Black Bean Cocoa Fudge

Before you grimace over the thought of beans featuring in a fudge, I urge you to put your hesitations aside and consider this naturally swee...

Before you grimace over the thought of beans featuring in a fudge, I urge you to put your hesitations aside and consider this naturally sweet, protein-packed fudge. Honestly, you would never know there were legumes in the mix if the cook hadn't spilled the beans.

I served one to a friend who was over for dinner but didn't tell him what was in the fudge until he had eaten a few nibbles. His first reaction was the fudge tasted like a natural food store. This was actually a compliment as said friend likes his legumes and healthy raw treats that are sweetened naturally without an abundance of processed sugars. The additional benefit, at least for me, is that they come at a fraction of the cost compared to those offered up from natural food stores. No flour is needed either, as the ground up beans serve that purpose.

Rich and creamy, only the beans have to be cooked, but otherwise you have an essentially raw treat with no baking required. Sweetened only with dates, they surely do satisfy an after dinner chocolate craving. A few teaspoons of maple syrup could also be added if desired for a bit more depth, but that's entirely up to you and I didn't include any as it was only an after thought. It surely isn't necessary, and I was craving this fudge soon after the pan was consumed.

Black Bean Cocoa Fudge

Recipe by Lisa Turner Published on November 12, 2016 Creamy and chocolatey, no-bake and no added sugar black bean and peanut butter fudge Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans (1/2 cup dried) 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/4 cup natural crunchy peanut butter 1/2 cup dried dates, pitted and roughly chopped 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional) a few pinches of sea salt Instructions: Line a 9 × 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth and the mixture clumps together. Transfer the fudge to the prepared pan, spread evenly, and refrigerate for at least 30 to 60 minutes. Cut into 8 squares. Serve chilled and refrigerate any remaining fudge. Makes 8 squares

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