Ok, ready for something life changing?

Baking with chickpeas instead of flour. That’s what’s life changing.

Maybe this concept isn’t breaking news to anyone else, but I still can’t get over the recipe that I made for the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Flourless Chocolate Chip Blondie Bars

Flourless Chocolate Chip Blondie Bars

Ingredients

  • Coconut oil cooking spray
  • 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup all natural almond butter (I use unsalted)
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, plus 2 tbsp for topping
  • Sea salt (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spray 8×8 pan with cooking spray (or line with parchment paper to avoid spray).
  3. Add all the ingredients except chocolate chips to a food processor, then process until batter is smooth.
  4. Fold in the 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
  5. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan, then sprinkle 2 tbsp of chocolate chips on top.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and edges are a tiny bit brown.
  7. Cool pan on wire rack for 20 minutes.
  8. If desired, sprinkle with sea salt, then cut into squares.

Flourless Chocolate Chip Blondie Bars2

I got this idea from my friend Dawn’s healthy eating party a couple of weeks ago. When I tasted them originally, I couldn’t believe that they had no flour, no butter, and no oil. And only the sugar content from the maple syrup and dark chocolate chips. Since I was pressed for time yesterday before heading to Cate and Joe’s for the game, I thought this would be the perfect recipe to make. All you have to do is throw everything into the food processor and mix the chocolate chips in afterwards. So easy, and they came out great. For those of you with almond allergies but OK with peanut butter, I think it would be fine to substitute.

I asked Tim if he had any comments to add about the bars, and he said, “UMM ridiculous.” We both just don’t understand how chickpeas can taste this delicious in a recipe! I felt like I was eating cookie dough. Yum.

-Let’s chat-
Have you ever baked with chickpeas before or am I the only one new to this world? What about garbanzo bean flour? This makes me curious to experiment with that too!
I would love recipe or baking suggestions! Did you bring anything fun to your Super Bowl get-together?

Tuesday class folks, I still have to plan a format for tonight. Any suggestions or requests?