Vitamin Packed Black Bean Fudge Cookies

We have all seen black bean brownies. I have even made a version or two myself. Generally they are moist, chocolatey and gooey – everything you would ever want from brownies – and always healthier than their Betty Crocker counterparts. But bean brownie are often complicated because brownies are temperamental treats; it is always a challenge to get the perfect consistency with a fully cooked inside and edges that are not burnt.So I decided to make something that I actually haven’t seen around…Black Bean Cookies! I wanted them to be fudgey like brownies but portable like cookies. What a combination that would be! I had my athlete cohorts in mind while creating this recipe. Black beans are known for their high to iron and magnesium content. And of course they are a protein powerhouse – 15 grams in just one cup! Many people consider legumes to be in the carbohydrate category but, in fact, they offers more protein than you think!For the “flour” I decided to go with Teff flour. Teff is an Ethiopian grain that many elite runners use on a daily basis. Perhaps we can credit their fast legs to this little grain…It is actually a really tiny grain. I recently came across it while shopping and in its whole form it looks like little seeds, which is why it is more commonly found as a flour. It is super rich in iron and since many runners find they have low iron, which leads to low energy levels, teff is a perfect remedy. It is so important to look at food as a way of getting your vitamins and nutrients in. And hey – why not in the form of a cookie? No way you complain there! If you purchase Teff flour and are interested in making more recipes with it, check out the “Runners Bread” I have made. And if you simply cannot control yourself and you need to make these cookies ASAP I am pretty sure any type of flour can work here- almond, oat, whole wheat, spelt….etc.As a runner and athlete, I always strive to get my vitamins and nutrients from whole foods. And I do the same with my clients. I help them to create well balanced meal plans and add in supplements only if we find it necessary. If you are lacking iron and other nutrients, I’d recommend Pure Encapsulations as they have some amazing vitamins that compliment a well balanced diet! Unlike most vitamins, they are always vegetarian, hypoallergenic, no added coatings, binders or sweeteners and they are non-GMO. Always look for those No Nos ingredients when buying supplements. 

Pure Encapsulations is a brand that I can trust because they believe in the importance of nutrients (like I do!) and are committed to producing the most complete line of research-based nutritional supplements. Their ingredients are selected solely on the basis of quality and purity. To help celebrate the importance of quality nutrients, I teamed up with Pure Encapsulations and brought you this vitamin, iron packed cookie.
 Recipe: Preheat oven 350

• 2 cups or 1 160z can of black beans– rinsed well
• 3 tablespoons of teff flour
• 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 scoops of plant based chocolate protein powder (you can omit this and add more cocoa keep in mind you may need to add more dates for sweetness, vanilla protein powder will also work)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon of nut butter or coconut butter
• 1/2 cup coconut or nut milk
• 1 & 1/12 cups of pitted dates
• chocolate chips for garnish

1. In a food processor add all ingredients besides chocolate chips, puree and stop to scrape down the machine, making sure everything is well combined.
2. Once your batter is nice and smooth use a tablespoon or small ice cream scooper to form cookies on  a lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray. Flatten with a fork and garnish with a few chocolate chips on each (optional)
3. Bake at 350  for around 20 minutes. Keep in mind that the cookies will seem underdone when you take them out. When you let them rest they will harden.