Flourless, gluten-free chickpea blondies are chewy and delicious.
I love to bake, and I love chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), so coming up with a chickpea blondie recipe was a no-brainer for me. After a few tries on my part, my family gave this version of Gluten-Free Chickpea Blondies the thumbs up. My taste-testers and I think the blondies are delicious, and I’m happy that a chickpea blondie is a relatively healthy dessert!
In my opinion, blondies should be chewy, slightly gooey, and they should smack of brown sugar without being overly sweet. We like our gluten-free blondies with chocolate (we prefer just about everything with chocolate!) and some crunch, so I added chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.
Gluten-Free Chickpea Brownies use just nine everyday pantry ingredients.
Better-for-You Blondies with Benefits
I didn’t set out to make these chickpeas gluten-free, it just happened that way. I have nothing against any kind of flour, but I know that some people must avoid flour and other foods with gluten.
Chickpeas take the place of most of the flour in Gluten-Free Chickpea Blondies, but you can’t use them whole! You must blend them first so that they are smooth and creamy enough to enhance the chewiness of baked goods and spread their goodness throughout the batter.
Blended chickpeas contribute to the chewiness of baked goods.
Read: 26 Easy Recipes to Make with a Can of Chickpeas
I prefer foods with lots of benefits, even desserts. Why not get the biggest bang for your caloric buck from what you eat, even if it is a treat? One of these gluten-free chickpea blondies supplies many different nutrients, but these are stand-outs:
• 13% of your daily fiber for digestive health, and overall wellbeing
• 10% of your daily choline, necessary for every cell in your body and brain health
• 10% of daily vitamin E, which a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from damage
Chickpeas also provide phytonutrients, which are protective plant compounds. Eating plans that are rich in phytonutrients are associated with a lower risk for certain health conditions, including heart disease.
Stir the walnuts and chocolate chips in at the end.
Gluten-Free Chickpea Blondies
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup plain gluten-free oats, uncooked
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/3 cup gluten-free semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
- Place drained chickpeas and oil in large food processor. Process until smooth, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Add the eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla and process for another 45 seconds.
- Add the oats, baking powder, and salt and blend for another minute or so. (The oatmeal won't completely break down, and that's OK.)
- Stir the walnuts and chocolate chips into the batter and pour into the pan.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before cutting.
Notes
Recipe Variations for Gluten-Free Chickpea Blondies
I love it when readers swap ingredients to make a recipe their own. Here are some possible ingredient substitutions, and I’m sure you can come up with your own, too!
- Use white chocolate chips instead of dark or semisweet chocolate chips.
- Pump up the flavor with 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
- Swap walnuts for chopped hazelnuts or pecans.
Leave a note in the comments if you changed the recipe around to your liking!
Read: How to Make Ingredient Substitutions
Hi, I'm a registered dietitian, writer, recipe developer, and mother of three who specializes in food and nutrition communications and believes in progress, not perfection. If you're interested in easier ways to live a healthier life, you're in the right place. Welcome!