DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE Kidney Bean Brownies! This healthy easy recipe makes brownies with kidney beans instead of butter and oil! They are topped with the BEST peanut butter frosting! Easy to make them completely gluten free and vegan too!
If you had to ask me my favorite treat, it would be a 3 way tie.
First, there’s donuts. What’s not to love about them? They’re sweet, they have icing, they’re cute and circle shaped, they often have sprinkles. I just love them.
Recently, I’m all about scones and clotted cream. A nice big spoonful of cream. There’s a shop nearby that has mixed berry scones and it’s out of this world. It’s the best scone I ever had. I hope Matthew is reading this and understands this means I want a date to the scone place. As soon as possible. Thanks babe.
Third, there’s brownies. Just say the word “Brownie”. Don’t you feel better? It doesn’t matter if they are homemade brownies, bought in a shop, or made from a box. I’ll say yes to any brownie. My favorite brownies are moist and fudgy when you bite into them. There’s always a thick layer of frosting on top, to the point that it makes up 1/2 of the brownie. I need a brownie right now.
Did someone ask for a brownie? Ok, I did. Say hello to these Sorta Healthy Red Bean Brownies with Sinful Peanut Butter Frosting.
I like to call them sorta healthy because they are made with red beans (I love creating desserts with beans!). Instead of butter and a lot of oil, the red beans take care of that and make the brownies moist. I’m not calling them healthy because let’s be honest, if you want a brownie, you’re probably not going for healthy. In fact I’d say you have one goal: eat a brownie, make sure it’s delicious.
The Peanut Butter Frosting is sinful. The dictionary tells me that sinful means wicked; extremely enjoyable in a way that makes you feel guilty. And that’s pretty much this frosting. I made a tweet a few nights ago exclaiming that I couldn’t stop eating frosting. This was that frosting. It’s delicious. It will change your life. You will want to clean the bowl. You will clean the bowl.
The taste test for these brownies was pretty great.
When I made these a few nights ago, I left them in the fridge and Matthew exclaimed at midnight “Get these out of the house! They’re so great”. Then he went on to say “These might be the best brownies you ever made”. Well that caused a smile.
So the next day I took them to our work space where I fed a bunch of brownie loving late 20, early 30 year old men. I put them down around 12:30PM. When I went back at 3:05PM they were gone. The entire plate! Well that just made my day. Thankfully I got to grab one during lunch and I can agree, they are pretty darn amazing.
So next time you are in the brownie mood, a frosting mood, or just need a treat that will take all the worries away bake up a batch of these Sorta Healthy Red Bean Brownies with Sinful Peanut Butter Frosting!
More Chocolate Recipes You’ll Like:
Gooey Chocolate Butter Cake
Chocolate Avocado Brownies
Chocolate Chip Donuts
Chocolate Pretzel Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
Pin for later:
Kidney Bean Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting
PrintIngredients
For the brownies
- 1 15 oz can of kidney beans dark or light – drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup creamy 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 vegetable oil can substitute coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
For the frosting
- 1/2 cup butter – melted
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cup confectioners powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Sprinkles optional.
Instructions
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 a 8×8 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.
Frosting
- Put butter and peanut butter in a bowl and mix with electric mixer.
- Slowly pour in your powdered sugar a little at a time. When it starts to thicken, add your 2 tablespoons milk in and continue to mix. You should keep mixing for about 2-3 minutes until your frosting is fluffy. If it’s still thick, add a additional tablespoon of milk if needed.
- Once brownies are cool, spread your peanut butter frosting across them.
- Pat the frosting down with a spatula so it becomes a smooth layer. Add sprinkles on top and press down with spatula again.
- Put in refrigerator for one hour to let the frosting set.
- Cut into 20 brownie squares, enjoy!
If you like this post you might also like:
The Best Fudgy Black Bean Brownies.. Ever.
Fudgy Avocado Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies
Miranda @ Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt says
Brownies are always a win in my book especially with a peanut butter frosting! I’ll take “sort of healthy.” I love excuses to eat an extra brownie! lol You have definitely put it in my head now to try making some brownies with red beans. I can’t wait.
Sarah @ Sarah's Bake Studio says
I’ve never made anything with red beans before, least of all brownies. This recipe intrigues me. I look forward to trying it out. And yes, the frosting looks sinful to say the least! 😉
Sean Weber says
Yum… These look delicious, Pamela!
Sarah says
This looks absolutely amazing! I love red beans, what a creative idea to put it in a brownie! And like you, brownies are always on my list of favorite desserts. It’s yummy comfort food that brings me back to when I was a kid. I’ve got to try these red bean brownies. Pinned!
Also, you have the cutest Pin It button!
grace says
give me that piece that’s 75% frosting and 25% brownie! 🙂
Merryn says
Wow brownies with kidney beans, I have never seen a brownie recipe like this one and can understand why the plateful disappeared so quickly. With the addition of peanut butter – how could you go wrong! Lovely photographs 😀
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
Yum! I love that thick layer of frosting on the top! And brownies must, above all else, taste great! Or it’s not even worth the calories for a “healthy” one! These look diving – so moist and fudgy!
And what is the name of this scone place, because I love me some scones!
Pamela says
Alice’s Tea Cup serves some of the best mixed berries scones! They usually have 5 kinds a day, some sell out early. Enjoy!
Kathryn says
You had me at “brownies”! These look like they turned out so nicely, and so delicious.
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I want a batch of these brownies whether they are healthy or not! I love any excuse to add some beans too. The frosting sounds amazing, I’m sure I would just eat it from the bowl!
Stephanie says
I’ve eaten a lot of red bean dishes as a child, but mostly in Asian desserts. I’ve never thought to put them in brownies! It sounds like something new I would like to try.
Ashley says
haha oh my gosh I loveee the name of this recipe! And that frosting! I could eat that with a spoon!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
They don’t look healthy to me. And guess what? I don’t care. If I am going to have a treat like this, then
it is what it is. It’s a yes or a no. So if it’s a yes, then I want the top of the line. And boy howdy that frosting is top of the line.
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
Yep you are right brownies make everything better and always put a smile on your face and I totally understand why the plate was empty by the time you returned to it 😀
Ashley (QLCC) says
This is BASICALLY the only way I can get my fiancé to eat veggies! I love how easily you can hide good-for-you stuff in the dense, dark brownie 😉
Amy (Savory Moments) says
I love that thick layer of peanut butter frosting on these – it looks scrumptious! I’d love to try these.
Choc Chip Uru says
I am all in for sinful brownies, and ANYTHING with peanut butter! So fudgy I bet and the red beans give it nutritional value 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Hotly Spiced says
I love the look of these brownies. I’ve never actually made brownies with red kidney beans! I love the sound of the peanut butter frosting xx
Anna @ shenANNAgans says
Red beans are way more than sorta healthy lady. Im going with fully healthy. LOL!
Great recipe, the frosting/icing looks freakin amaze balls. Tis my birthday in 12 days, so asking my bestie to whip up a batch for me. 🙂
Pamela says
Throwing early confetti at you!
Melanie says
Yum– that looks amazing!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
Elisabeth says
It look so delicious, have to try to cook it
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Betty says
These look so good! I’ve never tried red beans in brownies, but it sounds interesting. Can’t wait to try them! 🙂
Christina says
Red beans?! The ingredients are super wholesome, and from the pictures, I know these taste amazing!
Anita Anota says
I am eating with my eyes!!!
Happy weekend ♥
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Trend-mixblog says
These all look so amazing, I might have to make one! 🙂
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Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Imagine this…I could totally eat that peanut butter frosting right off this webpage. These look amazing Pamela! My mouth watered when I saw them. Pinned!
Kiss & Make-up says
Oh wow, those look delicious! I’d prefer to simple plain brown brownies though, no peanut butter. I love my chocolate… 🙂
celyn says
it looks greaat! thanks for sharing
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