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10 recipes with a surprising secret ingredient

Surprise! These recipes sneak in everything from beans to zucchini, tofu and beets (and no one will be able to tell).
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10 recipes with a surprising secret ingredient

Photo, Sian Richards.

Recipes with a secret ingredient

Chocolate muffins

Surprise ingredient: Zucchini.


These zucchini-laced chocolate muffins are so delicious, no one will catch on that there's vegetables in there . . . unless you tell them. Get the recipe.

Muffin recipes: Chocolate and zucchini muffinsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Chai latte

Surprise ingredient: Butter.


Don’t be put off by the butter; It’s the secret ingredient that makes this drink unforgettable. Get the recipe.

First day of fall latte: Hot buttered chai lattePhoto, Sian Richards.

Fresh Sicilian pasta

Surprise ingredient: Raisins.


Inspired by traditional Sicilian fare, this 20-minute tomatoey pasta is a treat to twirl your fork through. Get the recipe.

Weeknight dinner plan: Fresh Sicilian pasta recipePhoto, Sian Richards.

Raspberry-glazed pound cake

Surprise ingredient: Avocado.


Get the health benefits of avocado and raspberries in a very pretty dessert. Get the recipe.

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10 recipes with a surprising secret ingredientPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Homemade yogurt

Surprise ingredients: Sweet potato, parsnip and avocado.


The latest in a bounty of ever-expanding yogurt options is veggies. The key is amplifying the vegetable’s natural sweetness before adding it to a plain yogurt. Get the recipes.

Savoury yogurt, left to right: sweet potato, parsnip and avocado.Photo, Roberto Caruso.

Chocolate cake

Surprise ingredient: Black beans.


Yes we did. A WHOLE can of beans goes into this chocolate cake, making it healthier, as well as rich and fudgy. Get the recipe.

10 recipes with a surprising secret ingredientPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Chocolate brownies

Surprise ingredient: Beets.


Yes, there's 2 cups of grated beets in these brownies, and they're delicious. Get the recipe.

four chocolate-beet brownies stacked on parchment paper

Homemade ice cream

Surprise ingredient: Brown bread.


This ice cream recipe turns leftover brown bread into a sweet and surprising after-dinner treat. Get the recipe.

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Brown bread ice cream recipePhoto, Sian Richards.

Chocolate mousse

Surprise ingredient: Tofu.


A whole package of soft tofu gives this chcolate mousse a beautifully silky-smooth consistency. Get the recipe.

Tofu chocolate moussePhoto, Sian Richards.

Sweet pumpkin bread

Surprise ingredient: Beer.


This moist, rich sweet bread comes together in just 10 minutes. Drizzled with pumpkin-ale glaze and crunchy pepitas, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious. And we mentioned there's pumpkin ale in it, right? Get the recipe.

Pumpkin sweet loafPhoto, Erik Putz.

Related:
15 inventive ways to use a can of beans
10 things you can do with canned chickpeas
20 decadent and delicious chocolate recipes

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