The Brownie Your Acupuncturist Would Approve Of
Cultivating Harmony • 15 August 2025

Dairy-Free TCM Dessert Recipe


Fudgy, rich, and secretly helping your body drain Dampness—this isn’t just a healthy brownie alternative, it’s a Spleen-friendly TCM dessert recipe designed for both indulgence and balance.


In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), most brownies are a Damp disaster—packed with refined sugar, processed flour, dairy, and oils that overwhelm your digestion (Spleen Qi). These are damp-forming foods, and in TCM food therapy, they’re linked to sluggishness, bloating, and low energy.


At Cultivating Harmony, my mission is to make food that supports your body’s natural harmony. That means creating desserts that drain Dampness, strengthen Spleen Qi, and still taste amazing.



What is Dampness in TCM?


In Chinese medicine diet theory, Dampness is a sticky, heavy pathogenic factor that slows the flow of Qi. It often arises when digestion is weakened or when the body is overloaded with rich, greasy, or cold foods.


Think of Dampness as:

  •    A heavy, wet sponge slowing your energy.
  •    A swampy environment in your body where Qi stagnates.
  •    Similar to the Western “mucous-forming” concept.


What are the Signs of Dampness?


The Physical Signs of Dampness?

  •    Bloating, water retention, and swelling
  •    Loose stools or sluggish digestion
  •    Puffy face, heavy limbs
  •    Thick, greasy tongue coating


Dampness Emotional and Spiritual signs are:

  •    Brain fog, lack of clarity
  •    Feeling unmotivated or stagnant
  •    Emotional heaviness


What are Common Damp-Forming Foods?

  •    Refined sugar & pastries
  •    Dairy products (milk, cream, cheese)
  •    Fried or greasy foods
  •    Processed flour and gluten breads

   Excessive cold/raw foods in damp climatesHow This Brownie Drains Dampness



How this brownie recipe drains dampness


This dairy-free TCM dessert uses damp-draining foods and avoids common Damp culprits. It’s a healing brownie recipe rooted in TCM food therapy principles.


Key ingredients:

   •   Black beans – Strengthen Spleen Qi, drain Dampness, and aid digestion.

   •   Cinnamon – Warms the middle burner, supports Yang, moves stagnation.

   •   Maple syrup – A gentler, less cloying sweetener for the Spleen.

   •   Olive oil – Moisturizing without the Damp-producing heaviness of dairy butter.


This makes it a warming dessert for the Spleen that’s as satisfying as it is functional.




TCM-Inspired Healing Brownies:

See the Transformation From Batter to Bliss




Curious About the TCM Benefits? Keep Reading or Jump to the Recipe

Get the recipe!



Why This Recipe Works in TCM Terms


In TCM food therapy, it’s not about avoiding sweetness—it’s about choosing the right kind. Excess processed sugar harms Spleen Qi, but balanced sweetness from whole foods can nourish your Shen and support digestion.


This recipe harmonizes flavors and energetics:

  • Black beans ground and strengthen
  • Cinnamon warms and transforms Damp
  • Olive oil nourishes without clogging
  •  Maple syrup sweetens gently


The result is a Chinese medicine dessert that’s indulgent, balancing, and deeply satisfying.



Our TCM: Damp-Draining Brownie Recipe

Servings & Prep Time:

Servings: 9–12 brownies

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

  • 2 cans (30 oz) black beans, drained & rinsed
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • 2 eggs (or flax eggs for vegan)
  • ¼ cup non-alkalized cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking powder

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment.
  2. Blend all ingredients until smooth.
  3. Pour into dish and bake for 25 minutes, or until set.
  4. Cool completely before slicing.
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