Fudgy Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients (makes 9 but you could slice into small portions)

1. 400g tin black beans, in water, drained & rinsed (235g drained weight)
2. 80g light vegetable spread
3. 4 large free-range eggs
4. 60g good quality cocoa powder, plus tsp to finish
5. 50g ground almonds
6. 1 tbsp vanilla extract
7. 40ml maple syrup
8. 1 tsp instant coffee granules
9. 4 tbsp granulated sweetener
10. 60g dark chocolate chips

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180/Fan 160/Gas 4. Line a 20cm square baking tin with baking paper
2. Put the black beans & spread into a food processor and blend until smooth. Add te eggs and blend again briefly, until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
3. Add cocoa powder, ground almonds, vanilla extract, maple syrup, coffee granules, sweetener and half the chocolate chips. Whisk to combine.
4. Pout the mixture into the lined tin and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 18-20 minutes until just firm to touch.
5. Remove from the oven and leave to cool slightly before carefully lifting the brownie out of the tin and cutting into squares. These are ice warm or cold & sprinkle with the extra cocoa if you wish.
6. These can be frozen - allow them to completely cool then wrap the squares in foil & transfer to a container. Defrost at room temperature.