Black Bean Fudge Pops & Great Vegan Bean Book Review

Black Bean Fudge Pops @Cara's Cravings

I’m 100% guilty of sneaking healthy food in places it doesn’t “belong.” Tofu ice cream, anyone? My family kinda knows by now that if I offer up something sweet, they better just try it before asking any questions. So far, it’s worked out well – why stop eating a perfectly good cupcake just because there’s beans in it? So I was pretty stoked when the hubby started raving about some fudgesicles I whipped up, before I even got a chance to say anything about them. Not that I would have spilled the beans. Pun intended.

Black beans, white beans, chickpeas – these are staples I always keep around for quick and easy meals. Just the other day I instagram-ed a white bean and artichoke salad I quickly threw together and which became dinner for a couple nights with simple grilled protein.

But beans are not just for salads. They’re necessary for chili, rice ‘n beans, burritos and during a sultry summer they make their way into popsicles.

Yep, I said popsicles. It’s not that un-imagineable since I’ve baked brownies with beans and my friend Ricki makes fudge out of them.  This recipe for black bean fudge pops comes courtesy of Kathy Hester in her new book, The Great Vegan Bean Book: More than 100 Delicious Plant-Based Dishes Packed with the Kindest Protein in Town! – Includes Soy-Free and Gluten-Free Recipes!.

Kathy Hester Great Vegan Bean Book

Pictures copyright 2013 Renee Comet

You might know Kathy from her plant-based, healthy food blog, Healthy Slow Cooking. A couple years ago, I got to review her first book. The Vegan Slow Cooker, and the eggplant casserole recipe remains one of our favorites to this day. Now that I can only scrape together a few short minutes to myself each day, I’m psyched that Kathy offered me up this super simple dessert recipe to share with you. The fact that it hides beans in dessert makes it even more cool in my book, and I also love that it has healthy fat derived coconut and zero refined sugar. These are the kind of pops I’ll feel awesome about feeding my kid, as soon as she can ask for them!

I’ve made these fudge pops twice, and I’m sure I’ll be making them again and again. I had to add a little stevia to adjust the sweetness to our liking, but other than that they are pretty stellar. The second time I made them, I added a few drops of peppermint extract too, ’cause there’s hardly a cooler combo than mint and chocolate on a hot summer night.

If you prefer your beans where you can see them, Kathy has you covered. Asian Black Soybean Slaw, Salsa Quinoa Salad, and Don’t Be Crabby Cakes all sound like fantastic summer fare. There’s also a Cashew-Bean Queso that I think will be perfect for football season, with some soy chorizo mixed in, as a dip or nacho topping. You can thank Renee Comet for all the pretty pictures as well.

To preview more of the recipes in this collection, visit The Great Vegan Bean Blog Tour, where you’ll find links to other bloggers’ sharing Kathy’s innovative, healthy vegan bean recipes.

If you’d like your own copy of The Great Vegan Bean Book by Kathy Hester, you’re in luck – we’re giving one away!

Simply do any or all of the following and leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Tell me about your favorite bean recipe.

2. Follow Cara’s Cravings and/or Healthy Slow Cooking on Facebook (tell me if you already do!)

3. Spread the word about this great new book by sharing this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and/or Pinterest!

The contest will close on Friday, July 5th at midnight EST. Winners will be contacted via email. You must reside in the US or Canada.

Disclaimer: The cookbook was provided to me for free to review. I was not paid for this review.

Black Bean Fudge Pops @Cara's Cravings-3

Additionally, I am sharing this recipe with the Great Big Gluten Free BBQ Event over at Franny Cakes blog. Packed in an insulated cooler, these pops will travel well and offer up a cool end to any summer gathering. Hop on over for more must-have gluten-free summer fare!

greatbigglutenfreebarbecue

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Yield: 6-9, depending on popsicle mold size

These vegan fudge pops are soy-free, gluten-free and oil-free, and taste just like your childhood favorite.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups (258 g) cooked black beans or 1 can (15 ounces, or 425 g), rinsed and drained
1 can (14 ounces, or 400 ml) light coconut milk
¼ cup (20 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons (60 g) agave nectar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
A few drops liquid vanilla stevia, to taste
A few drops peppermint extract

Directions:

Puree all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. There will be some black flecks from the black bean skins. I think they look like chocolate flecks, but you can strain the mixture through a cheesecloth if you like. Fill your frozen pop molds about seven eighths full of the mixture. Freeze for several hours or overnight before serving.

Reprinted with permission from The Great Vegan Bean Book, Kathy Hester.

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51 Responses to “Black Bean Fudge Pops & Great Vegan Bean Book Review”

  1. Pingback: Great Big Gluten-Free Barbecue | Franny Cakes

  2. 2

    Molly — June 28, 2013 @ 8:44 am Reply

    I make a white bean and tarragon salad that I pretty much become obsessed with every time I make it. I follow you on Twitter and Facebook.

  3. Pingback: Black Bean Fudgesicles

  4. 3

    Mackenzie — June 28, 2013 @ 10:19 am Reply

    I love the texture of perfectly cooked beans, so I tend to keep them whole and use them in pilafs and salads. However, I do also use them to make creamy sauces and dips… and bean burgers!

  5. 4

    Mackenzie — June 28, 2013 @ 10:19 am Reply

    I follow both on Facebook!

  6. 5

    Mackenzie — June 28, 2013 @ 10:20 am Reply

    I shared, tweeted, and pinned the giveaway!!

  7. 6

    Alisa — June 28, 2013 @ 10:37 am Reply

    Now that is one crazy recipe Cara! Pinned to share. We don’t eat many beans in this house, but these recipes do sound fun!

  8. 7

    Kim-Cook It Allergy Free — June 28, 2013 @ 10:57 am Reply

    Okay…I can HONESTLY say I would have never thought to put beans in my popsicles… This is a trick I am totally going to try now. LOL I absolutely love your photos too. I hate taking photos of popsicles for some reason….they always start to melt before I get the perfect shot. Brilliant to lay them on a bed of ice!! XO

  9. 8

    Mary — June 28, 2013 @ 11:36 am Reply

    Shared this on my group, Resources and Support, would never of have dreamed black beans – ice cream!!

  10. 9

    Mary — June 28, 2013 @ 11:39 am Reply

    Follow Caras Cravings and Healthy Slow Cooking now!!

  11. 10

    Lynn — June 28, 2013 @ 2:33 pm Reply

    I love a good hummus, and am making a lot of roasted red pepper hummus. I also made a great kidney bean dip I enjoyed. I enjoy Kathy’s slow cooker cookbook but haven’t read this one yet. Would love to check it out!

  12. 11

    Angelica — June 28, 2013 @ 3:10 pm Reply

    Black bean chocolate cherry chili cookies!

  13. 12

    Kate — June 28, 2013 @ 3:42 pm Reply

    I use beans so often in my house it’s hard to pick a favorite recipe. I do love their use in chili though. Even though I tend to use them as an addition to meat (chicken, beef, sausage, pork) I love the fact I don’t have to, because a chili with beans is meal enough on its own.

  14. 13

    Thea — June 28, 2013 @ 4:27 pm Reply

    I don’t know that I could pick just one favorite bean recipe, but my earliest favorite (from my childhood) was the white bean salad from The Vegetarian Epicure. I loved when my mom made that one from the time I was about 4, and I make it myself now.

  15. 14

    The Peace Patch — June 28, 2013 @ 4:43 pm Reply

    oh sweet bean deliciousness! I can’t wait to try these on my popsicle-slurping nephew. At least this way he’ll get some nutrition while dripping down the front of his shirt. 😉
    Thanks!

  16. 15

    Shannon — June 28, 2013 @ 4:59 pm Reply

    these look awesome! i actually did a breakfast shake once with beans and cocoa in it, surprisingly delicious 🙂

  17. 16

    KathyD — June 28, 2013 @ 6:13 pm Reply

    I love falafel and any type of bean chili or bean burger.

  18. 17

    Nathalie — June 28, 2013 @ 6:15 pm Reply

    Liked your page 🙂

  19. 18

    Nezumi — June 28, 2013 @ 6:36 pm Reply

    So many delicious bean recipes! I eat lots and lots of hummus but often I buy it pre-made. I guess the one recipe I make the most are refried beans. They are so delicious on soft tortillas or crunchy nachos, yum! Can’t have enough.

  20. 19

    Elizabeth — June 28, 2013 @ 10:24 pm Reply

    Black Bean Brownies = My favorite bean recipe. Although this recipe may be the new favorite!

  21. 20

    Elizabeth — June 28, 2013 @ 10:27 pm Reply

    I ‘Like’ Healthy Slow Cooking on Facebook, too.

  22. 21

    Tasha — June 28, 2013 @ 10:37 pm Reply

    I have a simple meal that I love so much- quinoa, chickpeas and broccoli topped with a nutritional yeast and curry sauce.

  23. 22

    Karen — June 29, 2013 @ 1:07 am Reply

    I love making Cuban style black beans with rice

  24. 23

    Karen — June 29, 2013 @ 1:07 am Reply

    Follow Cara’s Cravings on Facebook

  25. 24

    The Healthy Apple — June 29, 2013 @ 8:09 am Reply

    This looks amazing Cara!!! I love refreshing summer recipes. xoox Miss you tons; hope you are well.
    oxox

  26. 25

    sarah robinson — June 29, 2013 @ 9:53 pm Reply

    Havana Black Beans – it was on Pinterest. Basically black beans, red peppers, coconut milk, onion, and a few spices. We love it!

  27. 26

    dana — June 29, 2013 @ 11:57 pm Reply

    hummus with fava!

  28. 27

    EMC — June 30, 2013 @ 9:55 am Reply

    Favorite recipe… that’s tough. Hummus is definitely up there, as are black bean brownies… But I think my favorite, just because it’s so gosh darn easy and tasty, is to mash up some chickpeas with some veganaise, lemon juice and seasonings to make a lemony sandwich spread. 🙂

  29. 28

    Catlyn L — June 30, 2013 @ 4:25 pm Reply

    I love making a big batch of smokey black beans with all kinds of fresh peppers!

  30. 29

    Catlyn L — June 30, 2013 @ 4:25 pm Reply

    I follow Cara’s Cravings on Facebook!

  31. 30

    jacqui — June 30, 2013 @ 9:44 pm Reply

    my favorite bean recipe is definitely a black bean and quinoa salad.. yum!

  32. 31

    Shannon C — July 2, 2013 @ 4:14 pm Reply

    I’ve always loved classic Puerto Rican beans and rice – not the healthiest, though 🙁

  33. 32

    Jennifer K — July 2, 2013 @ 11:26 pm Reply

    My favorite bean recipe is chilli

  34. 33

    Jennifer K — July 2, 2013 @ 11:31 pm Reply

    I follow you on Facebook

  35. 34

    Jennifer K — July 2, 2013 @ 11:32 pm Reply

    I shared on Facebook, Tweeted and Pinned 🙂

  36. 35

    David P — July 2, 2013 @ 11:35 pm Reply

    My favorite bean recipe is black bean burritos

  37. 36

    David P — July 2, 2013 @ 11:35 pm Reply

    I follow on Facebook

  38. 37

    Lisa P. — July 3, 2013 @ 6:19 pm Reply

    My favorite bean recipe is to use black beans in brownies – nice and moist!

  39. 38

    Lisa P. — July 3, 2013 @ 6:20 pm Reply

    I follow you on facebook.

  40. 39

    Lisa P. — July 3, 2013 @ 6:20 pm Reply

    I shared this post on facebook.

  41. 40

    Alison — July 4, 2013 @ 8:30 am Reply

    I make The Best Lentil Stew. People who don’t like lentils LOVE this stew. I adapted it from a cookbook, Veganomicon. It has lentils, tarragon, thyme, onion, carrots, olive oil, salt, and fresh ground black pepper.

  42. 41

    Alison — July 4, 2013 @ 8:30 am Reply

    I follow you on FB!

  43. 42

    Alison — July 4, 2013 @ 8:31 am Reply

    I shared your post on my FB page!

  44. 43

    April — July 4, 2013 @ 9:17 pm Reply

    Korean/japanese red bean paste! Thanks for the giveaway!

  45. 44

    Joanne — July 8, 2013 @ 7:02 am Reply

    I am a HUGE fan of sneaking more veggies/beans/healthy ingredients into my family in dessert form! i just ordered a set of popsicle molds off Amazon and now i know what one of my first icy creations is going to be!

  46. 45

    Shannon — August 5, 2013 @ 4:21 pm Reply

    i’ve thrown black beans into a smoothie before, so i can totally see this working! YUM 🙂

  47. 46

    Ashleigh Swerdfeger — August 30, 2013 @ 5:56 am Reply

    Darn! I missed the giveaway! I’ve recently discovered black bean brownies and they are good except for the beany taste. It is something to get used to lol. These sound great!

  48. Pingback: Great Big Gluten Free Barbecue

  49. Pingback: Black Bean Fudgesicles ~ Reading Wednesday | Blue-Eyed Bookworm

  50. 47

    Mindy — June 1, 2016 @ 5:43 pm Reply

    I recently made spicy chickpea burgers with nut butter to hold them together and they came out amazing! My trick to avoid the extra oil from frying is to spray a piece of foil with cooking spray and place it on the barbeque grill. They grill up nicely.

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