It’s October, fall is in the air, Halloween is right around the corner. This is our favorite time of year. Not only is autumn the best time of year for our favorite bean soups, stews and chili it is also a time for indulgent treats. It is Halloween time, after all.

Thankfully, sinfully delicious Halloween treats don’t have to be as unhealthy as you might suspect. Purred beans make for a great binding for treats like cookies, cake, brownies and cupcakes and eliminate the need for flour and other fattening ingredients commonly found in these kinds of recipes.

Additionally, beans help make these recipes healthier by providing extra fiber and protein. In a way, you can have your cake and eat it too – pun intended.

Whether you are craving something sweet during the Halloween season, want something sweet to serve to guests at a party or even something homemade to hand out on the big night, try one of these sweet desserts!

Chocolate Chip White Bean Bars

Our food blogger Nicole’s Chocolate Chip White Bean Bars are somewhere on the spectrum between cookie and fudge bar, but never the less this dessert unlocks the full potential of great northern white beans in sweets.

Without sacrificing those sweet flavors you want in your dessert, these cookie bars are packed with protein and fiber, so you don’t have to feel quite as guilty eating them. Sub white chocolate for the chocolate chips, halve the peanut butter portion and sub with your favorite cocoa-hazelnut spread or add almonds or macadamias to the mix.

”You Could Have Fooled Me” Cupcakes

“You could have fooled me” is probably a line you will hear from people often after you serve them baked goods with beans. Seriously, it is so hard to tell the difference. That doesn’t change with this delightfully easy black bean cupcake recipe from Trails in Food.

Rich and decadent, the only real guilty pleasure of this recipe is the frosting (recipe included) but there are plenty of lower sugar alternatives available that you can a real crowd-pleasing plate of cupcakes for any occasion.

White Bean & Peanut Butter Vegan Blondies

Beans can even help your favorite baked goods become vegan-friendly! Try this recipe for white bean and peanut butter vegan blondies from Cinnamon and Coriander, for instance. 100% guilt-free and easy to make, you can make them even healthier by using dates or stevia to make them refined sugar-free.

Use the suggestions they provide or top these gooey blondies off with your favorite toppings to really make them your own. After all, variety is the spice of life!