Description
Make healthy vegetarian and vegan baked beans from scratch—no oil, no refined sugar! Sweetened naturally with molasses and apple juice, smoky, protein-rich, and easy. Also gluten-free!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 1/2 – 5 cups water
- 1 cup 100% apple juice
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
Instructions
- Place beans in a large oven-proof pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Soak overnight (or 8 hours).
- Drain water from beans and discard it.
- Add 4 1/2 cups fresh water to the beans, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook covered for 55 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add apple juice, tomato paste, dark molasses, vinegar, mustard, liquid smoke, red chili pepper, celery seed, ground mustard, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and salt (optional). Stir well and cook uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mixture should be moist, but not soupy. May add additional 1/2 cup water, if needed.
- Preheat oven to 350 F while beans are simmering in step 4.
- Transfer beans in the pot or Dutch Oven to the oven and bake uncovered at 350 for about 30 minutes until browned, thickened, and desired texture.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Makes 10 servings (about 2/3 cup each).
Notes
Instant Pot Directions: Omit step 1 and 2. For step 3-4, place all ingredients in the container of the Instant Pot. Press “Bean/Chili” setting. Cook according to manufacturer’s directions. Follow step 5-6 as noted above.
Slow Cooker Directions: Follow step 1 and 2. For step 3-4, place all ingredients in the Slow Cooker. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8-12 hours. Cook according to manufacturer’s directions. Follow step 5-6 as noted above.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus soaking beans overnight)
- Cook Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (plus soaking time)
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 13.5 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 0