Made with a nutritious, yet straight-forward ingredient list, these super yummy Chickpea Blondies are a favorite dessert to share. The chickpeas blend right in, adding a nutritious base to the recipe that’s hard to taste!

chickpea-blondies-on-unicorn-plate.

Chickpea Blondies

I love a good kitchen challenge and using up pantry staples that have been lingering. So when I had the chance to figure out a dessert using a can of chickpeas, I was excited to take it on! These blondies come together in the food processor, are very satisfying (since they have a lot of beneficial fats and protein) and are just sweet enough for our taste buds.

These are so good eaten right out of the fridge with a glass of cold milk, so they are a regular dessert and snack in our house. They rank right up there with my Banana Brownies and Black Bean Brownie Bites as a favorite chocolate treat.

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Chickpea blondies ingredients on countertop.

Ingredients You Need

Here’s a look at what you’ll need to make this recipe so you know what to have on hand.

  • Chickpeas: Also called “garbanzo” beans, this provides the base of the blondie recipe. You’ll want to drain them and rinse them to avoid any salt and to remove the liquid that was in the can.
  • Very ripe banana: A very ripe banana, so one with brown spots, adds sweetness to this recipe and helps the batter hold together.
  • Unsweetened creamy peanut butter: I typically use store brand natural peanut butter in this recipe. The flavor isn’t all that noticeable in the mix. Use sunflower seed butter if needed to make these nut-free.
  • Maple syrup: You can use maple syrup or honey (for kids over age 1) to add a light touch of sweetness to this dessert recipe.
  • Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds an undertone of flavor to the blondies that works well in the mix of ingredients.
  • Baking soda: A small amount of fresh baking soda ensures that the blondies cook through with a soft, yet firm-enough-to-slice texture.
  • All-purpose flour: A small amount of flour gives the blondies structure and ensures that they hold together when they’re sliced.
  • Chocolate chips: We like to add mini chocolate chips to these for extra flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a peak at how to make this recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information including the timing and amounts.

how to make chickpea blondies step by step in grid of 4.
  1. Rinse and drain the chickpeas.
  2. Add to the food processor with the rest of the ingredients except the flour and chocolate chips. Grind well. Pulse in the flour and chocolate.
  3. Spread into a pan.
  4. Bake until golden around the edges and just firm.

TIP: I like to chop the chocolate chips or use mini ones so they are more evenly distributed throughout the batter, but you don’t have to do that if you don’t want to bother!

Can you taste the chickpeas in this recipe?

No, but I will say that they are best when you make sure to grind up the batter as smooth as possible for the best final texture.

Can I make these nut-free?

You can use sunflower seed butter instead of the peanut butter if you prefer.

chickpea-blondies-with-strawberries

How to Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I prefer them chilled, but they are fine at any temperature.

Best Tips for Success

  • Be sure to use a very ripe banana for the best flavor.
  • These are not super sweet, so add up to ¼ cup sugar to the batter if desired.
  • Use honey instead of maple syrup if needed.
  • Use almond butter or sunflower seed butter instead of the peanut butter.
  • Use a gluten-free cup for cup flour blend instead of all purpose if desired.
  • Make them nut-free with sunflower seed butter.

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chickpea-blondies-on-unicorn-plate

So Good Chickpea Blondies

These blondies are packed with just-sweet-enough flavor and nutrition.They are delicious chilled right out of the fridge with a glass of cold milk.
5 from 61 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 96kcal
Servings 12

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8×8-inch pan with nonstick spray.
  • Add the chickpeas to a colander to drain. Rinse with water. Drain.
  • Add to a food processor with the banana, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and baking soda. Grind on high to make a uniformly smooth batter. (It might take 15-30 seconds.)
  • Pulse in the flour and chocolate until just combined.
  • Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 24-26 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the top is firm to the touch.
  • Let cool fully in the pan and slice to serve.

Notes

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I prefer them chilled, but they are fine at any temperature.
  • Be sure to use a very ripe banana for the best flavor.
  • These are not super sweet. Add 2-4 tablespoons sugar to the batter if desired.
  • Use honey instead of maple syrup if needed.
  • Use almond butter or sunflower seed butter instead of the peanut butter.
  • Use a gluten-free cup for cup flour blend instead of all purpose if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 96kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 263mg, Potassium: 125mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 9IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Rate in the comments and tag @yummytoddlerfood on IG!

This post was first published January 2021.

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Comments

  1. Hi Amy,

    Thanks for all the great recipes, I don’t know what I’d do without you!

    Do you think it would work if I used raisins instead of choc chips?

    Thank you 🙂

    1. Hi- Sure, you can do that. The flavor and sweetness level will be different, but should work just fine!

  2. 5 stars
    These were great! My husband who has a big sweet tooth liked them, as did our 20 month old. I used whole wheat flour, no added sugar – will definitely be making again!

    1. Sure, just put into a freezer bag, remove as much air as you can, and seal. Thaw at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.

  3. 5 stars
    Everyone loved these, including my husband! I cooked the chickpeas in a pressure cooker and added a little cinnamon after blending everything. We’ll definitely make these again.

  4. 5 stars
    Just made these and they came out great! Actually made them for my birthday so that my 1.5 year old daughter could celebrate and enjoy a treat with us. So I used two 4” round cake pans. It turned out great! For anyone wondering, I used whole wheat flour instead of all purpose, and the texture was really nice and dense (in a good way). I also left out the chocolate chips and used cinnamon and cardamom instead. So delicious. Thanks for a great recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    I’m a big fan of most YTF recipes from Amy, but this one was so fantastic I was moved to leave a comment ?

    The whole family loved this one – our almost 2 year old was into it! My lactose intolerant husband was thrilled to have a “dessert” that he could really enjoy. And this busy momma loved a little treat for my afternoon pick me up. Also felt good knowing we are all getting a little protein in our treat with beans and peanut butter.

    I found the banana and peanut butter flavors the strongest A combo I like ☺️ I had some warm out of the oven (tasted like banana bread! It was also good cold out of the fridge like suggested in the post. YUM!

  6. 5 stars
    These were absolutely amazing! The whole family almost ate the entire pan including my very picky 2 year old. I did add 2 tablespoons of sugar. What a treat! Thank you for this recipe!

  7. 5 stars
    Love all of your recipes! These are SO good, and can’t believe my little one is ACTUALLY eating beans right now. We have eaten at least half the batch between the two of us.

    1. Hi! I’m not sure and cannellini beans are often moister than chickpeas. If you try it, you may want to add a little extra flour to make sure they aren’t too wet.

  8. These look great! Wondering if the banada flavour is strong and/or if it would be possible to leave out or substitute something for the banana? Thanks!

    1. You can’t taste it much (but if you’re super sensitive to the flavor you may notice it). I haven’t tried these any other way but mashed roasted sweet potato or applesauce are usually good alternatives to bananas in baked goods.

      1. How do you make it not become green?!!!? I once used chickpeas to make cookie dough and it turned green, and the same thing happened to this!

      2. I haven never had that happen or heard of it, but I’ll dig around to see if I can figure out a potential reason why. Must be some fluke chemical reaction. Will report back!

      3. If you are using sunflower butter that would cause it to turn green….sunflower butter reacts with baking soda and turns green in baked goods. Never heard of it with chick peas though.

      4. Yes, that is true. I also have never heard of it happening with chickpeas and didn’t see anything in a google search.