These Black Bean Lava Cakes are a healthy dessert that will trick your loved ones into eating their beans! No one will ever know these chocolate lava cakes are made from black beans!
Remember that time I wrote a whole post on how lemon was my favourite cake flavour and chocolate was so cliche for Valentine’s Day? I lied.
As soon as I pulled these babies out of the oven, it was love at first sight. When I dug my fork in and the chocolate came oozing out, I was hooked. And then there’s the fact that the main ingredient is black beans…I have found my soulmate.
Food makes me think about things. I’d like to believe I’m not the only person who experiences profound philosophical realizations while in the kitchen. I probably am.
These cakes of goodness got me thinking about love at first sight and the idea of a soulmate. After some deep thinking and 2 lava cakes, I experienced some major epiphanies. I believe you can sense a person’s energy within minutes of first meeting them and that chemistry is a very real thing. I also don’t believe that we all have a single person we are meant to be with. I don’t think everyone can be compatible but I do think we each have at least 5 people in this gigantic world we can make it work with.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going all sister-wife on you (it’s totally cool with me if you’re into that!) I just think finding 1 in 7 billion is kind of a tricky task.
Despite my beliefs, I do think I’ve found my 1 (or 4) in 7 billion. These Black Bean Lava Cakes have filled my heart with immense joy and I cannot wait to spend my life with them.
Just kidding 😉 You all know who I’m talking about and if you ask nicely I’ll tell you the story of how we met. Let’s just say I got more than a diploma on graduation night!
PrintBlack Bean Lava Cakes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 cakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax mixed with 3 tbsp warm water)
- 1 15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed (or 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (divided)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup almond meal
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 4 pieces of chocolate, for center.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Make flax egg and set aside
- In food processor combine black beans, maple syrup, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, and half of sea salt. Pulse to combine (about 1 minute)
- Add in almond meal, cocoa powder and flax egg. Process until combined (about 30 seconds)
- Add in baking powder and continue processing for another 30 seconds.
- Grease four 5 oz ramekins with coconut oil. Make sure to grease well.
- Add a 1/4 cup of batter to each ramekin.
- Place a piece of chocolate in the center and then cover each ramekin evenly with remaining batter.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for 25 mins.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining sea salt and let cool for 10 mins.
- Use a knife to loosen edges and then flip ramekins over on a plate. They should come loose easily.
- Serve warm. Will keep in fridge for several days and reheat in microwave if desired.
If you’re looking to spice up your lava cakes, check out this video where I make a Mexican version of these delicious black bean lava cakes!
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107 Comments
Lauren
February 13, 2014 at 3:06 pmWowzer- this feed is blowing up! Undoubtably because these look SO GOOD. I 100% intend to make these (tonight?!) but as you know- I am NOT a baker. Negative baking skill- so I need tips:
1) can i use a muffin tin?
2) can I use regular flour or chickpea flower instead of almond meal? (aside: I would love a post sometime for those of us who are kitchen/glutenfree ingnorant on when/why/how of subsitiuting various flours)
3) ditto question for maple syrup and other liquid natural sweeteners: honey, agave…. obviously different flavors, but otherwise substitutable?
Can you tell I am a nervous baker?
I’ll let you know how badly I mess them up- but they look so good, i figure even a fail would be delicious.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 13, 2014 at 7:45 pmHi lo lo!!!
I miss you! Sending my love 🙂 Now to answer your questions:
1. You could use a muffin tin but you would probably end up making 5 or 6 instead of 4 which doesnt sound so bad. The dollar store has super cheap ramekins too if youre looking to invest a whopping $4.
2. regular flour would be just fine! Not sure about chickpea flour in terms of taste and it might be a bit heavy (i’ll write a post explaining the difference between light, medium and heavy flours for you!). I’d go with regular flour since it’s only a 1/4 cup.
3. Any liquid sweetener would be fine too! I think honey would be fab but I used maple syrup to keep it vegan. Any one would work.
Don’t be such a nervous baker!!! Remember those cookies at the cabin?!? Clearly you’ve got natural talent 😉 lol
So happy you liked that salad! The sauce is SO good eh? genius to make rice paper rolls out of it! I am so stealing that idea. Don’t worry, you get full credit!
Let me know how it goes!
p.s. I used the cayenne chocolate from ammourette in the center of these 😉 UNREAL.
Lauren @ Focused To Be Fit
February 13, 2014 at 2:47 pmYES, YES, YES! OMG. I love black beans in brownies, so this healthier take on them has me jumping for joy!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
February 13, 2014 at 2:46 pmChocolate is magical, which is why I’ve been loading up on it lately — I need the smartness. And I’m claiming one of your 5 spots, but I’m not sharing with Arman, so it’s either me or him, lady!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:21 amThis is awkward…can we all just spoon and be happy?
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves
February 13, 2014 at 2:41 pmNo one has ever made black beans look more luscious!!
You might know that I do things like write letters to my future husband for the whole world to see. If I never find that guy, then that’s awkward.
Kim
February 13, 2014 at 2:36 pmYour pictures are amazing! Just had to let you know. The recipe looks super good- I may have to pick up some flax and apple cider vinegar this weekend 🙂 I believe in lust at first sight- not love. There have been plenty of good looking guys that become absolute duds after talking to them. The first time I saw my husband I was taken back though- I recently blogged about the creepy meeting after being embarrassed about it for far too long, haha. Unfortunately, I do not believe in one single soul-mate. The world is too large and who’s to say my perfect match isn’t living in a foreign country? After being with my high school sweetheart for 8 years and marrying someone completely different, I totally nixed the idea of soul-mates!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:20 amYup, the world is wayyyyy too big for soul mates but if you’re lucky enough to find something close it’s worth holding on tight!!! Let me know if you ended up making these! You could also sub in lemon juice instead if you don’t have ACV 🙂
Mary Frances
February 13, 2014 at 2:05 pmOh.my.gosh.
I have no words.
Except that, these are my soul mates, too. Hope you don’t mind sharing.
P.S. Trying these – how could anyone not fall head over heels for these? You.are.amazing.
Amy @ Long Drive Journey
February 13, 2014 at 1:47 pmThis. girl. is on fi-yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! This girl is on fiy-aaaaaaaaaaaaah-aaaaaah!
That’s all I have to say about your entire week of posts.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:19 amhahahaha someone else had a long week I see…
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds
February 13, 2014 at 1:39 pmI didn’t believe in love at first site until I met my husband (so corny, I know). I saw him and thought “holy shit. that’s the guy.” BUT I don’t think he’s my soul mate. My best friend and I certain we are each others soul mate. Is that weird?
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:18 amNope not weird. I don’t necessarily believe in soul mates but I have no doubts that if they do exist I found mine 😉 My psychic said we were together in a previous life. Is THAT weird?
[email protected]
February 13, 2014 at 1:34 pmAfter about 7 relationships (all with guys I was sure I would marry them) I am convinced that there more than 1 out there. btw, will you marry me? I will teach you how to speak SwissGerman. Cause everyone wants to know how to.
But seriously, Lava Cakes are my soulmates. I Need These in my life.
And I want to know the Story about how you guys met!!! Is Berlin involved?? LOL.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:17 amhahahaha thank god I didn’t end up with the boy(s) I met in Berlin…
Did I ever tell you I took a year of german classes? Even before I went to Berlin I had this obsession with Germany. My parents were extremely confused why I wanted to learn german (outside of school btw) but since it was a productive hobby they supported it.
As it turns out, german is HARD so I quit after a year and stuck to french and italian instead! If you want to tutor me I’ll give you all the lava cakes you want 😉
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner
February 13, 2014 at 11:15 amI’m drooling over these! They are by far my favorite in your Valentine’s bake-off so far. I can’t believe they’re mostly black beans…crazy talk. Definitely must try these.
Oh, pick me, pick me! I want to know how you met your man. 🙂 I too believe that you have more than 1 soul mate. It doesn’t even have to be a lover, but perhaps a best friend.
Love at first sight? My parents (high school sweethearts) would say yes. I think no HOWEVER when I first met my husband I will say that knew there was something about him and I knew he’d be in my life but just wasn’t sure how. I think love is earned over time. But maybe what I felt deep down inside was love at first sight… hmm, I will ponder more. 😉
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:33 amI absolutely agree that love takes time sometimes. I was pretty head over heels with C immediately but in past relationships it definitely took more time.
I think these were my favourite from the week too 🙂
Tonya@Healthy, Fit, and Frugal
February 13, 2014 at 11:15 am“I believe you can sense a person’s energy within minutes of first meeting them and that chemistry is a very real thing” I totally agree. You can definitely sense someone with negative energy straight away. I tend to avoid those people. So lava cake is probably one of my all time favorite desserts! Needs to be served with the right size of vanilla bean ice cream though…at least you keep with the bean theme? 🙂 I have to ask a question regarding the recipe though: Make flax egg and set aside.
What does that mean to make flax egg? Thanks! I’m a really novice cook! 🙂
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:15 amHey Tonya!
Totally agree on the ice cream!
So a flax egg as I described in the ingredients is just 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of warm water. When you let that sit for a few minutes in reaches the same consistency as an egg (you can do the same with chia seeds) and is often used in vegan baking!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables
February 13, 2014 at 10:34 amOh I die!! Going to try this with cashew meal!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
February 17, 2014 at 10:31 amThat sounds awesome!!! Tell me how it goes!