This Fudgy KIDNEY BEAN Brownies recipe is the BEST! These brownies are easy to make, moist and made with red beans to make them more healthy! They have a thick chocolate frosting on top that everyone will love! This is a sneaky way to get your kids to eat more vegetables! Trust me, everyone will think they’re the best brownies ever!
A few days ago I was craving brownies (when aren’t I)? Because I always love some adding some vegetables to sweets, I went into the cabinet to grab a can of black beans to make my favorite black bean brownies but sadness hit, I was all out of black beans. So then I sat on the floor, pantry door open, and begun to think.. could I use another bean? So I grabbed a can of dark red kidney beans and these Fudgy Kidney Bean Brownies were made!
These brownies are incredibly fudgy, incredibly rich, incredibly chocolaty and made out of magic. Did I sell you on them yet? The kidney beans worked as a perfect substitution for the black beans. This recipe is now one of my favorite brownie recipes that I can’t keep my paws off of!
Because I love double chocolate, I added a thick layer of brownie frosting to the top of these that set perfectly. When you take a bite you’re just going to fall into chocolate heaven. So go ahead and make these….. I’ll meet you there!
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Looking for more brownie recipes? Try Vanilla Brownies or Black Bean Brownies!
Fudgy Kidney Bean Brownies
PrintIngredients
For the brownies
- 1 15 oz can of dark kidney beans - drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup creamy regular or chocolate peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup quick oats
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
For the frosting
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the brownies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in a food processor. Pulse until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in chocolate chips and mix with spoon so they are equally distributed.
- Grease 8x8 pan and pour brownie mixture in it. Take a spatula to smooth out the top.
- Bake the brownies for 16-18 minutes and remove from oven.
For the frosting
- Combine milk, butter and powdered sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat, bringing to a boil. Allow to cook at a rolling boil for 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
- Add chocolate chips and vanilla to saucepan and stir until the chips are melted.
- Pour immediately over warm brownies.
- Put in refrigerator to allow brownies to set quickly.
- Enjoy!
Video:
Christina Makri says
Oh God! I’ve never make brownies like these! Great recipe, thank you for sharing at Sweet Inspiration Link Party 🙂
Sandra L Garth says
I’m sold! Thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story, and have a great weekend.
Kathleen Rupp says
This looks so interesting to me! Can’t wait to try this! Maybe I can just stick to one since it will be more filling:) Glad I found your site through the sweet inspiration party!
Genie says
Yummy!
Lesllie says
Yum! Everyone’s heard of black bean brownies, but kidney beans are totally new! I’ve never been patient enough to make a frosting for my brownies, but can’t wait to try out your cooked version. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Jen says
I love the idea of using a different kind of bean other then black beans!
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
Wow you’d never guess they were made with kidney beans!!
Jess says
What an interesting recipe!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Lee MacArthur says
I am going to have to make these. They look awesome.
Debrashoppeno5 says
I have never heard of adding beans, red or black beans to brownies. I will need to give it a try. They look delicious.
Tdot says
Googled a kidney bean brownie recipe and tried this one out – substituted apple butter for brown sugar + prune sugar for white sugar. Absolutely delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Pamela says
Thanks for commenting, I love the addition of apple butter – yum! Enjoy!
Robyn says
I just made these! I added just a touch of cinnamon & decided against the frosting & they are still decadent & fudgy. No bean taste at all. I mostly made them for my 6 year old, but I’ve already eaten two 🙂
Pamela says
Hey Robyn, love the touch of cinnamon you added! Happy to hear you and your 6 year old like them!
erika says
Just made them and they r excellent, doesn’t even need frosting! 4 year old and hubby loved! Do they freeze well, or keep well in the fridge, and if so, how long? Thanks for the great recipe!!
Pamela says
Hey Erika, I have never froze them so I can’t help you out there. I have kept them in the refrigerator for a few days and they tasted just as delicious. In the Summer a cold red bean brownie is pretty darn delicious! 🙂 Thanks for letting me know you and your family liked them!
Erlene Amat says
Hmm…I’ve never made brownies with beans, but I’m willing to give these a try. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned.
Donella says
These look so moist and fudgy! Brownies are totally my weakness!
Beverly says
Wow, I would never have thought to add kidney beans to my brownies. Can’t wait to try these.
Bev
Lesley says
Better icing is just throw the choc chips on top of brownies right out of oven. They will melt. When they do smooth them around. They will refirm when cooled. Easiest icing ever! And yum!
Pamela says
Yum that sounds good too Lesley (and love how easy it is!), but I love my chocolate frosting! A little additional work.. but worth it to me! 🙂
Destiny Hobbs says
Oh my goodness these look delicious! I cannot believe there are beans in them! I definitely have to try this recipe. I have a crazy sweet tooth, so it’s nice to know this recipe has a little healthy kick to it! Thank you so much. (:
Marsha says
Oh my goodness…your recipe couldn’t have come at a better time. My son is visiting over the holidays and he is very health conscience. While shopping he selected 5 cans of red kidney beans with the intentions of using it in his specialty dishes, but the holidays kept me cooking the traditional (and fattening) Christmas dishes and we never got to use the beans. He will be leaving soon, so I will be left with using the cans for a lot of chili. But now that I seen your recipe, I can make them into brownies too. I can’t wait to give them a try. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Pamela says
Hey Marsha, aww that makes me happy to hear! You’re going to love these brownies – they’re ridiculously good and they changed my brownie loving heart! Hope you enjoy!
Kari Wagner Hoban says
I have made black bean brownies before and they are pretty good. Especially when you are on a diet.
But these look amazing. Granted probably higher in fat than the black bean kind but I love sneaking veggies in!
Donnielle Miles says
HI, I just stumbled upon your recipe and it looks AMAZING!! I’m a pastry chef but I never really thought to use beans in brownies!
So, I only have dried red kidney beans, how should I prepare them so I don’t mess with the taste of the recipe?
Pamela says
Hey Donnielle, you can soak/boil the dried kidney beans as you normally would to use them. Just make sure to soak them to the point that they are just as soft as canned beans. Enjoy.
Ewa says
Hi, I would love to try this recipe but have difficulty with converting the amount of beans needed for this recipe. 1 15 oz seems to be around 30 grams but not sure if I checked it correctly. I find the ‘space’ between the numbers slightly confusing, normally there would be a coma or slash etc. 30 grams is suprisingly little, it’s like 1/6th of a cup or even less. Is that correct? Bean cans are usually 300-400 grams. I would be greateful for your help. Have loads of beans at home which need to be used for something and the brownies look absolutely delicious!
Pamela says
Hey Ewa, the recipe calls for (1) 15 oz can of beans. Google tells me that a 15 oz can equals about 420 grams Hope this helps!
Ewa says
Now it completely makes sense with 1 in the brackets 🙂 thanks!
Kayla says
Just made these little bean beauties and they are awesome!! Love how healthy the brownie is (mostly healthy lol) and the frosting just brings in a little bit of that guilty pleasure goodness! Well balanced brownie I think! Love it!
Pamela says
I love thinking of them as healthy too Kayla. 😉 Glad you enjoyed them! And thanks for the reminder to make a batch very soon.
Camilla says
I just tortured my husband with these pictures. We r on a low carb diet LOL! One day soon we could share one slice. Rich and decadent…
Pamela says
Hope you enjoy these brownies Camilla!
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
These look amazing! I can’t wait to try them:)
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
Oh wow these look super fudgy, I love that you used beans in these I love sneaking fruit and veg into sinful treats, kinda takes some of the guilt away 😀