Beans…turns out they are not just for burritos and salads like I once believed! I am always on the hunt for guilt free treats to satisfy my infamous sweet tooth and my friend Chef Adrian Forte thankfully introduced me to his Guilt-Free Chocolate Chickpea Brownie recipe, which I highly suggest you try making at home over the holidays.  Never in my wildest dreams would I think garbanzo beans would yield some of the most fudgy, rich and healthy brownies I’ve ever had – and highly addicting may I add. And if you’re wondering if these brownies taste like beans, they most certainly do not.

What You’ll Need

• 1 1/2 cup of almond flour
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 2 large organic, free range eggs
• 5 cups of Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• 1/2 cup of coconut oil
• 1 cup of unsweetened chocolate – melted
• 1 cup of shredded almonds (optional)

Pre-heat your oven and set it to 350 degrees. Start by placing the almond flour and brown sugar into a large bowl and whisk together.  In your blender or Vitaminx, blend the chickpeas and coconut oil and puree until smooth. Combine the pureed chickpea to flour and brown sugar mixture, then add the eggs and whisk aggressively to mix. Once smooth, add in the melted raw chocolate and blend until the mixture is lump free. In a parchment lined baking pan or individual mini baking cups and bake for 15 mins. Remove brownies from the oven, drizzle 1/2 cup of melted unsweetened chocolate and top with shredded almonds.

Photos by Nathalia Allen www.amillionminds.com (@amillionminds)

Looking for other inspiring dishes to serve during the holidays? In case you missed it, check out this Tiger Shrimp Ceviche with Red Beet Hummus recipe also from Chef Adrian Forte.  For more information on Chef Forte’s personal chef services, culinary consulting and catering, head to AdrianForte.com.