Chickpea Blondies

Healthy Chickpea Blondies have chunks of chocolate in every bite. This easy and healthy recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with protein. It can be made with almond flour or oat flour and can easily be made nut-free too!

A healthier blondie recipe

Gone are the days when every baked good had to be made with unhealthy ingredients. These days, there are so many healthier baking options, and that includes chickpeas!

Yep, these blondies are made with protein-packed, powerhouse chickpeas. Chickpea blondies are super moist and flavorful thanks to the chickpeas that contribute a soft, buttery texture. They don't have a strong flavor, so they're perfect for mixing with nut butter!

I think I ate ⅓ of the pan the first time I made them. Let me tell you... no regrets. Once you try them for yourself, you're going to wonder why you didn't start baking with chickpeas sooner!

If chickpeas aren't your thing, try these chickpea-free almond butter blondies instead!

What goes in chickpea blondies?

This chickpea blondies recipe comes together with a variety of healthier ingredients like nut butter, oat (or almond) flour, and maple syrup. They use very minimal ingredients, and they're vegan!

• Chickpeas: First, the blondies begin with 1 15 oz can of chickpeas. You can't beat buying them at the grocery store for 99 cents! Just drain and rinse before using, and then you can pop them into your food processor.
• Almond butter: ½ cup of almond butter is going to give the blondies that extra creamy and rich flavor. You can replace this with another nut butter if preferred. For nut-free blondies, you can use sunflower seed butter.
• Maple syrup: To add a sweet flavor, add ⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoon of maple syrup. This is one of my favorite natural sweeteners. It balances perfectly with the chickpeas to add a subtle flavor without being too overbearing!
• Vanilla: Vanilla is a must in baked goods, this dessert included! You'll need 1 tsp.
• Oat flour: Next up is flour. You can use gluten-free oat flour and you have the option to make it right at home! However, store-bought works just as well. If preferred, you can use almond flour instead. I've tested it both ways and achieved similar results!
• Cinnamon: Add a dash of flavor by including 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• Baking soda: To help the blondies achieve the right texture, we'll use ¼ teaspoon of baking soda.
• Baking powder: Follow that with baking powder. Use the same amount — ¼ tsp.
• Salt: Many are surprised to learn that salt makes a huge difference in baked goods! Don't forget it here. Use ¼ tsp.
• Chocolate chips: Last but not least, finish off these blondies with ½ cup of chocolate chips (feel free to add a bit extra if you love chocolate!).

Kitchen tools used to prepare and bake chickpea blondies

To make this recipe, you'll need a few kitchen tools and measuring cups. Below is what you should gather before you begin:

• 8x8 baking dish
• Nonstick spray (or butter or oil) to grease the dish
• Food processor
• Spatula
• Measuring cups: ¼ tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, ⅓ cup, and ½ cup

How to make vegan blondies

This chickpea dessert recipe comes together easily and quickly. I plan to make these pretty often in the future because they're so easy to whip up! You just add everything to a food processor, blend, and bake. They're just as tasty as brownies, and most are surprised to learn that they're made from chickpeas! They're that good.

Here's how it's done!

First, preheat the oven to 350°F so it can preheat while you prep the batter.

Grab a food processor and add the chickpeas, almond butter, vanilla, and maple syrup. Blend until smooth.

Once blended, add the oat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Blend again.

Once creamy and smooth, remove the lid and stir in the chocolate chips (don't process them). I take the blade out before this part.

Pour the batter into a greased 8x8 inch pan.

Bake for 22-24 minutes.

I mentioned a few of these when I covered the ingredients, but this recipe allows for a number of substitution options! If you're running low on a needed ingredient or simply prefer something different, here are your options.

Almond butter
Not a fan of almond butter? That's okay! You can use peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter.

Maple syrup
Maple syrup makes a wonderful all-natural alternative to regular granulated sugar, but it's not the only option. Feel free to use honey or molasses, both of which provide a naturally sweet flavor!

Oat flour
As mentioned above, you can replace oat flour with almond flour. Both create a nice blondie texture and taste great!

Chocolate chips
Though chocolate chips are a classic part of this recipe, you can mix it up by using white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or even butterscotch chips!

Personally, I think chickpea blondies are best when enjoyed fresh out of the oven! They're still nice and gooey on the inside and the flavor is just so good. I've been known to burn my mouth because I have no patience when it comes to fresh and warm baked goods! I also love to add a big scoop of vanilla icecream right on top.

If you wind up with leftovers, simply store them on the counter. You can wrap them in foil or place them in an airtight container, and they should keep for up to 5 days!

If you'd like to freeze them for later, simply transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2-3 months.

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment below and let me know how it was! Also tag @erinliveswhole on Instagram and use the hashtag #erinliveswhole so I can see it and feature you!

If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!

Craving some more sweet dessert options? Try one of these recipes! The Almond Butter Blondies are a always hit (and they're paleo!)

• Chickpea Brownies
• Paleo Almond Butter Blondies
• Easy Paleo Brownies
• Healthy Cadbury Egg Blondies