Healthy Brownie Batter Dip (with beans)
Tastes like sweet, creamy chocolate, but made from super nutritious ingredients! Healthy Brownie Batter dip is great for lunches and snacks. Blend up beans (no, you can’t taste them!) with cocoa powder, and dates to get this easy spread your kids are going to love. My lower sugar version of chocolate hummus is vegan, nut-free, and naturally sweetened!
Kids in the Kitchen:
- Beans: Kids can pour the can of beans into a collared and rinse them off under running water.
- Dates: Show kids how to pull the date apart to find the pit inside. For younger kids, you may want to open up the date and then hand it to them to remove the pit. Have kids throw the pits into the trash.
- Measure: I don’t recommend young kids help measure cocoa powder…it’s so so messy! But other than that, there are only a few ingredients to measure, so it is good practice for kids to help do the salt and vanilla.
- Buttons: Kids can easily add the ingredients to the food processor (tell them to aim for the center of the bowl to make sure everything gets in there). You can then show them how to safely put on the top and push the buttons to make the food processor work.
- Spread or Dip?: Kids can help decide whether they want to try the brownie batter on a piece or toast, sandwich, or just as a dip for their favorite fruit. They can also help find and pick out things to try in the dip such as pretzels, crackers, etc.
Subs and Tips for making Healthy Brownie Batter Dip:
- Beans: I like to use navy or great northern beans because they are small and tender. Cannellini white beans work too. However, you can also use chickpeas or even black beans in the recipe. Make sure to rinse the beans really well before using them. If you are using beans you’ve cooked at home, use 2 cups.
- Dates: The Medjool variety of dates work best for this recipe because they are juicy and soft. You can find them at Trader Joe’s and most grocery stores. I don’t recommend using pre-pitted dates because they tend to be too dried out.
- Cocoa powder: You can use any kind of unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder in this recipe.
- The lunch box featured in this post is by Planetbox. You can see it and get links in my post HERE.
Healthy Brownie Batter Dip
A nutritious and sweet spread or dip made from beans! Great for school lunches and kids' snacks.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Medjool dates
- 1 (14 oz) can white beans, drained and rinsed or chickpeas or black beans
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 Tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates. Cover the dates with very hot water and let soak until very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Drain the water then add the dates to a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the beans, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla.
- Process the ingredients until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times. (If the mixture is too thick or is not blending well, add a splash of water and continue to process until smooth.)
- Taste the dip and add the maple syrup if you want it sweeter. If the dip doesn't have a lot of chocolate flavor, you might also want to add a pinch more salt (salt helps enhance the flavor of the dip).
- Transfer the dip to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Use as a dip for fruit, pretzels, graham crackers, etc. Or use a spread on sandwiches or roll-ups.
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Other posts you may find helpful:
Homemade School Snacks (Nut-free and Nutritious)
Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Toddlers and Kids