects of the "unhealthy" meal.

The Tehran Lipid and Glucose study questioned over 2,000 healthy professionals about their dietary habits, then tracked them for the progression into heart disease. This large study found that those with a diet high in fibers from beans/legumes as well as fruits/veggies were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

This recipe is free of gluten, grains and nuts. It is also plant-based and vegan. So, if you are in need of a tasty, sweet, chocolate-y treat, then this recipe has you and your heart covered.

Blending this batter well ensures a smooth, chocolatey, delicious cookie (or brownie) that will make your heart as happy as your tummy. The recipe comes together quickly and easily. The only difficult part is waiting for them to cool!

Chocolatey, Delicious Chewy Cookies (or Brownies)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Baking time: 20-30 minutes

Yield: 24-36 cookies

INGREDIENTS:

2T ground chia or flax seeds
6T water
1 1/2c black beans (sodium-free, washed)
1/2c cocoa powder
1T vanilla
1/2c raw sugar (coconut palm or other low glycemic index)
2t non-dairy milk
1t coconut oil
1/4t baking soda
1/4T baking powder
Dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350F.

2.) Make chia/flax "eggs": mix together ground chia/flax seeds and water in a small dish. Set aside to allow to thicken.

3.) Combine remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips) until smooth using a blender or food processor. Add chia/flax eggs and continue to combine. Make sure batter is very smooth.

4.) Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spoon 1T of batter to form small cookies. Top with 2-3 chocolate chips.

5.) Bake for 16-18 minutes or until well formed. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving.

This recipe was created as a part of the Jefferson Middle School, Spring 2017 class.

The students at JMS were a part of the pilot program thru funding from: