Prepare to dip all the yummy things in this rich, decadent chocolatey goodness. Use this recipe when you’re craving black bean brownies but you don’t want to wait for them to cool down to cut them into their signature squares.
This rich, creamy, served-warm dessert dip uses six easy whole food ingredients. You’ll be amazed by this decadent and satisfying dessert hummus that’s kid-approved and perfect for meal prep or to share at parties. You’re going to love this only-date-sweetened Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus!
Whether you’re nutritarian or just looking for a healthier way to crush those chocolate cravings, I think you’re going to be so happy to have this recipe in your healthy dessert arsenal.
What makes this Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus Special?
- served warm
- 6 ingredients
- sweetened only with whole dates (no sugar, maple syrup, or date syrup)
- adaptable ingredients
- 128 calories for 1/4-cup serving
- Nutella-inspired (added hazelnuts for a decadent flavor)
What is dessert hummus?
It’s a bean-based dessert dip that’s was made popular in the last 5 years.
Like its savory counterpart, dessert hummus starts with a base of cooked beans, typically garbanzo beans or black beans. Then, it’s sweetened with either sugar, maple syrup or other natural or artificial sweeteners.
Finally, it has flavorings added to make it taste like a well-known dessert.
Is dessert hummus healthy?
Yes!
The main reason dessert hummus is a healthy option versus other popular dessert choices (like cakes, cookies, pies and ice cream) is that it uses complex carbohydrates that don’t spike your insulin.
Complex carbohydrates are unprocessed foods that are high in fiber. These include vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains.
Dr. Fuhrman takes this one step further by noting that of those complex carbohydrates the preferred carbohydrate for health excellence are green vegetables and beans. Beans contain lots of fiber (including resistant fibers that are not digested) and protective blood-glucose inhibition properties (learn more here).
Furthermore, this Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus takes it all to the next level by only sweetening with whole dates. According to this 2024 NIH study, whole dates are proven to lower blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides while increasing HDL (the good cholesterol).
Does this Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus taste “bean-y”?
No, because the main flavor add-in for this recipe is cocoa.
Cocoa is a dominant flavor so it covers up any bean taste in this recipe. The vanilla helps to accentuate the chocolate flavor and the hazelnuts give a decadent richness and nutty note.
If you’re brand new to healthy, fruit-sweetened dessert hummus recipes this is a great place to begin!
6 Whole Food Ingredients
- black beans (no-salt-added)
- hazelnuts
- pitted Medjool dates
- cocoa powder
- plant milk
- vanilla extract
Black Beans: I use this 365 brand that has no-added-salt. Feel free to soak and cook your own black beans at home just make sure not to use any salt. You’ll need 1-1/4 cups cooked black beans. Because this dip can be served warm, you don’t need to cool down your beans if you’ll be serving the hummus immediately. Just make sure your blender can handle warm ingredients. If you don’t have black beans feel free to use garbanzo beans.
Hazelnuts: This is our healthy fat source. You can use raw or dry-roasted, unsalted hazelnuts. I give directions below on how to roast them, it is very easy to do at home! If you don’t have hazelnuts on hand you could use cashews, almonds or walnuts. If you want a richer hummus you can add another 1/4 cup nuts or 2 Tbsp. nut butter.
What if I have a nut allergy?
If you’re allergic to nuts I recommend you try this Nut-Free Chocolate Cherry Dessert Hummus instead.
Dates: The fresher and softer the dates you use the better the result will be. The test is that you should be able to easily pull them apart in half. If you only have super-dried-out dates on you can “revive” them by soaking them overnight or soaking for 15 minutes in very hot water (just covering). Allow the soaked dates to dry off completely so they don’t throw off the consistency.
Cocoa Powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder keeps the flavor high and the fat content low. If you wanted to make this recipe more decadent you could add 1/4 cup of your favorite date-sweetened chocolate chips (this is my favorite brand). You may have to add a bit more plant milk if you try this. Just add the milk one Tablespoon at a time.
Plant Milk: I used unsweetened soy milk when developing this recipe because I like that it adds some extra protein. Feel free to use what you have on hand but take note that it will affect the nutritional information provided.
Vanilla Extract: If you use vanilla flavored plant milk you can omit this ingredient.
How to roast hazelnuts without oil:
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Add your raw hazelnuts to a half baking sheet.
Place the baking sheet in the center oven rack and bake for 8 minutes. You’ll know the hazelnuts are done when they are just getting fragrant and the skins are just starting to lift and pop off.
If you’re going to serve your hummus warm you don’t need to have the roasted hazelnuts cool first. Just make sure that your blender can handle hot foods.
How to make this Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus:
It doesn’t get easier than this!
Simply add the ingredients to your high-speed blender bowl as listed in the recipe (that’s an important part!) and blend on high until smooth and creamy (about 40 to 60 seconds). Use your blender tamper as needed to get the mixture going.
Make sure the roasted hazelnuts go in first followed by the dates and then the black beans. Next, add your plant milk and top it off with your cocoa and vanilla.
I have a Vitamix, so I like to blend this recipe for 60 seconds to help warm it up even more.
What is the taste and texture like?
The texture will be very thick, dense and creamy. It’s not completely smooth, there is still texture from the hazelnuts.
The texture is thicker than a traditional hummus and it will thicken up a bit after it’s stored in the refrigerator.
The flavor is sweet, chocolatey and satisfyingly nutty. To me, it’s like black bean brownie batter with a hint of Nutella!
How to heat this hummus:
Place your potion in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 20 second intervals, stirring well until after each 20 seconds. You can add a dash of plant milk if you need to.
Storage Recommendations:
This Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus has a great shelf life in your fridge!
It lasts for 10 to 12 days when stored in a glass Mason jar or food storage container with snaplock lid. Remember to condense down your storage container as you eat through the batch. To be honest I’ve gotten up to 14 days with this hummus but I’d recommend taking a look at my Fridge Love book when storing hummus recipes for longer than 12 days.
How much Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus can you have on the nutritarian plan?
If you’re following the Aggressive Weight Loss Plan: I don’t recommend this recipe. Instead use my lower-calorie seed based chocolate hummus recipe here.
If you’ve reached your ideal BMI (under 23): Enjoy 1/4-cup to 1/2-cup of this hummus as your nut/seed and calorie allotment is higher.
Healthy Chocolate Brownie Batter Hummus
This rich, creamy, dessert dip can be served warm or cold and uses only six easy whole food ingredients. You’ll be amazed by this Brownie Batter Hummus with good-for-you black beans!
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cup hazelnuts (raw or dry roasted) ~142 grams
- 12 Medjool dates (about 1 packed cup) ~169 grams
- 1-1/4 cup canned or cooked black beans (rinsed & drained) ~222 grams
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk (or plant milk) 240 mL
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 20 grams
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Instructions
To roast hazelnuts:
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Preheat your oven to 375°F. Add your raw hazelnuts to a baking sheet.
-
Place the baking sheet in the center oven rack and bake for 8 minutes. You'll know the hazelnuts are done when they are just getting fragrant and the skins are just starting to lift and pop off.
-
If you're going to serve your hummus warm you don't need to have the roasted hazelnuts cool first. Just make sure that your blender can handle hot foods.
To make the hummus:
-
Add the roasted hazelnuts, dates, black beans, plant milk, cocoa and vanilla to your blender bowl. blend on high until smooth and creamy (about 40 to 60 seconds).
-
Use your blender tamper as needed to get the mixture going.
-
I have a Vitamix, so I like to blend this recipe for 60 seconds to help warm it up even more.
Recipe Notes
Yield: just about 3-1/4 cups (~756 grams)
Servings: thirteen 1/4-cup portions (~43 grams)
Storage: It lasts for 10 to 12 days when stored in a glass Mason jar or food storage container with snaplock lid. Remember to condense down your storage container as you eat through the batch.
To heat up the hummus: Place your potion in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 20 second intervals, stirring well until after each 20 seconds. You can add a dash of plant milk if you need to.
Nutrition facts shown are with 1 cup soy milk (2 ingredients: soy beans and water).
I’d love to know what you think if you give this recipe a try.
Your comments and recipe ratings motivate me so much to keep creating memorable and delicious recipes while helping the website get rankings in search engines.
The SOS granola was excellent. The first time I really like this modification in a granola recipe..
Hi Renee,
YAY! I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the granola recipe. When you have a chance can you leave a rating on that recipe here: Rawnola (no-bake vegan granola, oil-free, fruit-sweetened)
I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to leave a recipe rating and review and I’m happy to hear the granola is a new favorite for you!
Best,
Kristen