These Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Blondies are soft and yielding with a clear peanut butter and chocolate flavour. Naturally gluten free as well as being free of refined sugar, they are also suitable for anyone following a vegan diet.
This Vegan Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Blondies recipe produces a bake which is packed with flavour, so even if you're not needing to follow a free-from diet this vegan blondie recipe is definitely one to try.
Like many we love a good brownie recipe, soft, fudgey, rich and indulgent I'm sure you understand!
This foray into the world of brownies, is actually a blondies. and these Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Blondies, also happen to be vegan, naturally gluten free, not to mention being free of refined sugar!
A blondie (also known as a blonde brownie) is a rich, sweet dessert bar. It resembles the traditional chocolate brownie, but substitutes vanilla for the cocoa used in brownies, and contains brown sugar. ... Blondies often contain white or dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or other flavored chips.
Wickipedia
Not only are these vegan blondies incredibly easy to make, just like any other brownie / blondie recipe, they're also surprisingly nutritious, and best of all these squares are so very delicious.
Whilst sampling the first of, erm, 3 pieces (yes, they're that tasty), I was floating around the house wondering if it would be at all acceptable to hide these beauties from everyone!
They're pretty darn good as they are once cooled and portioned up. But, add a drizzle of chocolate and we take these blondies to a whole new level of tempting-ness. It's truly amazing what a little drizzle of chocolate does to a bake!
Having been made with the delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, I was confident that these brownies were going to be a hit. We're talking blondies which are soft, yielding, indulgent and satisfying flavoured with peanut butter and dark chocolate. Surely a win-win situation!
Pulses used in baking
The main ingredient in these vegan blondies is actually chickpeas. I must admit that using pulses in a bake does sound peculiar, but having been converted to their definite yumminess in brownies after using black beans in our black bean brownies with walnuts it seemed acceptable to use pulverised chickpeas in a blondie recipe.
I'm sure you wouldn't turn down a slice of these bad boys (or should that be good boys?!) if one was offered to you! They really are incredibly delicious. And trust me, once you've blended down the chickpeas for these blondies nobody, and I do mean nobody, will be any the wiser, with the flavour of chocolate and peanut butter coming through really well.
And if you were to try these Chickpea blondies, don't throw the drained the liquid away when you open the can. The liquid is amazing stuff, called aquafaba, which can be used an egg replacer, like with these vegan meringue kisses!
The great thing about using pulses in a brownie or blondie recipe is that they're naturally gluten free, not to mention packed with great nutrients.
7 Recipes which use Chickpeas.
Now, I must admit, if you're like me and purchase your chickpeas canned and ready to use you'll find that there will be a good half a tin left over after making the blondies. So, here are 6 chickpea recipes to provide inspiration to avoid the dreaded food waste.
- Pumpkin & Cauliflower Chickpea Korma from Foodie Quine
- Barley Bowl with Aubergine, Chickpeas & Tomatoes from Tin and Thyme
- Chickpea Kale Salad with Blood Orange and Pistachios from Veggielicious
- Falafel Sliders (mini burgers) from SneakyVeg
- Crockpot Arroz Sin Pollo from Sage & Simple
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Or get baking!
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Blondies
Equipment
- 20cm (8in) square shallow cake tin
- Food processor or stick blender
Ingredients
- 350 g (12oz) chickpeas drained weight
- 125 g (4oz) smooth peanut butter
- 50 g (2oz) panela sugar see notes below
- 5 tablespoon maple syrup
- 40 g (1½oz) oatmeal or porridge oats if relevant, check the pack to ensure they're gluten free
- 3 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1½ teaspoon almond extract
- small pinch salt
- 75 g (3oz)vegan dark chocolate
To Decorate
- 25-50 g (1 - 2oz) vegan dark chocolate optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190℃ (170℃ fan)/375°F/gas mark 5. Grease and line the tin.
- Place the 350g (12oz) drained chickpeas, 125g (4oz) smooth peanut butter, 50g (2oz) Panella sugar, 5 tablespoon maple syrup, 40g (1½oz) oatmeal, 3 tablespoon oil, 1½tsp almond extract and a pinch of salt into the food processor and blend until smooth and well combined. Or place in a deep-sided bowl and blend until smooth with a stick blender.
- Chop 75g (3oz) vegan chocolate into small pieces or use vegan choc chips and stir into the mixture.
- Spoon the brownie batter into the prepared tin and spread level. Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 minutes until the blondie has a nice crust but is still very slightly soft when prodded.
- Remove the blondie from the oven and allow to cool completely in the tin.
- To decorate, melt 25 - 50g (1- 2oz) dark vegan chocolate broken into small pieces in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Use a teaspoon to randomly drizzle the chocolate over the top of the blondie and allow to set.
- Slice into pieces to serve.
Saffron Toms says
Amazing recipe. So tasty, would definately make again!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
So pleased you like them, they have proved very popular.
Emily says
I'm in lock down and don't have maple syrup. Can golden syrup be used instead?
Jacqueline Bellefontaine says
I used maple syrup as I wanted the recipe to be free of refined sugars. Im sure golden syrup would work just as well, although I think it tastes a little sweeter so I would try just adding 4 tbsps instead of 5. You could also try replacing it with runny honey if you have any.
Kate Glutenfreealchemist says
Chickpeas?? No way! That's insane...... But they look so good! They HAVE to be tried! x
Midge @ Peachicks' Bakery says
OMG I would LOVE to eat a batch of these right now - I LOVE dark chocolate & peanut butter together and how I miss it! Off to find some seed butter instead to make me a safe batch!
Vicki Montague says
Goodness me these look absolutely delicious!
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
These blondies look so amazing! And after looking at them, I can certainly not tell that these are made with chickpeas! I am someone who is not easily convinced about using legumes in baking..But your amazing pictures are already making me think over trying these!
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
Ooooh Angela these look so good and I love how they also a healthier option. I love bakes like these so definitely need to have a go at making them. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Eb Gargano says
Wow - these look incredible!! Hard to believe they are free-from... and chickpeas??? Whatever will you think of next Mrs E?? 😉 Eb x
Corina Blum says
I love all your brownie recipes at the moment Angela! I just can't decide which of them to make! I definitely like to try healthier bakes and would love to make something with chickpeas in soon. The texture looks perfect too. Thanks for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice x
Kat BakingExplorer says
I've never tried chickpeas in bakes, but these brownies look fabulous so I can imagine their delicious!
Mandy says
These sound amazing Angela - can’t wait to try them! And thanks for linking to my recipes - really appreciate it x
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
These look so gorgeously moist and lush, simply irresistible! I think it's fantastic that you can make something so decadent and delicious using ingredients which are pretty good for you as it happens! Another one added to my list to make! 🙂 By the way, I do love your mini cake stand! It's gorgeous plus a perfect little photo prop! xx