Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9″x 13″ pan with butter. Dust with cocoa powder. Set pan aside.

In a food processor or a powerful blender puree black beans until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

Fit a large heat safe bowl over a pan of boiling water. Add pureed black beans, butter and 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips. Stir with a whisk until butter and chocolate are melted and smooth. Be careful when you remove the bowl since it will be hot! Remove from heat.

Stir brown sugar and vanilla into chocolate mixture until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time. Mix thoroughly between additions until all 4 eggs have been added. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine flour, 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, baking powder and sea salt. Mix until combined.

Add chocolate mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips if desired.

Pour into prepared baking pan and smooth the top of the brownies using a spatula.

Bake brownies for 30 minutes then remove the pan from the oven and set it on a cooling rack. They might appear under-done but will continue to bake in the pan after removed from oven.

Allow to cool.