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Baked Beans (Full of fruit!)

April 26, 2013


Photos updated 7/3/2014

No surprise, I’m kind of a weirdo when it comes to things I eat.  When I go to cookouts and potlucks in the summer, it often happens that the only thing I can eat are the baked beans.  Never being deterred by that, I’ve grown to LOVE taking thick baked beans, putting them on a hamburger or hot dog bun, and topping with mustard and onions.  Call me crazy, but it’s delicious.

Baked Beans (Full of fruit!)

 

 

When I eat baked beans at home, I normally just put them on a plate, but sometimes the left overs end up as a sandwich :).  They can be so full of sugar and, aside from being based on something pretty nutritious, can be pretty nutritionally lacking.  A common ingredient in most bean recipes is barbeque sauce.  I’ve seen plenty of homemade barbeque sauces using pineapple, so it was a logical addition for me.

Baked Beans (Full of fruit!)

 

My mom has always loved putting apples in her baked beans.  It took a while for this to grow on me, maybe because she insists on singing her “apple bottom beans” song (think “apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur…”).  True, this recipe still has added molasses but I’ve looked at a lot of other recipes and those all include molasses AND brown sugar – at least we got to swap out the refined sugar!  I used a HUGE jar of beans to make this, so it’s perfect for summer potlucks and cookouts.  Feel free to cut it in half or thirds if you’re making it at home and don’t want left overs

Baked Beans (Full of fruit!)
Author: 
Serves: 24
 

Ingredients
  • 48 oz jar great northern beans or pinto beans (rinsed)
  • 8 oz can crushed pineapple in juice
  • 3 apples, peeled and diced
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • ⅔ c molasses
  • Heaping ⅓ c ketchup
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder or granulated onion
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • Cayenne pepper, to taste (optional, I like this a little spicy to offset the fruity)

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spritz a medium baking dish with nonstick spray.
  2. Mix all ingredients together in a big bowl and pour into the baking dish.
  3. Bake for 1 hr, covered. Remove cover and bake an additional hour +. The longer you bake, the more the flavors will develop. You can let this go as long as as total of 3 hours, just make sure to stir so the top doesn’t dry out.
  4. Let sit for 20 – 30 minutes before serving, if possible. It will help all the liquid to be soaked up.

Nutrition Information
Calories: 100 Fat: 0.5g Carbohydrates: 24g Fiber: 5g Protein: 3g

 

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26 Comments
    Kristin Aug 03, 2015

    Thanks for sharing the recipe! It gave me new inspiration for baked beans and I am currently making them right now. Instead of ketchup I used apple butter. I replaced the apples for carmelized onions. I also threw them in the slow cooker because today is a hot day and I didn’t want to heat up the house. They smell wonderful!

      Kristin Aug 03, 2015

      Sorry… i replaced the molasses with apple butter and the ketchup for organicville bbq sauce!

      Kelly Aug 05, 2015

      Adding in BBQ sauce is something I love to do, too, but I never thought to swap the molasses for apple butter. Sounds delicious! I especially love the use of a the slow cooker and adding caramelized onions — I’ll have to try that out.

    Erin @ The Speckled Palate May 06, 2013

    Baked beans are some of my FAVORITE summertime foods, and I will definitely be whipping up some of these for the next barbecue we attend! Something about apples being added to the recipe makes me so incredibly happy, and I love that your mom sings the, “Apple Bottom Beans” song. Too funny!

    Angela @ another bite please Apr 29, 2013

    i love baked beans at cookouts too…and now you have me singing that song…The whole club was lookin at her…She hit the floor…Next thing you know..She got low low low low low low low low…hahahaha

    Julia Apr 29, 2013

    I adore beans too…in every form…and I can taste all the delicious flavors in this recipe! I’ve never made beans with pineapple and am dying to try it out. You can come to any potluck of mine, lady!

    Sara {Home is Where the Cookies Are} Apr 28, 2013

    Oh, I love baked beans – and you’re so right – they’re usually packed full of sugar, and, if we’re lucky – bacon!! But I only make them as a splurge just because of that. We’re on the same page here, bc I’m experimenting over here with ways to make bbq sauce from scratch with no added sugar, and pineapple is on the ingredient list. I will have to try your beans – love the fruity mindset!! 😉

      Kelly Apr 28, 2013

      haha, i count myself unlucky if there’s bacon– then i cant eat them!

    Christie - Food Done Light Apr 27, 2013

    Beans on toast is one of my favorite breakfasts. I love all the fruit in this recipe. My little one loves baked beans too so I can sneak some extra fruit in her with this one. Pinned to make it soon.

    Marcie@flavorthemoments Apr 26, 2013

    I LOVE baked beans but nobody else in my house shares my enthusiasm.

    Anne ~ Uni Homemaker Apr 26, 2013

    Yay, no more buying canned baked beans! These look delicious. 🙂

    Aimee @ ShugarySweets Apr 26, 2013

    I am the only one in this house of 6 who eats baked beans. I love summer potlucks though because there is bound to be a batch of beans for me to inhale. Now, maybe I should make these for the next potluck. YUM.

    rebacox Apr 26, 2013

    WOW that is a lot of beans! You should definitely freeze some of those leftovers.

      Kelly Apr 26, 2013

      Hmm. Should’ve talked to you sooner! Josh and I have been having baked beans for every single lunch this week! (I really need to make more friends in the area so I can pawn off left overs)

    sheloveshealthyliving Apr 26, 2013

    Those look so good! Next time I want baked beans I’ll try these! How big is your serving size?

      Kelly Apr 26, 2013

      I honestly didn’t measure how much was in the final product. I just kind of eyeballed that I was taking 1/12th. The large jar of beans I used contained 12 servings (half cup), but there’s quite a bit of added fruit. I suspect a generous, heaping half cup would be approximately 1/12th of the recipe.

        sheloveshealthyliving Apr 26, 2013

        Thank you! I loved baked beans and have always wanted to make them from scratch…instead I’ve always been lazy and added veggies and ham to a can. Makes it look homemade!

    cleaneatingveggiegirl Apr 26, 2013

    I would NEVER think to add apples and pineapple to baked beans, but it seriously sounds amazing! It totally has the sweet and savory combo going on that I LOVE :).

      Kelly Apr 26, 2013

      Let me know if you try the recipe out!

    Joanne Apr 26, 2013

    “apple bottom beans”. Love it. i am so going to sing that every time I make/eat baked beans now!!

    Em @ Love A Latte Apr 26, 2013

    I love baked beans! I used to eat them all the time in the summer growing up and they are so good when grilling out!!! I’ve never made them homemade and I really really want to try! Recipe looks great!

      Kelly Apr 26, 2013

      They’re so crazy easy to make homemade (And I think way tastier!) give it a try!