Like every other Christmas Eve growing up, I was plopped in front of a TV while my parents mingled with the adults at our annual gathering. Well, little did they know that my four-year-old self couldn’t care less if Raphie’s Red Ryder would shoot his eye out. Instead, I lay enraptured by the tray full of fudge left on the coffee table…
Flashforward two hours and 30 pieces of fudge later, I was passed out. Literally. I had officially reached Chocolate Nirvana and since then, I’ve never been the same. The love/hate relationship this experience left within me surrounding fudge has made brownies a subject of contention.
- Are brownies meant to be gooey, fudgy, and rich?
- Or could they be light, full of chocolate, but not quite so sticky?
Well, I went ahead and experimented with making what I call a “Cakey Brownie,” a combo SO good, it required two titles. While being light, moist, and cakey, it’s also gooey, rich, and brownie-y. The *NECESSARY* addition of chocolate chips lends a fudge-like taste, texture, and experience to the dessert, but without turning it into an overloaded plate of mush.
If you’re looking for a dessert that will knock up your tastebuds without knocking your brain out (curse you, fudge), I urge you to swiftly lurk to your kitchen, preheat the oven, and turn on TBS. Obviously so you can laugh mirthfully as Ralphie’s tongue adheres to a lamppost while you’re enjoying a cake/brownie delight. Or maybe that’s just me.. MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Cakey Brownie
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs (or sub chia/flax egg for vegan!)
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1 t baking powder
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- **I got weird and threw a little espresso powder in here… I saw Ina Garten do it, so you know. Totally optional (but I loved it!)
DIRECTIONS:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- 2. Mix all the ingredients together EXTREMELY WELL because who wants a whole bean in their brownie bite??? (I used a food processor and it got the job done).
- 3. Pour mixture into a lined 8×8” dish.
- 4. Bake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out dry.
- 5. Let cool for 20 minutes before slicing and dicing.
the exhale 