Chickpea Brownies

Step aside, boxed mix, because Chickpea Brownies are in town! These gluten- and dairy-free brownies are the perfect vegan treat. They’re a healthy alternative to regular brownies and are so quick to make!

Watch this video to see how I make chickpea brownies!

The most delicious vegan homemade brownies

If you’re an avid baker I’m sure you’ve tried your hand at Internet trends like black bean brownies, sweet potato brownies, or even avocado brownies. But have you tried chickpea brownies?

In my opinion, these are the best of the alternative brownie options. They’re filled with ooey gooey deliciousness and are so easy to make. Plus, they’re perfect for customizing with your favorite toppings. After making my signature chickpea blondies, I knew I had to make a chocolate version!

For me, a daily sweet treat is a must, so I love to keep something chocolate in my pantry at all times. When I realized I could make these just a little bit fudgier and a little bit more chocolate-y, I was in.

Along with my favorite cake, cookies, and muffins, chickpea brownies are on a very frequent rotation in my kitchen.

Ingredients used in this brownie recipe

For this recipe we’re sticking to gluten-free, vegan ingredients while also keeping things as natural as possible. Along with the chickpeas we’ll be using a blend of nut butter, almond flour, and of course lots of chocolate chips!

• Chickpeas
• Nut butter (I like almond or peanut)
• Maple syrup
• Coconut oil
• Vanilla
• Almond flour
• Cocoa powder
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Chocolate chips

Kitchen tools that you’ll need

This recipe is a quite simple one. You’ll need only a handful of tools including a food processor (or blender), a spatula, and a baking dish. That’s it!

For measuring ingredients, you’ll need these sizes: 1/4 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, and 1/2 cup.

How to make brownies with chickpeas

Chickpea brownies are so simple to whip together! Everything just needs to be mixed, and then you toss the batter in the oven for a little over 20 minutes. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender.

First, preheat the oven to 350F.

In a food processor, blend the chickpeas, nut butter, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla.

Once blended, add the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Continue to process, scraping down the sides as necessary until smooth.

Once creamy and smooth, take off the lid (I also remove the blade) and stir in the chocolate chips. Do not process.

Next, pour the batter into a greased 8×8 pan and sprinkle the top with extra chocolate chips.

Bake for 21-23 minutes, and tada! Your brownies are ready to devour.

Tip: If you’d like, you can bake these in a loaf pan for extra thick brownies. This method will require about 30-35 minutes in the oven.

Tasty add-on options

There are few recipes as versatile as brownies. No matter how they’re made, whether it’s with a box mix or from scratch, brownies can be transformed into anything you’d like. Here are some of the ways that I like to make my brownies extra special.

• Switch up the chips: In addition to chocolate (or instead of), you can add white chocolate, peanut butter, or even butterscotch chips.
• Sprinkles: Add your favorite type of sprinkles for a touch of color!
• Fruit: Like a little fruit with your chocolate? Any type of berry, especially strawberries and blueberries, would taste great in these brownies.
• Pretzels: Salty and sweet go together like peanut butter and jelly! Add crushed pretzels to the top of your brownies for the perfect flavor.
• Oreos: Love Oreos? Mash ’em up and sprinkle them on top! And yes, your brownies will still be vegan!
• Candy: Add your favorite candies like M&Ms or KitKats!
• Drizzle: Finally, take your presentation up a notch by coating your brownies with a tasty chocolate, peanut butter, or caramel drizzle.

Bonus: Serve up warm alongside your favorite vanilla ice cream for an extra satisfying treat!

Optional substitutions

You know how it goes. You read through a recipe, feel a craving coming on, and immediately head to your kitchen to give it a go, only to discover that you’re missing a key ingredient!

Well, in the case of these brownies, there are a number of swaps that will work. So before you head to the store, check this list for substitution options!

• Nut butter: I mentioned that I like to use almond or peanut butter, but any nut butter will work!
• Maple syrup: In place of maple syrup you can use molasses or honey. Start with a smaller measurement and add more as needed.
• Coconut oil: Missing coconut oil? That’s okay! You can use any similar baking oil.
• Cocoa powder: It may sound obvious, but you can actually use chocolate in place of cocoa powder. You’ll want to use 1 1/3 ounces of unsweetened chocolate for this recipe.

A healthier brownie treat

I always aim to make recipes as whole and healthy as possible, which is why I used a number of ingredient alternatives in these brownies.

First up, I used chickpeas! This ingredient serves as the base of this recipe and is a great way to fill the brownies with protein. They contribute to the texture and fudginess too. Plus, it tastes great.

I used coconut oil rather than vegetable or canola oil because it has a better nutritional makeup and is a slightly healthier option.

Next, I used almond flour in place of white all-purpose flour because it provides more nutrients and works so well in baked goods.

Finally, I used maple syrup to sweeten this recipe because it’s an all-natural option that tastes fantastic and doesn’t add any harsh chemicals or preservatives to the recipe!

How to store chickpea brownies

These chickpea treats can be kept in either the refrigerator or at room temperature. Just place them in a securely sealed container to prevent air from drying them out.

More chocolate desserts to ease your sweet tooth

There’s more chocolate where these brownies came from! And lots of it, to be honest. Here are some more of my favorite sweet recipes that do wonders for smashing those cravings!

• Healthy Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
• Walnut Stuffed Chocolate Covered Dates
• Healthy Chocolate Granola Recipe
• Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes (Gluten-Free)