Black Bean Brownies [Vegan & GF]

I was doubtful, but now I believe. Black beans work in brownies! Give this vegan and gluten free recipe a try. Make them for a potluck and share them with all your friends vegan or not. They will never guess the secret ingredient.

Verdict?
Fudgy.
Tender.
Undetectable bean taste.
Bonus: this is a one bowl recipe!

Black Bean Brownies 
recipe from Minimalist Baker
makes 12

1- 15 oz. (425 g) can (~ 1 3/4 cups) black beans, well rinsed and drained (~ 258 g)
2 large flax eggs (2 heaping Tbsp (~16 g) flaxseed meal + 6 Tbsp (90 ml) water)
3 Tbsp (45 g) coconut oil, melted (or sub other oil of choice)
3/4 cup (72 g) cocoa powder (the higher quality the better)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
heaping 1/2 cup (105 g) organic cane sugar, slightly ground or pulsed in a food processor or coffee grinder for refined texture
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Optional toppings: crush walnuts, pecans, semisweet chocolate chips, or almond/peanut butter

Mix flaxseed meal and water. Let rest.

Vegan flax egg!

Add black bean..

and everything except toppings to food processor.

Blend till smooth.

Distribute evenly into muffin tins.

Optional: top with chopped walnuts.

When done, top should be dry.

1. Preheat oven to 350F (176 C).
2. Lightly grease a 12-slot standard size muffin pan (or 8x8" baking tin). Make sure you've rinsed and thoroughly drained your black beans at this point.
3. Prepare flax egg by combining flax and water in the bowl of the food processor. Pulse a couple times and then let rest for a few minutes.
4. Add remaining ingredients (besides walnuts or other toppings) and puree - about 3 minutes - scraping down sides as needed. You want it pretty smooth.
5. If the batter appears too thick, add a Tbsp or two of water and pulse again. It should be slightly less thick than chocolate frosting but nowhere close to runny.
6. Evenly distribute the batter into the muffin tin and smooth the tops with a spoon or your finger.
7. Optional: Sprinkle with crushed walnuts, pecans or chocolate chips, or dollop and swirl almond/peanut butter on top.
8. Bake for 20-26 minutes or until the tops are dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides. (Bake for 35-45 minutes if using 8x8" baking tin)
9. Remove from oven and let cool for 30 minutes before removing from pan. Use a knife to help lift each brownie out. Firm them up in the freezer if they are too difficult to remove.
10. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days. Refrigerate to keep longer.

A little espresso/coffee powder was added to the mix to give it the dark chocolate bitter taste. Leave out if that's not your preference.

Taste: 4.5 stars out of 5

Addition of espresso powder gives them a more bitter flavor and more dark chocolate-y. Sweetness was just right!

Texture: 4 stars out of 5

Tender, fudgy and a bit crumbly. 

Enjoy!

*rough estimate; does not include toppings

No-Bake Mango Yogurt Cheesecake

No bake desserts are perfect in this heat! This mango yogurt cheesecake does not require turning on your oven, and it's super quick and easy from start to finish.

The mango yogurt and whipped cream in the cream cheese mix lighten the cheesecake and make it an indulgent yet refreshing treat. I doubled the amount of mango cubes called for in the original recipe and loved how each bite has the perfect ratio of sweet mango cubes to cream. I used "1/3 less fat" Philadelphia cream cheese and Chobani mango yogurt to lessen the guilt and to intensify the mango-ness of it all, respectively. Butter was also lowered in the graham crust to have just enough moistness to hold the crumbs together and to not be too oily.

I am very pleased with how tasty and pretty this turned out (if you look past the gaps on the sides). Next time to give it a clean and even side, I will place the mango cubes toward the center and tap the pan after layering the top cream layer.

No-Bake Mango Yogurt Cheesecake

recipe adapted from Anncoo Journal (with step by step photos)
makes one 8" cake

Crust:

100g graham cracker crumbs
50g melted butter

1. Grease sides of a 8 inch removable cake pan and line the bottom.
2. Mix together graham cracker crumbs and melted butter.
3. Press onto bottom of lined cake pan.
4.Chill in the fridge for later use.

Cheese filling:

226g "1/3 less fat" cream cheese, room temperature
3 tbsp milk
2 tbsp cane  sugar or to taste
2 small tubs mango yogurt (meiji brand), about 280g
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
150g fresh topping cream/non-dairy whipping cream
2 fresh mango, cut to cubes
1 1/2 tbsp gelatin + 2 tbsp water

1. Put gelatin and water in a bowl and soak for a while. Then place it in a double boiler until gelatin dissolved. Keep warm.
2. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with 3 tablespoon of fresh milk until smooth.

3. Pour in dissolved gelatin and mix well. 

4. Add mango yogurt and lemon juice into cheese mixture, continue beating until combined.
5. Whisk fresh topping cream until soft peak and pour into the cheese mixture, fold well.

6. Pour half of the cheese mixture into the prepared cake pan; add in mango cubes, followed by the remaining cheese mixture. 

7.  Set aside in the refrigerator.

Mango Topping:

2 fresh mangoes, chopped , about 194g
1 tbsp sugar or to taste
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp gelatin + 1 tbsp water

1. Put gelatin and water in a bowl and soak for awhile. Then place it in a double boiler until gelatin dissolved. Keep warm.
2. Blend chopped mangoes, lemon juice and sugar till smooth. 

3. Pour in dissolved gelatin and mix well.
4. Pour over cheesecake, gently shake the cake pan to distribute the mango puree and smooth the top with a palette knife. 

5. Chill the cake for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.

Beat together cream cheese, sugar, and milk.

Add gelatin, mango yogurt, and lemon juice and continue beating.

Fold whipped cream into cheese mixture.

Layer half of cheese mixture onto prepared crust.

Layer mango cubes on top.

Top with rest of cheese mixture.

Note: layer mango cubes closer to center to minimize gaps on the sides.

Taste: 5 stars out of 5

Great balance of rich cream cheese and tangy yogurt flavor. Love how the mildly sweetened cheese mixture pairs with the sweet mango cubes! Tip: use ripe mangoes!

Texture: 5 stars out of 5

Creamy, fluffy, and not overly rich!