Dark Chocolate Chickpea Blondies
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Dark Chocolate Chickpea Blondies

May 30, 2018

These easy chickpea blondies are packed with protein, and SO delicious. No one will ever notice that they’re built on a base of legumes!

Did you know that canned chickpeas can be used as a substitute for flour in some recipes? I didn’t until about a month ago. Since then, I ‘ve whipped up this recipe maybe a dozen times. It’s that good.

Chickpeas & Your Health

Before I handover the recipe, I want to take a moment to give chickpeas the plug they deserve. Packed with protein, high fiber carbohydrate, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese (among other nutrients), chickpeas are a nutrition powerhouse.

Furthermore, studies indicate that incorporating chickpeas into you diet is helpful for [1]:

  • Blood glucose control;
  • Lowering cholesterol and blood pressure;
  • Weight management;
  • Protecting against colorectal cancer and;
  • Promoting digestive health

Chickpea Blondies: A Well-Kept Secret

Here it is. Embrace the cake-y, chocolate-y, high protein goodness of dark chocolate chickpea blondies. This is one of those recipes I make over and over again.

Stack of three chickpea blondie squares on parchment paper, on a black background.

Dark chocolate chickpea blondies: GF, DF, and vegan.

Dark Chocolate Chickpea Blondies

  • Author: Edwina Clark, MS, RD, CSSD
  • Yield: 9 squares 1x
  • Category: Baking, dairy-free, Dessert, gluten-free, pulses, vegan

Description

These easy chickpea blondies are packed with protein, and SO delicious. No one will ever notice that they’re built on a base of legumes!

Ingredients

  • 1 (15oz/425g) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1/3 cup almond butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips + 2 tbsp for the top
  • Coarse salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven at 350℉/180℃.
  2. Line a 8in x 8in (20cm x 20cm) tin with parchment paper.
  3. Add the chickpeas, almond butter, maple syrup, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla and egg to a food processor container or a high-powered blender. Pulse 5-10 times to break down the chickpeas, and then process on high until smooth.
  4. Gently mix the dark chocolate chips into the batter with a spatula.
  5. Pour the batter into the lined baking tin. Spread the batter with a spatula so you have one even layer covering the bottom of the tin.
  6. Sprinkle the batter with the remaining chocolate chips and a pinch of coarse salt.
  7. Insert the tin into the oven, and bake for 20-25 minutes until the batter no longer jiggles. Your blondies should be golden brown around the edges of the tin.
  8. Makes 9-12 squares.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 square

Salted dark chocolate chickpea brownies: Flourless, high protein and fiber-rich!

References:

[1] The Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Chickpeas and Hummus. Wallace TC, Murray R, Zelman KM. Nutrients. 2016 Nov 29;8(12). pii: E766. Review.