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The Real Food Academy Miami flourless black bean brownie recipe.
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Flourless Black Bean Brownies

By Chef Maria Cummins

Course
dessert
Cuisine
international
Servings
8

Equipment

  • Food processor

Ingredients

  • 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed (preferably organic)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup avocado oil
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons flourless vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (use Coconut Palm sugar for a healthier alternative)
  • 1/2 cup flourless semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)
  • Baking spray
  • Berries for garnish (strawberries or raspberries)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Spray an 8-inch baking pan or a 12-cupcake pan with baking spray.
  3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the black beans, eggs, avocado oil, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, and sugar. Blend until the mixture is smooth.
  4. Remove the blade from the food processor and gently stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
  5. Transfer the brownie mixture to the prepared pan.
  6. Bake the brownies for 25 minutes or until they're just set in the center.
  7. Garnish the brownies with fresh berries before serving.

Chef Maria Cummins

Born in Venezuela, Maria Cummins discovered her deep-rooted passion for food from an early age. Her culinary journey led her to Lima, Peru, where she immersed herself in the rich secrets of Peruvian gastronomy during part of her childhood. In her early twenties, she embarked on a new chapter by coming to the United States and delving into the Hospitality Industry in Boston, Massachusetts.

Maria's culinary adventure continued as she relocated to San Diego, California, where she made her mark by opening the renowned El Tucan Restaurant. Her extensive travels and diverse experiences greatly influenced her innovative culinary style, shaping the unique approach she is celebrated for today.

During her time in San Diego, Chef Maria not only honed her culinary skills but also gained a profound understanding of the importance of nutrition, particularly through the use of organic and unprocessed ingredients.

Today, Maria Cummins is the proud owner, founder, and head chef of the Real Food Academy, a culinary haven nestled in the vibrant city of Miami. Here, both kids and adults come together every week to share the joy of connecting through the power of Real Food and Real Fun!

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This 10-week culinary program is ideal for teens who love to cook and want to sharpen their skills. Students explore advanced techniques, creative recipes, and real-world kitchen concepts while making multiple dishes each class. Whether beginner or experienced, every teen will gain confidence, creativity, and professional-level insight from our expert instructors.

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Rave Reviews for The Real Food Academy

proud to have a 5.0 star rating & 1000+ reviews

  • Myles P

    Fun time, good parking, Chef Toni and crew were great!
  • Alberto Colon

    Awesome class, great cooking
  • Ralitsa Ivanova

    Amazing culinary experience at the Revive and Rejuvenate class! Everyone in the group had a wonderful time, and food was amazing!! Thank you, Chef Maria!
  • Team Meador

    Maria was exceptionally kind and knowledgeable. We had a fantastic time and look forward to returning. Our food was delicious and we even had leftovers. Delicious and healthy!
  • FABIAN HERNANDEZ

    This an awesome date night. Revive and rejuvenate is fun supper yummy. And Maria is amazing. 3 course meal. Super fresh healthy and just delicious.
  • christina cano

    Very hands on
  • Richard Phillip

    Good food with delightful people.
  • richard cruiser

    All good time.
  • Gary Gustave

    Excellent experience, customer service and team building activity. Chicken Tikka Masala tasted GREAT
  • Samuel Forte

    Great chefs. Very friendly and fun 10/10
  • Renee Ward

    It was an awesome experience … the food delicious…complete four course meal prepared by me and my team ….nice atmosphere and the staff were all very pleasant.
  • Robin Sanichara

    Wonderful experience.I didn't realize cooking was not that difficult.
  • Julian Maynard

    Very nice cooking experience in Miami
  • Ju G

    The after schools classes are the best! My daughter is super happy, she is learning every class about delicious and healthy recipes . Chef Tony is awesome with the kids! Kids from 5 to 10 years old will enjoy this classes a lot, I recommend it!
  • Heather Stenstrom

    We hosted a party to celebrate my daughter’s 11th birthday. We chose the Top Chef package with cheese ravioli. We had a wonderful experience. The space is beautiful, spacious and full of light. Chef Paolo taught the girls clearly and allowed them to work. They were all engaged the whole time. The played a super fun playlist while they worked too. The food I ordered for guests to eat was beautifully presented and delicious. There were also a few sweet surprises along the way. Leading up to the event and planning the party was also very easy. Communication with Maria was easy and she was very responsive. Overall an awesome experience! Would highly recommend.
  • Camila Camacho

    My boyfriend and I had such a fun date night in the pasta-making class. Chef Paolo and Chef Maria were wonderful. We walked out of the class feeling inspired to try new recipes at home. I’d definitely come back!
  • santiago borges

    We did the pasta making class for a date night..really great experience. Maria and Paolo were awesome. I learned how to use a knife, how to cut with a real kitchen knife and a couple of easy to replicate recipes. Really recommend this over eating out at a restaurant.
  • Alexander K

    The pasta making class was so fun! Incredible staff and great environment. I would recommend for a date night or just fun night out with friends.
  • Rich F

    Chef Toni was fantastic and made the cooking experience fun.
  • Matt Kowalak

    Amazing experience! All of the food was delicious. 5 stars

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Real Food FAQs

No. All Payments and Deposits are non-refundable: When a payment or deposit is made, that day and time is no longer available to other customers on our calendar. For that reason, all payments and deposits are non-refundable.

In the case of a cooking class, the ingredients are shopped for and prepped in advance. Staff is also scheduled according to the number of people on the roster.

See our Wine and Beer list for your in-house kids party options. Optionally, you can bring your own wine or beer and page a corkage fee.

Corkage Fees

  • $15 per 750 ml bottle of wine
  • $30 per 1.5 L bottle of wine

Bring outside beer: $40 for beer (any quantity)

We love it when our customers decorate our place. That said, you have no idea how difficult it is to clean these types of things up. As far as noisemakers go......you will be glad you left them at home as well. So please do not bring any of those things.

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Special Announcements

The Real Food Academy Miami Is Franchising

The Real Food Academy is now offering a fun & family-friendly franchise opportunity. We are expanding and inviting franchisees to join us on our culinary journey! Follow us on Instagram and Learn how you can #inspirelovethroughfood!

Learn More

After-School Camp for Kids: How to Become a Real Food Chef

Designed for young chefs ages 7–13, this 10-week after-school course builds essential cooking skills through hands-on lessons and creative recipes. Each class introduces a new culinary concept while students prepare multiple dishes and grow in confidence in the kitchen. Perfect for beginners and intermediate cooks, with all-new recipes for returning students.

Learn More

After-School Camp for Teens: How to Become an Amazing Teen Chef

This 10-week culinary program is ideal for teens who love to cook and want to sharpen their skills. Students explore advanced techniques, creative recipes, and real-world kitchen concepts while making multiple dishes each class. Whether beginner or experienced, every teen will gain confidence, creativity, and professional-level insight from our expert instructors.

Learn More