Chocolate Chickpea Blondies! Sink your teeth into these good gooey, good for you, decadent, chocolate brownies made with garbanzo beans.
This flourless chickpea blondies recipe is a brownie recipe you cannot live without! You will won't notice they're made with beans as they do not taste like beans in the slightest. They're light, gooey, chocolatey and everything your brownie dreams are made of!
Last week I spent half my days deleting food pictures. Way too many food pictures. When you're a food photographer, you end up with a random assortment of food pics.
Sometimes a food looks amazing in the moment then later I look at a picture of lettuce and think to myself, really? What was thinking I was gonna do with this?
What's even more troublesome, I have issues hitting the delete button. Like maybe, just maybe one day I'll need that random picture of lettuce. Can we say obsessed?
But we're not here to talk lettuce. We're here to talk blondies! As in, Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies! Chewy, gooey, decadent, nutty blondies, oozing with chocolate that melt in your mouth. Hungry yet? Oh you wait!
Click here to pin this recipe!
The original version of the recipe was published in 2014. The pictures were in serious need of a facelift though. I couldn't let them live on the way there were any longer.
The recipes is just too delicious! Made with a base of chickpeas, these goodies are a real nutritional powerhouse.
As in, real garbanzo beans packed with protein, fiber and 10% the daily value of iron in a single serving, and I'll gladly take all the iron I can get.
For those of you who've been around awhile, you know I've been mysteriously iron deficient for years. My recent labs showed it being in the tank again. Then last week I left the gym feeling weak, short of breath and disoriented.
I knew from past episodes it was low iron, but it was the worst I've had in well over a year. Even the guy was worried and stopped to check in on me during the day. Wasn't that nice?
So...I'm back to taking iron supplements regularly, but it's not my favorite thing because it messes with my stomach. I'd rather get it from food so I guess that means I'll have to sacrifice by eating more Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies.
Good thing I'm only sharing the recipe with you today 'cuz I'm not sure I'd be willing to give one of these babies to you in real life.
For real, they taste like a chocolate chip brownie only with cleaner ingredients. Maple syrup, nut butter, almond extract and of course, the mighty chickpea. Plus they're only 113 calories each. WOOT! Hand me two or three.
These are perfect for the person who needs to satisfy their sweet tooth but in a healthier way. Okay, I'm not sharing so you better run to the kitchen and get baking!
Chocolate Chickpea Blondies
Ingredients
- 15 ounce garbanzo beans rinsed & drained well*
- 1/2 cup peanut butter or any nut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips dairy free
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350 F. Prepare an 8x8 baking pan by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
- To a blender or food processor, add all ingredients except chocolate chips. Process on high until creamy and smooth. Fold chocolate chips into the batter by hand.
- Bake at 350 F 20-25 minutes until a toothpick can be inserted clean. Cool in the pan 30 minutes prior to slicing into 16 bars.
- Optionally drizzle the tops of he bars with melted chocolate and extra nut butter.**
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to one week.
Video
Notes
- I do not recommend substituting garbanzo bean flour for the chickpeas as the flavor is very bean-y.
- To make the drizzle, melt 1/4 cup chocolate chips with 1 teaspoon coconut oil. You can also drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of melted nut butter over the chocolate drizzle. Drizzle not included in the nutritional value.
Nutrition
Oh crutches are SO not fun!! I'm sorry. But on a side note, these brownies look decadent and I LOVE that they are healthy and paleo!! Can't wait to try them!
Hi Chrissa! Glad you love the brownies. They're delicious. In full disclosure, they are gluten free but not paleo.
It's been way too long since I've made chickpea anything. I love these healthier, protein-filled desserts!
I agree & they're so much more nutritious than flour based ones.
Your recipes are proof that you don't have to deprive yourself when you are gluten and dairy free. Thank you!! I am making these for a family that just took in 2 foster little ones along with a healthy pot roast dinner. Going to see if they can tell me the secret ingredient.
Um. yes. I'll take a batch, please! YUM!
Haha thanks Nicole, you will love them!
Wow I would never think of putting chickpeas in a brownie recipe. Very creative! Last pictures in my phone are of my dogs and of my running views from yesterday.
Hi Daisy! Yes, I am the queen of weird things that taste good & are good for you. I'm jealous of your running view. That is something I have missed a lot. I hope you're doing well sweet lady!
Loving this recipe! I don't eat brownies often, but they are always a tasty treat! Definitely saving this recipe to try!
You will love them Jannalle!
I need these brownies! Megan, they looks delicious. I have a bazillion bake with beans recipes pinned on pinterest but I've never actually tried one. You've inspired me!
Have a fantastic brownie lovin' weekend!
Hi Jill! You must get around to trying one. I actually like baking more with beans than flour.
Look yummy! The recipe says to use a muffin tin then cut them into squares. Can you explain that part? Excited to try these!!
It's corrected now. I obviously meant a baking pan. I'm not surprised I wrote muffin tin because I make a lot of muffins!
Just wanted to make sure that I got the pan size correct! I made these yesterday --- they are SO good and were kid-approved by my three daughters. Of course, I didn't disclose the "secret" ingredient. 😉 These are going to go into the lunchbox rotation this school year. Nice to have a little treat that gives them protein and iron during the school day. Great recipe.
Yeah!!! So glad you and your girls loved them. They're perfect take-a-long snack! Thanks for letting me know too. That made my day!
Chick peas are my favorite bean (pea?) hands down! These look delicious and I would certainly rather get my iron by eating these!
Me too! I love roasting them as a snack, but they are addicting!
Yummy! I've only made black bean brownies before, but these sound absolutely delicious!
These taste just like chocolate chip cookies. You will love them!
Yum! I think I might have to make these today 🙂
You will love them!
it's too hot to turn on oven too, ya know? rest up, our time will come.. BRING ON FALL! and i will make these. YUM!
Haha...I made them in the crockpot KIDDING! I made these in June in the early morning.
Mmmmm because beans and chocolate are NEVER something to be skeptical about 😉 Delish!
Thanks lovely!
Hey Megan! I have been reading (and enjoying) your blog for a while. My heart goes out to you with your recent health struggles. After years of being iron deficient, amennorheic, and being able to stay very thin despite eating gobs of candy/sugar daily, I found out at age 32 (six years ago) that I have Celiac disease. Your comment in this post about iron deficiency struck me. Also, low bone density and low estrogen can be very common with Celiac. Have you been tested? Of course, you have to be eating gluten when you are tested for the results to be accurate.
I have really struggled with body image these past few years as I have gained 30-35 pounds since going gluten free. I know I am more muscular and have stronger bones, but I also have more body fat than I would like. I eat gluten free and dairy free, weight train and train for triathlons, so the weight is hard! After being so thin for most of my life, I would like to find a happy medium. I ramble....
The brownies look great! Will make them this weekend!
Take care,
Carrie
Hi Carrie, I am so glad you commented and thank you for being a loyal reader! Five years ago I was tested for Celiac when I became iron deficient and it came back negative. I will email you further details as new things have happened which I have not discussed yet on the blog.
YES PLEASE
That is all.
Come on over!
Yup the food pictures are out of control in my phone! Going through them is ridiculous but at least most of them are easily deleted. Last three pictures are my breakfast, another picture of my breakfast, and a picture of scallions growing on my windowsill!
The brownies look yummy!
The pics are easy to delete, but mine replicate on my MAC because I have iCloud sharing. If I delete from the phone, they do not automatically delete from my computer and then they come back on my phone. It's really annoying! You have breakfast pictures on your phone? Never! I swear breakfast is what you're known for!