Chickpea Blondies

My new friend (and registered nutritionist) Mary Pratt turned me on to these Chickpea Blondies during a Yoga retreat at Kripalu few weeks ago and I have to admit that I was bit skeptical when she described them to me.  I mean, they’re dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, AND they’re made with BEANS…so how could they possibly NOT be delicious, right, lol?

But delicious they are! OMG so good. And bonus: They take like no time to make and use items I normally have on hand so I can make them just about any time I’m craving a sweet treat (e.g. often). And I know what you’re thinking, “Almond Flour” is a weird ingredient that NO ONE has on hand, but that’s not true any more…even Walmart sells almond flour now, so do yourself a favor and pick up a few bags and stick them in the freezer like I do (or buy it on Amazon.com…add it to your shopping cart now for your next order). You can thank me later.

This chickpea blondies recipe is my new “Oh, I’ll bring desert!” pot-luck dinner standby for sure. So far, no one knows (or cares) that they are vegan or made with a bean base, and the plate always comes home empty. I’ve fooled them all! Print out this recipe and put it in your pocket because EVERYONE is going to ask for it (actually, just point them to this page, that’d be super-awesome of you!).

BTW, having type 2 diabetes does not mean having to give up everything sweet. 

It just means you have to be smart about it, that’s all. I’m not gonna lie, I have a wicked sweet tooth and I regularly go completely off the rails and overindulge. I’m only human, just like you, and my willpower often disappears, just like it does for everybody else. I’ll also admit that I have eaten an ENTIRE pan of these Chickpea Blondies in one afternoon. I can ‘emotional’ eat with the best of them. That being said, when I’m good (diet-wise), I’m VERY good, so when I get knocked off my “Whole Foods Plant-Based” game I don’t beat myself up over it, I just get back on track. These little nuggets of chickpea gold are packed with protein (almost 7 grams per serving), vitamins B2 and E, omega-6, contain zero cholesterol, and include zero trans fats. My point is, if you’re going to indulge, just make sure you’re eating real, natural foods to help better keep your blood sugar at acceptable levels. And if you happen to over-indulge, your body has an easier time bouncing back to normal if you eat real food. 

How to make Chickpea Blondies (5 Minute Prep Time)

It’s a no-brainer, seriously. Just mix everything (except the chocolate chips) in a food processor till smooth, mix in the chips by hand (save 2 tablespoons to sprinkle on top), pour into an 8x8 baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Let it cool for at least 20 minutes. Not that you need them, but detailed (and printable) instructions are listed below. 

AuthorMichael