So a blonde walks into a bar.
Or in this case, the blonde is the bar!
I’d tell you these are healthy.
But then, if you try them, you will think I am a liar and you will never believe another word I say. ‘Cause if you taste them, you will NOT believe these blondies are healthy!
Smart blondes do exist
Low in calories, rich in omega-3s, and gluten-free…
These might just be the smartest blondies in the world.
(Not to be confused with the World’s Healthiest Chocolate-Chip Cookies.)
For the past year, I’ve been seeing “black bean brownie” recipes popping up all over the blogworld. At first, I thought about joining in on the fun.
But if you remember my post about new dessert trends, you know I really enjoy putting a different, creative spin on old trends. Hmmm… now how to put a new spin on black bean brownies? The answer was so simple, even a blonde could have thought of it: White Bean Blondies!
After doing a quick google search, I discovered that my seemingly-new idea has, in fact, been done before by a few others. But my bean blondies are still completely different in that they contain no eggs and no flour! The resulting blondie is so moist and… fudge-y.
Genius Chocolate-Chip Blondies
(makes 15-20 squares)
- 1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained and rinsed) (250g after draining)
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- level 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar (See note below, for substitutions)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup ground flax or quick oats (20g)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (or other fat source) (see nutrition link below, for lower-cal options)
- optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips (Not “optional” if you’re CCK!)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients (except chips) until very smooth in a food processor (not a blender). Mix in chips, and scoop into a greased (or tinfoil-lined) 8×8 pan. Optional: for “prettiness” you can stick some chocolate chips on top of the batter as well. Bake for around 30 minutes. They’ll look a little undercooked when you take them out, but they firm up as they cool, and you don’t want them to get hard.
Sugar note: I also made a batch using stevia, which I thought were delicious! But my friends informed me they tasted like bars of soap. Therefore, I’ll keep making the stevia version, but just for myself… a tray of blondies all to oneself is never a bad thing! (Edit: commenters have had success with subbing some of the sugar for stevia, with xylitol, with evaporated cane juice, with banana, etc. Please feel free to try any of the ideas people have left in the comment section. But don’t be upset with me if the experiments don’t work out well. I can only vouch for the results if you make the recipe as written!)
Since the they have garbanzo beans, I could’ve called them “hummus blondies.”
But um, ewww? 
Like, totally!
Time for a serious discussion…
I have a sneaky suspicion that many so-called “dumb blondes” are not really as dumb as they seem. They just act dumb for attention and because they think guys think it’s cute. Sadly, it seems, they’re often right. Many guys are intimidated by smart girls and therefore find ditziness attractive.
Look at Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton. I’d argue that these girls are much smarter than their actions convey. Both have played up the dumb-blonde image in order to make names for themselves, and Jessica Simpson even scored contracts with Pizza Hut and Chicken of the Sea as direct results of dumb-blonde moments. (It’s not just blondes, either. Think of Snooki!)
Did you know any of these types of girls in high school? I remember the notorious dumb blonde in my high school once remarking, Wait, wood comes from trees? I thought they made wood in factories!” Yet, this girl was in accelerated math and English classes, as well as in the top 10% of the class. Something didn’t equate… or did it? After such statements as these, the boys always laughed. This girl was not dumb; she knew airhead remarks such as the above would win her popularity and romance. On the other hand, girls who are studious, eloquent, and assertive are often labeled as nerds (or worse).
On a much lighter note:
By popular request: Special Diet Recipes.
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I definitely agree some blondes definitely play up the “dumb blonde” for attention even if they are smart. I know that some people can just be really smart but lack common sense too.
A) These are amazing. You could just add cocoa powder and have a healthy PB brownie too!
B) I definitely agree the these famously dumb blondes are smart. They have to be to have made a fortune by being dumb!
Those girls in HS drove me nuts. My reunion is next month and I cannot wait to see what they’re doing now. Watch them be aerospace engineers or something. LOL!
Haha either that or divorced with ten kids from three different husbands and wrinkled from tanning beds (not that I’m judging. I went through the bad tanning bed phase in hs too embarrassingly enough).
Those blondies are really genius!! I love chickpeas, I love healthy sweets, so you really made my day:)
I´ve met many “not-that-bright” blonde girls, who were actually pretty clever, but they realized something I never got right – that men have a weak spot for naive, airheaded and a little dumb, but attractive girls. They make them feel more like the strong, protective huntsmen they want to be:)
You are a genius! I might make these today!
Me too!
These blondies sound really interesting – love the idea of using nut butter and chocolate in them! For your ‘Hug a Vegan Dessert’ post, do pancake recipes count?
Of course!
Quick question – do just throw in the can of drained/rinsed chickpeas or should I blend them up in the food processor first?
Thanks for the great recipe – on my “to bake” list this weekend.
I don’t bother blending them first. Just throw all the ingredients in at the same time and then blend
. But perhaps if you blend the chickpeas separately first, it’ll speed up the time it takes to get the mixture smooth? So really, you can do it either way!
Do you mean blend with a blender or hand mixer?
Mmmmmmmm!!! I’ve used chickpea flour in brownies but never chickpeas! I bet these are so much more moist. And uh, blondies have more fun! If I make them I’m calling them Lady GaGarbanzo Bean Blondies.
Oh my word LOL! I love your name!!
I’ve fallen into the ditzy trap…
I was always pretty smart but I was so insecure about it because it really set me apart from all my friends. I remember when we were just learning about exponents in school the question was what is 5 to the power of 2. Everyone wrote 10, except me who wrote 25 but I ended up being so shy about being the only one with the right answer that I erased it and wrote 10…….
And smart girls can be cute too!! I wish I knew that in 6th grade though!
Now that I’m more mature I’ve learned to embrace my brain
Did you ever try using Palm Sugar (coconut sugar) as a sugar substitute? I keep reading about the health benefits.
No, I haven’t tried it.
I used palm sugar today (and coconut butter instead of PB) and they turned out ready crumbly. Do they stay together better with brown sugar and PB… or stevia and PB?
I still don’t mind eating them though
Maybe the coconut butter made it crumbly? I’ve never tried them with palm sugar, so I don’t know
LOL at hummus blondies!!!
Katie, YOU’RE a genius, and I’m making these today!
AHH this is possibly one of my FAV recipes ever on CCK!!
YES i do know those dumb blondes… I can only think of one.. and Im actually really good friends with her and shes REALLY smart and An amazing person! idk why she acts dumb sometimes- it used to be worse!
I hate that stereotype! And I get so mad when girls perpetuate it by acting so dumb. I AM a blonde, and I’ve struggled to prove that we can be smart and to be taken seriously my WHOLE life!
Oh, and I agree with everyone else. These blondies are gorgeous and I am going to have to make them! And your photography gets better by the MINUTE!
Oooooh these look delicious… and they’re gluten free? Well, I’ll be making these then!
Katie,
Yummo! Now, you are talking my language! I will switch up a little (because of food/diet restrictions) and then be able to eat these! I’m sure that they are good!
I agree with Emily K. You are a genius!
I honestly can’t stand girls and women who behave that way. I have to argue though, that there are plenty of men who are looking for women of the same intellect level as them. Especially those who want a serious relationship, it’s no fun if you can’t discuss current events or world issues with your significant other! In my opinions at least.
Anyway, those blondies look great! I’m a little skeptical to be honest but I’m intrigued enough that I will probably make them! This is the same way I felt about cookie dough hummus and that turned out well.
No joke, I am making these RIGHT NOW!! I’ll tell you how much I love them in a bit…
Ooooo I hope you like them!!!!
Ohmygosh I LOVE them!! I’ve eaten sooo many already and they are YUMMY!! You are a GENIUS!!!!
Oh my gosh are you serious?! You already made them?!? How are you so incredible, Emma? Really, how? I am so excited you liked them! You made my Wednesday
.
N’awww you made MY Wednesday by creating these- they are SO delish!!
<3
I’ve called the “dumb blonde” act since it started. Especially when Jessica Simpson coined it. I’d think anyone that successful couldn’t be that dumb. However, as I’ve gone through my college career, I have noticed that legitimately bright people seem to be few and far between :/
Love your blog!
Aww thank you so much, Lauren!
Hmm… I’d debate if these “blonde moments” are put on. I have a PhD in Chemistry and I still sometimes find the simplest of tasks such as constructing coherent sentences, crossing roads and simple mental arithmetic a little tricky.
Brilliant recipe though – can’t wait to get out of the lab to try it!
These are delicious! I added a whole teaspoon of cinnamon to mine. I also found that the texture and flavor only get better after sitting out for a day (and up to three so far), especially if they seem underbaked at first. I tried modifying to make brownies, and accidentally overbaked them; definitely err on the side of underdone as Katie suggested.
I am in the same boat as you. I’m about to start a PhD in Biology but everyone always makes fun of how I talk. I’m always smashing sentences together or flipping nouns around or (worse yet) talking like I’m from Missour-ah.
I usually just tell people my brain works faster than my mouth.
I graduated from h.s. at age 16, and from college at age 20 with a double major, magna cum laude, and I am blond
Blonds arent always dumb.
But…Sometimes it helps to get ahead by playing a little dumb in life…I really dont want to learn how to change a tire, and I will act a bit dumb and someone will help me is my logic. But I could do this if I was brunette or red headed. Wouldnt matter.
Sometimes it DOES help to use our femininity, which is different than “dumb-ness” to get ahead (much to the chagrin of feminists) but life is a balancing act….with food, exercise, vegan or not, acting dumb or not…to each her own. You have to use whatcha got
Beans in baked goods. Now that’s a move I still havent jumped on board with! I made white choc blondies last week. But they were not, ahem, “healthy”
Haha oh Averie, I agree with you! People ask if I am a feminist, and I say that I’m not, because I really do love the fact that guys are “supposed” to be the ones to ask a girl out, and I like male chivalry, i.e. when they hold doors open, give you their coats… and it doesn’t hurt when they offer to pay!
Lol I like that too! You know the whole take-charge chivalrouse guy
I admit to sometimes having “dumb blonde” moments. And when I was younger I definitely did use my blondness to get attention. But I’m trying to learn that the types of guys who pay attention to my “dumbness” aren’t even the types of guys I WANT to attract!
Now those smart blondies of yours, I could really get on board with those. All I need are the flaxseeds, and I just put them on my grocery list!
These looks amazing! Have you ever thought about writing a cookbook?
There is a cookbook in the works
. I haven’t publicly announced it yet, but I’ve told so many people that it isn’t really a secret anymore. I am so bad at keeping a secret! 
WHAAAAAAAT aaaah I am so so so so so so so so excited EXCITED!!! I did NOT know this!! Seriously Katie I am actually bursting with excitement right now you have NO IDEA!! I think I need to lie down! AAAAAH SO EXCITING I can’t wait to hear more!!!
You are too sweet, Emma. Of course you will be getting a free copy. You’re my #1 taste-tester!!!
Aww you are SUCH a sweetie, but honestly you don’t need to because I want to pay and support you! You deserve it and you’re gonna be a MILLIONAIRE
I hate when girls dumb themselves down for guys. In the long run, it really does you no good. I totally agree that people like Jessica Simpson only put on an act with their so-called “dumbness”. Pretty brilliant ploy seeing how much she made off of it.
Those blondies look absolutely fantastic!!! Could they be made without the flax?? I have everything on hand except for that.
Maybe you could use flour in place of the flax? I’m not sure… but hey, if it doesn’t firm up you’ll still be left with a yummy gooey mess to devour! Let me know how it goes, if you do try it!
I’m. Making. These. They look and sound awesome, so I bet they are. Thanks AGAIN for another new recipe!
I’m a blonde myself – one of the studious ones, though I’ve never been labelled as “nerdy”, I’ve probably scared off a few guys with my previous, unfortunate dedication to school.
I did know a couple of “dumb blonde”-type girls in middle school that were quite sought after. I guess guys like to feel a certain superiority over their girlfriends/wives/significant other? I think there’ve been studies into that sort of thing, actually, haha! I’ve heard it can put a bit of strain on a relationship if the two involved aren’t on equal footing (in terms of education, income, whatever), though…
For me, Paris Hilton is a bona fide dumb blonde, though I’ve wondered about Jessica Simpson myself…
Oh my gosh, I cannot wait to try these!
Making these today! I HEART all your recipes, CCK!
Love the look of these blondies!
And chocolate chips are never “optional” — always required.
Fudgy HEALTHY blondies? Count me in. Saved. Bumped to the top of the To Make list. Will be made asap. Will likely try a stevia and a sugar version. Or maybe half and half?! I’m a little excited right now
I do think that some girls play up the “dumb blonde” thing and are much more clever than they come across. As a way to get attention, or maybe as a way to be more approachable in a sense, since smarts can definitely be intimidating and unfortunately a turn off to some? Some guys just don’t seem to want to tackle the intelligence challenge! But in those cases, they defintiely aren’t worth the time anyway. It’s sad that some girls feel the need to dumb themselves down to get attention. I’d like to think that that’s going a bit more by the wayside though, intelligence in women is receiving a much greater spotlight these days. Finally!
Just beware if you do a stevia version that not everyone will be a fan LOL. My friends spit them out! I was like, “Well, no more for you!”
Hey Katie!
these look amazing! How much stevia did you use in place of the brown sugar?
LOL I’m not giving out that recipe, because I was the ONLY one who liked it! Everyone else thought it was horrible!
Gotta make these tonight! I’ve been making the black bean brownies for awhile and why couldn’t I think of doing a white version? I’m blonde, but that can’t be it, ………..I guess I only think of any white bean as dip? Which reminds me, I’m almost out of hummus…and Fudge Babies….my, my, cooking in the kitchen tonight…..barefoot.
Thanks Katie!
these look awesome!
do you think i could use chickpea flour (mixed with water?) instead of garbanzo beans?
Maybe… I have no idea… but if you do try it let me know how it works! I really want to try subbing flour for the chickpeas in a future experiment.
i’m on it
ahhh I totally knew girls in high school who would play to the dumb blonde thing. But I think they’ve grown out of it. Thank goodness! It drives me crazy! We ladies need to be proud of our intelligence!
These blondies look AWESOME! I can’t wait to try this!
“Smart Blondes do Exist.” Like, amen! hahahhaa. These look absolutely amazing!
I am a “smart blonde” but lack common sense. Like I do some of the dumbest things/say some of the dumbest things ever but somehow I’ve made it 3 years into my premed degree haha. I do think some girls play it up.
Bahh those look so yummy!
Oh my goodness, I absolutely LOVE blondies, but absolutely hate how high in fat, calories, in sugar they are! I am already in love with this smart blonde recipe. Can’t wait to try it!
I’m not blonde, but I have my share of dumb blonde moments. Everybody does. For me, it’s usually an overabundance of booksmarts coupled with a lack of street smarts, but everyone has those moments where they don’t put two and two together.
Also, I love that my husband likes brainy girls. His biggest celebrity crushes are Ellen Page, Felicia Day and Emma Watson. He has a definite type I think.
Katie, I am so excited to try these! My friend made some chickpea blondies once and they were so good! The recipe is really similar to yours, except hers had jam in them. I can’t wait to try your blondies.
what to do if i don’t have flax?
I’ve never made them without flax. But as I told another commenter, I’d love to know the results if you do try something else (like subbing crushed oats or subbing flour).
just a thought, the flax may be partially there as a vegan egg substitute (as is often the case) – so i would try using another egg substitute in its place. or maybe a combo of egg substitute and flour?
Update: quick oats work fine… and a few commenters say wheat germ works, too.
Chick peas as an an ingredient.. what an awesome idea!!
Haha….I love the bean in dessert kick! So fun
And I also LOVE your new sugar-free diet tab
I like being blonde and proving any of those stereotypes wrong!
Any suggestions for using garbanzo bean flour instead of chickpeas?
As I told another commenter, I’ve never tried these with flour in place of the beans. But I want to! I want to try spelt flour or maybe even ww pastry. If you do try it with chickpea flour, I’d be VERY interested to know the results!
I think girls think its “Cute” to act dumb… that doesnt last long though!!
These look great Katie, as usual!
I am a blond, and believe me I have seen some dumb people in high school. Sadly enough, It wasn’t limited to just blonds. On girl (brunette) said that she thought turkey “came from the ground” like a plant, not that it was an animal. She was also in AP English. Umm, if your going to act dumb, at least say something halfway believable.
Oh yes, the “dumb blonde” in our grade was in my Honors classes with me. She just said dumb things to get attention. She said stuff like the “wood” thing you mentioned plus other annoying things! Hated it!
On a lighter note, these look DELICIOUS!
Can’t wait to make these!!
I’m new to following your blog and not only do I want to thank you for making HEALTHY DESSERTS HELLO! but….thank you for including nutritional stats. Not alot of blogs do that they just portion control eat and eat healthy but I still believe calories matter because thats how Ive been able to lose 50 pounds and keep it off, now I am 110 and feel great!
Thanks a gain love your desserts!
Aw you are so welcome!
These looks great! I can only hope Paris Hilton is only playing dumb.. And I don’t see why everyone doesn’t love nerds!
Honestly, I love nerds… maybe I’m weird, but intelligence attracts me! Like guys who know how to use proper grammar and use big SAT words without thinking (i.e. not just doing it to show off)? Way more impressive than a motorcycle
.
these blondies look terrific..chickpeas=brilliant!!
I hate how some guys are so intimidated by succesful smart women..this isnt the 17th century!
Can’t WAIT to make these!!!
Great recipes!
And by the way, I agree with you on dumb blondes not being dumb. Its a stereotype and I guess some people figure that they’ll be more popular if they live up to it……but really do they want to be known as the airhead for life?
Yum can’t wait to try these! About the “dumb blonde” thing, even though I am a brunette and booksmart I often speak without thinking so I can come across as kinda stupid even though I get As all the time. I don’t try to sound dumb so while I do think some people purposely act dumb for attention, not everyone does if you get me. Love all your recipes btw!
Thanks! And oh goodness I definitely think EVERYone can sound dumb sometimes… me included! I only get annoyed by the people who sound dumb and are pretending!
I completely know girls like this! It is one of those things that really gets on my nerves!
OMG these look so good!! I can’t wait to make them soon.
One of my friends plays up the dumb blonde stereotype. It’s so ridiculous that some guys find that cute, ugh!
DEFINITELY agree that some girls just act dumb for the attention! I worked with a girl who was, basically, the poster-child for “dumb-blonde” (or “dumb bleach-blonde”) and the guys loved her. It helped that she also had plenty in the chest department and was super skinny…
Katie you are amazing. I wouldn’t mind if you moved to san francisco and just baked me stuff all the time, haha. Eh, those type of girls followed me to college. I go to fashion school, and some girls are just dense.
I wouldn’t mind moving to San Fran either! And now I have an offer of a place to stay? Watch out; I might just take you up on this
.
These look delicious! I bet the stevia ones wouldn’t taste like soap to me.
As for the “dumb blonde” thing, I have to agree with you. I think people are more likely to want to be around you if you’re a bit dim, because there seems to be this notion that smarter people will just sit around and judge you and your wits.
As a brunette who is constantly reminded of how smart she is (or at least, how smart people perceive her to be) I do admit to having said some purposefully dumb things to get a laugh out of people. But it’s not as though I want attention; I just want people to loosen up around me! I was once told by my friends that I was intimidating because I act too old for my age and that they get nervous when they speak with me, so I try to… tone it down, I guess? But I’d never go so far as to claim that I thought wood came from trees unless I was being facetious! I happen to enjoy my intelligence and integrity; it just doesn’t hurt to show people once in a while that I’m not an automaton.
You have a good point! I guess it’s like so-called “pretty” people often marrying or dating not-so-pretty people. They don’t want to share the limelight. People are self-absorbed by nature, and therefore want to surround themselves with people who will make THEM look good. So if you’re around ditsy people… it makes you, yourself, seem smarter? Maybe? Hehe I’m not a psychology student; can ya tell?
I tried this recipe today but blending everything was a hassle since they are all dry ingredients. I added some rice milk in order to get the blender going. The result was pretty good, it tastes very good and I used stevia :p
I LOVE THE SOUNDS AND LOOKS OF THIS RECIPE! I look forward to making it. I might later in the day!
As a very smart blonde, uh-um! I can agree with you that there are most def some blondes out there who play with it. I Really cannot stand Jessica Simpson or Paris Hilton for that reason alone. But let’s take a look at the Kardashian’s… blah! Not blonde hair there but seriously the same behavior.
I am making this recipe this weekend – hands down! I am so excited
Thank you for sharing it! I certainly knew my share of ‘dumb blondes’, some which I felt were actually quite intellegent and others who…. well, you get what I mean 
I really want to try making these with just stevia. I saw above that you don’t want to give out that recipe, but I was just wondering if it changed he consistency a lot. I use liquid stevia extract so I’m not sure if it would be necessary to add something else to them for the missing sugar. Let me know what you think! Thanks!
Meghan
No clue lol. My stevia is dry. If you do try it, let me know what you did and how it worked!
Katie, Katie, where do you get your ideas? These looks totaly yummi, and i love that they are fudgey!
Haha, that girl in your class was smart! Boys seems to like us a little.. short
Those blondies look delish! I totally believe when you say they’re healthy.
I went to the same school as Snooki. So I don’t think she’s a product of her NY environment, lol. NJ must change everything.
I will definitely be trying these, is it possible they could be sweetened with brown rice syrup or would that be to mushy of a mixture?
I completely agree on your suspicion. Although I have met some people that can be a little slower(not dumb, but has those moments), but I’ve known girls with all different hair colors that are like that.
Hey Brandi! I would’ve thought it would be too mushy… but apparently a commenter after you said she did make it with liquid syrup (agave, if I remember correctly) and it was fine! If you do try it, let me know how it works out!
These look so yummy! I need to try these! I’m loving your recipes!
I just made muffins following your recipe! They were SO GOOD!
Here’s the post it’s in: http://freshfruition.com/2011/05/18/yoga-and-trader-joes-impressions/
yum! I do like blondies, but i made some the other day and they came out so yucky. i felt so bad for wasting all that perfectly good flour and brown sugar!!
ill have to try your version- gotta find flaxseed first!!
I can totally name a few girls like that at my school. They act stupid around guys to get attention, yet they are all in the Honors and AP classes. It’s totally weird.
As for these blondies…YUM! I haven’t gotten a chance to try out black bean brownies before, but when I do I’ll make sure to try these blondies too!
Ha…that rhymed! ^^^
These look so good! I’ve wanting to try baking something with beans, but I’ve been too scared. I totally am going to make these though!
As for the dumb blond thing, I think some people do act stupid and say stupid things just for attention. However, some people just say dumb things without realizing it. I’m not gonna lie I’ve say some pretty stupid things without thinking. For example, one day we were working on something in English class and I turn to my friend and ask “What’s that literary device where ya know you like picture an image in your head?” Friend: “you mean imagery (with an omgosh did you seriously just use the word image when trying to remember the word imagery look on her face)?!” We then both started laughing.
But, I guess the difference is if you do stuff like that all the time. Some people definitely do it for attention. Others just don’t think.
Maybe you could call them Yumb blond(ie)s?
We had a girl like that in HS too, of course. She was actually a brilliant writer, but acted as if she didn’t know the color of an orange.
I wonder what she’s up to these days.
These look delicious– and high protein, too! I’m not doing sugar or wheat right now, so I love that they don’t contain both. How much stevia did you use in place of brown sugar? I have no sweet tooth what so ever, so I can totally handle the “soap taste”
If a PB and chocolate tooth exists, then yes, I do 
I love blondies!! I also hate when girls dumb themselves down for guys…it’s so stupid. I wish girls would just be proud of how smart they are. You can be smart, pretty, and anything else you want to be and shouldn’t care how that makes you look to guys!
I think part of the dumb blonde thing is about making yourself unintimidating, on the idea that men don’t like a women who is smarter than them. Unfortunately that’s often true, but not always! The best guys think intelligence is hot.
i linked to this
http://stephanielives.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/cc-katies-blondies/
YUMMM
Aww thanks Steph
.
Wow these blondies look so yummy. I’ve never baked using chickpea flour before
I made these! I changed em just a bit and I AM HOOKED. Can’t stop! They took like 5 mins to whip up too. Thanks Katie!
xo
Oh my gosh, yay yay yay! So excited!
So honored you tried them!
Yum! I love you healthy desserts
I think Allie from Live Laugh Eat just posted a recipe for chickpea blondies as well…
I have chickpea flour in my pantry. But unfortunately I still have to wait to make these as I’m going out of town. Saw on Twitter there will be a Snickerdoodle version? Outrageous, will bookmark and make both versions. I’m so glad I found this blog!
Stevia is interesting. Personally, I also think it tastes like soap, but others I know can taste the sweetness in it.
Yes, there will be a snickerdoodle version… if I can stop eating the batter long enough to take a photo
.
This looks AMAZING. However, I’m wondering what the flax is being used for. Is it like a substitute for egg in this recipe?
Honestly, I added it in because I’d *just* bought flaxmeal for the first time and didn’t know how to use it… but I’d heard of people putting it in gluten-free baked goods a lot, and my batter seemed to need a little something to replace the flour I wasn’t using. I have no idea if it truly needs to be there, but it gives good omega threes to the blondies!
i saw your post yesterday about featuring other blogs; i don’t have a blog of my own, but i love creating my own vegetarian/vegan recipes and i whipped up something yesterday that was just too good not to share. i plan on having this for breakfast every day until. . . FOREVER! plus it’s super chocolatey, so i know that’s right up your alley!
3/4 to 1 c. plain unsweetened soymilk (i’m sure you could use any flavor)
1/2 banana
1/2 c. chocolate soy ice cream (again, i’m sure you could sub whatever kind you want)
1 T. peanut butter
1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 scoop (~15 g) plain soy protein powder
blend it all up in the blender, and try not to drink too fast!
i figure it’s all pretty healthy (even the soy ice cream isn’t THAT bad) and it clocks in at 400ish calories!
and these blondies look delish!
That sounds awesome, Kellie! And hey, just because you don’t have a blog doesn’t mean you can’t be featured. If you ever want to take a photo of your delicious breakfast, just email it to me and I’ll post it (along with a link to your comment so people can see your recipe).
In any case, thanks for sharing!
these are in the oven right now! I actually subbed a mix of maple syrup and brown rice syrup for the brown sugar. I will let you know how they turn out. Thanks Katie
Oooh do let me know how they worked… a lot of people have been asking if a liquid sweetener would work!
they came out great! I used about 2 T of brown rice syrup and about 1/4 cup maple syrup. They weren’t too sweet, just right. I also subbed creamy almond butter for the peanut butter. I might’ve added a little more than 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, though
Wow, I’m so excited they worked with the liquid sweetener and weren’t too gooey!!
These look so good! Question..do you think I could make these using garbanzo bean flour? I just bought some of the flour, but have no actual chickpeas lol. If I used flour instead do you think I would have to add more liquid?
Also, I saw in one of the comments above that you are writing a cookbook? I AM SO EXCITED. I love your blog, and my fiance always makes fun of me because I always tell him that I wish I could run into you when we go to Dallas! I started reading your blog when I first went vegan and was recovering from an eating disorder, and your spin on healthy eating is such an inspiration!
Aww aww your comment made me smile so much!
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I have run into readers before… usually it’s when my hair is at its messiest and I have zero makeup on
And I just saw above that you already answered my question about the flour..oops!
Another brilliant baked good from a brilliant baked good baker. Just sayin’
These look amazing! Can’t wait to try!
I made these today! AMAZING! I mixed them in my KitchenAid stand mixer and it’s crazy how with no real ‘wet’ ingredients it still ended up goopy moist batter. Mmm. I used a little less brown sugar than called for… next time I’ll try stevia! This recipe totally made my day.. thank you yet again Katie.
Your comment made MY day!
Lol I do have my moments of dumbness, but i’m far too competitive to intentionally act dumb
. I’ll def have to make blondies soon though 
These were sooooo good…I don’t think I’ll ever make regular blondies/brownies every again…
I’m so super-excited you made them!!!
Yee-haw! Another excuse to eat chickpeas!
YES YES YES Katie I love you more and more each day and I’ve never really met you. Why are you so brilliant!? I can’t wait to try these out!
I hate when people play dumb to get attention or to get what they want. It really drives me crazy! I don’t know many dumb blondes thankfully though, so I don’t have to deal with it!
We should remedy this. Let’s have a meet up. Bring chocolate!
Garbanzo beans are such an interesting ingredient! When I have some free time, I am planning on making some of your recipes! They are all so creative and look delicious!
Katie, those looks amazing…I’ve been eating lot’s of beans lately, and I’m just loving how versatile they can be!
You are so creative
You’re a freakin’ genius. Nuff said.
Hummus blondies! Haha! Love it! These look great Katie! I just saw Christin (from purplebirdblog) bake up some dessert hummus balls the other day and these look around the same lines! Can’t wait to give them a taste!
These look AH mazing! I love the protein boost from the booty beans (what I call chickpeas!!!)! And yes I totally know girls that act fake and change them selves just to fit in or impress a boy. It’s one thing that completely irritates me! Just be yourself people! You’ll be much better off if you do!
Just letting you know that i love your blog and all your awesome recipes!
Awww this made me smile so much!
Whenever a recipe says chocolate chips are optional, I take that to mean ‘double the amount’
LOL! Oh my goodness, did you go into my mind and read it?
Hey Katie! Is there another machine I can use instead of the blender?
Hey Jenna,
Do you mean like a food processor? This definitely would work in a food processor. You *might* be able to use a magic bullet… but it might not be powerful to get it smooth enough (and you’d have to do it in batches).
We made these tonight in a Magic bullet. We had to add some water to get it to blend, but they turned out so great!!! Thanks Katie for the fantastic recipe!!! I’m super-excited about the cookbook!!!!
Thank you so so much! And I’m so glad they actually can be made in a bullet… I kinda love that thing (ok, more than “kinda”). It’s so easy to clean!
I make mine in a magic bullet. I put all the “wet” ingredients together (beans, oil, vanilla) with one to two extra table spoons of almond milk. They come out really good. YUM.
I think a lot of the time men want a women who they can “take care” of, in a way. They can’t take care of an uber smart chick in the way they can kind of take care of the “dumb blonde” who needs them because the’re kind of ditzy, I think a lot of men want to be needed and they have some sort of manly instinct that makes them want to “take care” of the one their with (I don’t know if take care of is the right term, but I hope you know what I mean). Ditzy blonds, though, are also super cute, so it’s kind of a win win for the guy (they get to be the provider to the pretty girl). I know it’s harder for me to make a connection with most guys after telling them I’m in law school and whatever, but it’s much easier when I’m just the fun, blonde girl at the bar or wherever.
Okay, I guess I thought I’d get a short answer on twitter, haha. Can I use agave nectar in place of sugar? I really want to make these (and eat them) soon! Your recipes are the best and the photos are awesome…cookbook quality in my opinion
Haha I’m way too verbose for twitter! I haven’t tried this with a liquid sweetener, but I know that two people were trying it out yesterday. I am waiting for their responses on whether or not it worked, so I’m still not sure yet!
If you try it, let me know how it works!
Oh me gosh, you have me drooling everyday! I have to make these asap.
PS- love your writing style!You are just too cute and funny
Aww thanks!
This is genius! I can’t wait to try. Can you make these blondies using garbanzo bean flour? I bet they would be just as delicious.
Hey Sam!
As I told another commenter, I’ve never tried these with flour in place of the beans. But I want to! I want to try spelt flour or maybe even ww pastry. If you do try it with chickpea flour, I’d be VERY interested to know the results!
Katie, we are on the same wavelength!!! I made chickpea based cookies last week and posted the recipe… check out my baked dessert hummus balls!! Great minds think alike!
i’d be a complete fool if i didnt bookmark these! omg i wanted to tell you that i had a dream last night about your carrot cake in a bowl!! not kidding!!! its probably because i havent made it yet and its a sign that i need to…and clearly my brain hasn’t let that deliciousness go from its memory lol!
xoxo <3
Awww lol too funny! I wonder if we can actually taste things in dreams…
Oh….my….GOODNESS! I made these last night and let me tell you, it took all of the willpower I had not to eat every last bite! I was so nervous to taste one after they came out of the oven, but I should know by now that you wouldn’t endorse anything less than delicious! I’m taking them to my boyfriend’s totally-not-vegan family this weekend and am going to make them all try it because honestly, they are so good
Thank you Katie! Another winner for the books.
Odette! This comment made me sooooo happy! *happy dance*
I love making blondies but I never thought they could be healthy-ish! Thanks for the idea I am going to revamp my recepie
I made these as soon as I got home from work last night and OH MY GOSH they are amazing! I was out of flax, so I subbed in brown rice protein powder – LOVE! and used Barney Butter instead of peanut. Half the pan is gone… and I’m single… and live alone
Oh thank goodness… this makes me feel better about eating 1/3 of the pan of snickerdoodle ones I just made
. Life is short. Eat as many blondies as you can!
i couldn’t comment on your last post but had to tell you to totally go for snickerdoodle blondies or even BUTTERSCOTCH! mmmmm!
Mmmm if only I knew where to buy vegan butterscotch chips!
for everyone who didn’t have flax:
neither did i, so i used plain soy protein powder. i only used one 15 g scoop though (about 1/8 c.), and i also didn’t have an 8×8 pan on hand, so i spread my batter into a 9×13. they were thinner, but they still didn’t fill the whole pan. i baked for 20 mins instead, cause i didn’t want to burn them, and the end result was kind of like a warm melty blondie pudding that i spooned into a little bowl. i really enjoyed it, but then, if you use the full 1/4 c. of soy protein powder, and the correct pan & baking time, i’m sure they’d turn out just like the originals!
Awesome! Thanks for letting me know… a LOT of people have been wondering about the flax!
These look amazing! I can’t wait to try them with chickpeas I never thought of incorporating them into desserts. Very clever.
Wow, these look insanely delicious. I love blondies so much!
Do you think that almond butter work OK as a substitute for peanut as I’m intolerent?
xx
Yes!!
I know someone even used Barney Butter.
I just made these and I think they are going to be a favorite! The one thing that bothered me was the overpowering flavor left by the ground flax. Is that put in there for any reason than to up the healthiness factor? If I leave it out, should I sub in some flour?
Thanks for all your recipes and ideas. I love them.
Yes, maybe try subbing in flour… I just added them in for extra omega 3s and for something to bind. If you try it with flour, let me know what you think! Other ideas I had include crushed oats and protein powder (which two other people said works well).
I tried it with semi-ground oats and it worked out just fine. Ya know, getting an e-mail that said you had replied to my comment was kind of like getting an e-mail from a celebrity! Thank you for taking the time to give your input.
I made these tonight and they were excellent. Even my non-vegan friend had two.
This makes me so happy!
hi there katie! do you grind your own flax seeds or do you get them already ground? i have flax seeds in my supermarket but they’re the whole ones.
Hey Joanne!
I bought flaxmeal (so it’s already ground). I got a big bag for $3. But I don’t see why you can’t grind your own!!
thanks! they don’t sell flaxmeal here (aww) so i think i’ll grind my own <33
woowww Those look so good! Definitely saving these for my “to make” list! Thanks so much for the recipe!
I’m late to the party, but these do indeed look amazing!!
I made these at 11pm last night! haha I just posted about it! I used nunaturals vanilla stevia and loved them… mine were a little dry but almond milk helped
I just made these. Oh my YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, i totally agree with the blonde thing, I know a couple of blonde cheerleaders who are in pre-ap classes, but they act sooo stupid. And i want to say “youre not cute you’re just STUPID!”
i absolutely love chickpeas, and i’ve been drooling over these since you first posted the recipe. i just now got around to making them, and i thought they were a little too gooey and sweet… then i realized i forgot to add the ground flax. but i’ll definitely try again tomorrow. thanks for the recipe!
Also, if you don’t have flax, another reader said they work with crushed oats… and two have used protein powder!
Ok, I am almost the 200th person to tell you, but you’re a genius! My whole family loved these, and we’re not even vegans!
Thanks CCK!!!
AMAZING!! I’m a true blonde and truly addicted!
Also, instead of straight peanut butter, I used my own “Almond Butter Whip” (1 part almond butter to 1 part unsweetened vanilla almond milk whipped up in a food processor. 1/2 the fat and calories and simply glorious in anything you use it in!).
I made them with a little less than a 1/4 cup brown sugar and then 2 tsp. stevia powder. Sweet and didn’t take like chemicals
Next I’ll be trying the Snickerdoodle Blondies
Thanks for the amazing idea!
-Hawai’i Leah
Mmm your almond butter sounds yummy!
Just made these. They are INCEDIBLE!!!! I’m bringing them to a party tomorrow, but I’ve already eaten so much that now I have to make another batch!
Just made these and they smell amazing. In case you have anybody trying your recipes as part of a weight loss plan, I figured out the Weight Watchers points – an 8×8 pan if cut into 9 pieces are 6 points each and 4 points if you go small and cut into 12.
Next time I may try the almond butter idea, that sounds super yummy.
Thanks for what seems to be another amazing recipe.
Ooo I hope you like the taste as much as the smell hehe!
I actually think they are very tasty. My husband on the other hand used the word “weird” to describe the taste. I’ll be making them again, but they will be mine all mine.
Haha I have so many recipes like that… my friends don’t want any, so I get it all for myself. Muahahahaha
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Hi Katie! I made your blondies tonight. I used 1/4 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup maple syrup for the rest. They were great and had a wonderful maple flavor. My post with the full recap should be up tomorrow
Thanks for the wonderful recipe! Would it be alright with you if this was my featured post?
Aww yes ma’am, I’d be honored if it was your feature! So excited to see your post tomorrow!
Ohmygosh!!!!! These are INCREDIBLE!!!!!! Katie, you are absolutely amazing!
Finally got to try these blondies and all I can say is Yum Yum. I’m totally addicted, super-happy their healthy and even my kids are liking them. And yes, I did tell them what they were made of…. after they tried them first. These are going to be a permanent addition to my treat recipes. Keep ‘em coming, Katie.
Once I’m home I am dying to make these…you’ve done it again Katie!
Made them in individual casserole dishes and the husband loved them. They didn’t cook as well in the dishes, so he named them blondie pudding. He was SHOCKED when I said there were chickpeas in them
Blondie pudding sounds incredible! Ahh I want some!
I would be curious to hear what you used for the stevia version! I kinda would rather use stevia instead of 3/4 cup brown sugar. What measurements did you use?
I’m not going to list the amount I used because it’s a lot less than many people would find tasty, and I don’t want to mislead anyone. You’ll have to experiment to find an amount that tastes good to YOU
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These look amazing! I just put a tray of them in the oven! Only changes I made was adding a small handful of oats and subbing the brown sugar for coconut sugar!
They are for a 5yo birthday party, will update on how the kids like em!
(the chickpea’s are going to be my lil secret!
)
Aww!
They kids politely didn’t like them, but that was fine because the Dad and I scoffed them!
They had a slightly unusual texture, but I suspect it was my fault, so I will definately be trying these babies again!
I’m making these right now for the first time! I’m just subbing chia for the flax because my flax seeds are whole and they won’t grind in my processor!
Ooh let me know how it works with the chia… I know another girl said it worked well for her… I really want to try it!
Made these tonight! I had to add a little hemp milk to get the batter smooth, but they taste awesome! I used stevia, and I like the soap taste.
I can’t believe that chickpeas turn into floury goodness!
Haha I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I made these the other night and they turned out great, though I overcooked them a bit. I didn’t tell my husband what was in them, and he loved them!
Next time I’m using chocolate peanut butter!
Kind of made these, haha. I only had 1/2 cup of white beans (leftovers) so I reduced everything so the proportions were still correct. Didn’t use nut butter or apple sauce because I didn’t have any, but I added some veg oil. And then I cooked them in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes on 50% power. It (because I didn’t want to share) came out really well in the microwave. It was fluffy… which I don’t think was the goal, but regardless it was a tasty sugary treat.
I never thought to cook them in the microwave!
They need some work when you try to cook them that way, haha… But better than heating up an oven in 80 degree weather!
You’ve got it!
(About both your blondies (mmmm) and your blond theories) Being blond myself, I will attest.
I’ve been there and done that. But I stopped the first year of high-school. The boy that I had a crush on had a crush on my A+ brunette best friend. And that’s probably the reason why I liked him, because he was deep. He liked her for who she was. Long-story short, she did not like him in return (I still can’t get over it, it would have been perfect), I embraced my nerdy, perfectionist, creative ways, we became friends, I outgrew my crush & we all live happily.
Although my blond hair is not as blond, I’ll always be thankful for him. For inspiring me to embrace being myself. Because there’s no better feeling in the world than when you are completely honest with someone about who you are, and they like you anyways <3
But then again, whether you label someone "dumb" or "smart" all depends on what you want out of life.
Thanks again, your recipes are awesome
Mmmmm I made these again with coconut butter and reduced the sugar by a couple tablespoons. SO delicious! They came out a bit drier than they did when I used peanut butter but they also held up better. I really really really like them.
PS, your blog has really helped me in recovering from my eating disorder
I don’t count calories anymore (or at least I try not to…some numbers are just programmed into my brain), I don’t feel as guilty about food, and I think overall I’m making better and healthier choices. So thank you, Katie 
Wow, thank YOU, Elise, for such a meaningful comment. It really made me smile. And I want to try these with coconut butter so much… and now I’ve run out of peanut butter (horrors!), so I might just have to do that soon
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OMG I finally got around to making your blondies and they are AMAZING! I am totally in love. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Love in the form of a baked good! I can’t believe this is good for you!
Oh, and neither can anyone who I served it to!
I’m making these again Monday and bringing them to a Memorial Day party. Wish me luck!
Hi Katie! I just made the blondies and I feel like they have a weird taste to them. I think that it is because of the dairy free chocolate chips that I used. Could you maybe do a post about vegan chocolate chip options and what your favorites are? Pretty please!
For me, I usually use unsweetened ghirardelli discs. But when I’m baking and others will be eating what I make too, I use Whole Foods brand or Enjoy Life mini chips… of course, if you don’t like the vegan chocolate chips your local store sells, you can always buy a vegan chocolate BAR and cut it up into pieces!
Also, I recently got a pingback and was reading the girl’s post… turns out, she says ghirardelli semi-sweet choc chips are vegan: http://veronicascornucopia.com/2011/05/23/vegan-dark-chocolate-cake-pops/
I just made these! I made them a little different but I just had one straight out of the oven and it was really nice!
I used mostly apples instead of peanut butter (didn’t have apple sauce so just sliced an apple and softened it in the microwave before blending into the mix), with just one spoon of peanut butter. I used rice flour instead of flax and added lots of cocoa rather than chocolate chips – I know it’s weird but I don’t like chocolate chips! it’s just not the same as making the whole thing chocolatey! so I guess they were more like light-brownies than blondies…
they only needed 30 minutes in my ridiculously hot oven, in fact they were starting to look burnt on top by then! luckily they don’t taste burnt. they are VERY fudgey on the inside! anyway enough talk, I’m gonna go get another one!
No chocolate chips? LOL well, as long as you like chocolate
… your brownie version sounds really yummy!
Oh. my. gosh. Just made these.. they are HEAVEN!! I used oat bran instead of ground flax. and used applesauce instead of natural pb. Next time I think I might include the pb!
Oh my goodness! So I just made these today and they were deliciousssssss. These were my sister’s exact words: “These are better than regular cookies!”
Congrats on another great recipe!
Just made my second batch and they came out even better than the first!
Here’s a lil pic of my effort!
file:///C:/Users/Bella/Pictures/2011-06-01/168.JPG
Hey Bella! Unfortunately, your link doesn’t work for me… maybe because I’m not authorized to view the photo or something? But I’m so so excited you made them!
Oh rats! I’m such a computer idiot! Without photo evidence I still promise they were yummy!!
I made these and the snickerdoodle blondies and they were both SOOOO delicious! I subbed stevia for part of the brown sugar, and it was fantastic. I literally ate about 1/3 of the pan yesterday – though to be fair, not in one sitting
Thanks for another great recipe!
Do you think these would work with white beans instead of chickpeas?
Just kidding…I just saw your note on the recipe!
My blondies are in the oven as we speak (type)!!
So I made these last night and they are PERFECT. I have already eaten about half the pan. SOOOO moist and delicious. Thanks Katie!
-KT
Thank YOU for trying them! It really makes me happy when people try my recipes!!
Those look amazing.
I have a gigantic can of garbanzo beans that I was going to make hummus with, but buying it at the store is so much easier. They may be destined for blondies now!
Also, I’m a brunette, but I’ve had so many blonde moments that people used to accuse me of having blonde roots…
cck,do you know if I can a sub another sweetener in place of the brown sugar {i dont have any}was thinking of using a syrup type liquid sweetener but dont know how much to use without screwing up the recipe.thanks!
Hey Beccah,
Other readers have used agave or maple syrup and been just fine! I would’ve thought they’d be too gooey, but apparently it works. I think they just use the same amount. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
(Oh, you can also sub white sugar)
nope,i just added 1/2 c of soy milk to the batter to thin it out a bit i actually use pancake syrup {ys its unhealthy} b/c we dont have maple and honey is expensive and i thought molasses wouldnt be sweet enough. lol tastes the same as maple,ended up using 1/3 c.they smell amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!youre a genius.
Ooh I hope you love them!
i made these as 24 minis using a mini muffin tin!
substitutions i made:
- protein powder instead of flax
- 1/2 cup brown sugar plus 1 tbsp stevia instead of all brown sugar
- 2 tbsp pb plus 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce instead of all pb
worked great!
mine turned out more like very soft choc chip cookies instead of gooey blondies, totally delicious!
my dad who doesn’t like chickpeas couldn’t even tell they were in there!
Oh my gosh, I just made mini muffins a few days ago, too! I love your idea to add protein powder!
oh dear.
i just ate … pretty much the entire batch, save for 3 small square that i have to give to some friends whom i promised. but… WHOOPS!
they were delicious
Thanks for the blondie recipe! I used white kidney beans instead. Then substituted 1/4 cup agave and used carob chips. I then topped it off with a thin layer of “chocolate frosting”… (which is equal parts of maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder)… cut them into small pieces, wrapped up individually and put them into the freezer. When I get a cakey chocolate craving, I grab one from the freezer and it satisfies my cravings… My husband doesn’t like them, so that means more for me!
“More for me” is always a good thing
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First of all I LOVE chickpeas, probably more than I should. So I couldn’t wait to try these. I finally got some chocolate chips and then it had to be done. I followed your recipe pretty closely accepted I only used half the sugar and found they were sweet enough. These were so good. I may have eaten them all in like two days. Oops. Mine dissent quite look. As great as yours but they aure tasted great. I also only got 12 servings out of it. Not sure how you could 20 (bite size blondes???).
Hmmm… I think I get 16 when I make them… something like that. It’s always hard to tell because people cut different sizes. So glad you liked them!
Just put these in the oven, hoping everyone likes them! If not I’ll just “have” to eat them all myself! Made quite a small batch anyway as the batter was so good I couldn’t stop eating it off the spoon!! Yum, thanks Katie, fantastic recipe yet again!
Love these & I don’t even like chickpeas, have made them twice. 1st time with the brown sugar and 2nd time with 2 TBSP of brown rice syrup & a little liquid stevia. I didn’t think I’d like it this 2nd time b/c I could taste the stevia in the uncooked version, but once cooked I liked it just as well. My kids loved them too. I’m eager to try some of your other recipes!
Aww! I’m so excited y’all liked them!
I just tried these and might be in love! I have a sweet tooth, so I may add a little more sugar next time, but these are delicious! I’m not vegan, but I love eating healthy. Your recipes seem so exciting because they are real foods, not imitation foods. Thanks for all your hard work. This 40-something loves learning from a 20-something, it makes me feel hip!
Aww
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Some of the best advice I ever got came last year, from a 14-year-old! I guess different generations have such different experiences that we can all teach each other!
Hey Katie,
You’re right, these ARE genius, that’s for sure! I made them for a friend’s birthday, she is newly vegan and I knew she would just love vegan blondies. I didn’t expect them to be this good! I mean, I trust you, but they’re AMAZING.
I didn’t have flax so I ground some oats and subbed 1/4 cup for the flax. They were perfect. I experimented with some changes in a second batch and will post the recipe on my blog next week. And of course I will sing your praises and link back.
)
Thanks for the great recipe!
Aly
Weird, awkward smiley up there?!
Aw so excited y’all liked them!
I just made these, the boyfriend wanted something sweet, but I accidently put dark brown sugar in so they’re not really blonde anymore!! I haven’t tried them yet but I’ll let you know if I haven’t ruined them!
Dirty blondies?
I AM FINALLY GETTING A CHANCE TO MAKE THESE.
My friends are coming around on Sunday, and as three are vegan I’m getting my vegan on. I am determined that these will be the thing people remember.
I just have a few questions if that’s okay?
What kind of peanut butter do you use, smooth or crunchy?
This is going to make me sound ridiculous… I’ve never even heard of ground flax. I’m from the UK, maybe that’s it? *is ashamed* Is it like flaxseed? If I sub it with flour, do you think I could use gluten free (possible coeliac friend)?
Again, being British and annoying… what’s the difference between baking powder and soda? Is baking soda bicarbonate of soda?
Thank you if you reply- I am realy excited to make this recipe. HURRY UP AND BE SATURDAY, I WANT TO BAKE.
xxx
Hey girl!
I use smooth pb (make sure it’s not unsalted). Flaxmeal is just ground flaxseeds, but you can sub quick oats (if you use gluten-free oats or flaxmeal, the bars are gluten-free). And the recipe calls for BOTH baking soda and baking powder, so you’ll need to use both. Bicarbonate of soda is baking soda. Happy baking!
Woooo I’m making these tomorrow! I bought smooth unsalted peanut butter, ground flaxseed and both of the baking things.
Although there is one slightly odd thing I’m doing- using carob chips instead of chocolate? Have you ever tried carob? Will it work? If they’re disgusting I’ll bin them and chop up dark divine chocolate instead, but I’ve had carob-y stuff before and it seemed okay.
I AM ACTUALLY SO EXCITED. xx
I’m sure carob chips will work fine in the recipe… if you like the taste of carob, you’ll be fine. So, taste the chips first.
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I have tried carob… it’s ok, but not as good as chocolate
*UPDATE*
Mine look absolutely nothing like yours
Well okay, they do a bit- I think they’re darker because of the peanut butter I used. Plus I had to alternate between a stick blender and a liquidiser (-.-) because of our lack of equipment :L
However, the fact that they taste absolutely amazing makes up for it. My parents who are devoted to meat and equate vegan food with grass made me take the tray away so they would stop eating them. I am so happy- having one for dessert tonight and am looking forward to it!
You are a genius Katie, hehe. I keep meaning to ask- on average, how many ‘goes’ does it take you to reach a final product? Do you end up with fifty batches of cookies sitting around or do you just do it once and go “Damn, I like that a LOT”?
Thank you for the amazing recipe! xx
Oh it definitely depends! I think these blondies came together on the first try, as well as the cookie pie and snickerdoodle blondies and dips. Same for the single-serving cupcakes… but the healthy chocolate chip cookies took three or four tries, and the brownies took about a million!
Usully I can get it in two: I’ll taste the first batch and say, “This needs ______ and _____ to taste good.” Then, for the second batch, I’ll add those
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This is exactly right Katie! Girls do that when they think people expect them to act dumb. It’s like they’re afraid to sound as intelligent as they really are. I’m on vacation and came across your website through stumble upon. I can’t WAIT to try all your recipes. I’m always trying to make healthy choices. You are too cute!
I’m so glad you found me, Ali!
Chocolate hugs!!
I just made these using whole wheat flour and they turned out wonderful! I can definitely taste the nutty-ness of the whole wheat but I love it! Thanks for a great recipe! I’m gonna go cut myself another BIG piece!
Question: How do you do your nutritional information calculations? I have used Spark People’s recipe calculator but I feel like it is not accurate most of the time….any suggestions?
LOL sorry I can’t be more helpful… but I just use the old fashioned calculator! I don’t have a special website or software.
I made these and the raw dough was so delicious I couldnt stop eating it, yummm!!!!
I didn’t believe it until I tasted one for myself. These are AMAZING!!!!
You cannot taste the beans at all. I have had black bean brownies before, and they were horrible. But these are SO good!
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now, and finally had a free weekend to bake! I made these and the snickerdoodles right in a row so I don’t have to wash my food processor twice- I loved them both! There is no way these are going to last around here, so I’ll have to make a double batch of each again!
So so so happy you liked them so much!
Just ate one hot out of the oven! DELICIOUS!
Thanks Katie!
Thank YOU for trying them!!!
I just made these tonight and they taste delicious! Thanks for the great recipe Katie. I used coconut sugar and they came out perfect.
As for blondes I was one (my hair has grown darker over the years) and I never acted dumb to get attention; many people assumed I was dumb because of my hair color. Starting in middle school, into high school, college and and even into law school dumb blonde jokes followed me. Eventually I started dying my hair darker. I recall quite vividly in law school a male classmate who I didn’t know very well knocking on my head and shouting “Hey blondie anything in there?”. It’s a relief now that my hair is darker. I’m also a feminist and feminism has nothing to do with men holding doors open for you or changing tires. Feminism is simply the radical notion that women and men are equal. My very smart blonde boyfriend holds doors open for me all the time. That’s just consideration.
Well, in that case I guess I am a feminist too!
I was just mixed up about the definition. But I definitely think we are equal! Well, maybe not equal (because equal means “the same”), but CERTAINLY deserving of equal rights and opportunities!
First off, I tried this recipe- I’m not that accustomed to healthified desserts, so it was new and it was shockingly tasty! Thank you! One thing is that it was a bit too bean-y for my taste (maybe it was the texture?). I was wondering if it’s possible to change the chickpea to pb ratio? I’m a peanut butter lover so if I were to halve the recipe but lower the amount of chickpeas and keep the 1/4 cup peanut butter would there be a difference?
x
No idea… the only way to find out is to experiment! Let me know how it turns out if you do try it!
mmmm YUM! these just finished cooling and I ate one and it was so delish, seriously. i subbed the flax with ground up soy nuts and the peanut butter with like 1/2 a cup of apple sauce. I also used a 6-cup muffin tray and 1 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla. i already ate one entire muffin lol! thanks so much for this!
oh yeah and i cooked it for the same amount of time you suggested and they are so melt in your mouth and soft
plus it’s around 176 calories for an entire muffin!
I am so so happy you like them!!
OMG these are delicious! I made them a little while ago and absolutely loved them! I had my parents taste them and they couldn’t even tell beans were in there : ) Thanks so much for this delicious recipe!!
Thank YOU for trying it… and for taking the time to write such a sweet comment!
I made these blondies yesterday, and I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical about putting chickpeas in a dessert, but this recipe is amazing! I couldn’t even taste the beans, If I lived alone I would have eaten the entire pan!
Thanks so much for all the great recipes!
I was definitely skeptical too, when I first heard the idea of black-bean brownies! Skeptical… but intrigued at the same time!
I made these with peanut butter & co’s “dark chocolate dreams” pb, added some coco powder and espresso powder. plus the chocolate chips! these are definitely so dense and fudgey, nobody can even tell that theyre made with peas!! thank you so much for the recipe, i love your site!!
Aww thank YOU so much, Katrina. I love your triple-chocolate idea!!
I finally made this recipe! It was awesome (except I blew the fuse with my blender, grr).
I used some splenda instead of the brown sugar.
Next time I will try adding some cinnamon.
I made 12 squares and already ate 3. yummmmm
I’m so happy you liked them! But not so happy about the poor blender… send him my get-well wishes
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These are soo good! I put pictures of the ones I made on my blog!!
Hi Katie —
I was looking for a new vegan bean-based dessert and this is it! I’m having made these several times in the last two weeks. I made some adjustments (a little more of something, less of something else) and used sun butter instead of peanut butter to accommodate for nut allergies. May I link your recipe to my food allergies blog?
Hey Irene! I would be honored
Thanks, Katie! I’ll come back and share the link after I’ve posted later this month. Hope you’re having a good week.
Hi Katie!
Love these blondies! I’ve got my beans ready for making another batch this weekend. I made a giant-size version — not a single-lady serving but a hungry mama and brood version LOL. I made a couple of tweaks (personal preference) and posted about it on our blog. http://getallergywise.blogspot.com/2011/09/garblondie-bars.html
Thanks again for introducing this terrific recipe!
Am I missing something? Isn’t chocolate NOT vegan?
Oh goodness, chocolate is DEFINITELY vegan!!! Some brands aren’t, because they are milk chocolate. But many dark chocolate bars (including some Ritter or Ghirardelli bars, Endangered Species brand, and many many many others) are vegan, and they even have ricemilk chocolate bars. And they make vegan chocolate chips too. And cocoa powder is vegan. Chocolate is definitely vegan
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I made these using navy beans instead of garbanzo beans and they were excellent! Thank you so much!
Katie -
You’re a genius! I recently discovered your site and have made a new dessert each week.
I tried these using cannellini beans. They were delicious at first, but had a slightly bitter aftertaste. It didn’t stop from eating the whole pan:)
I’ll try them chick peas next time….
Aww! I’m so glad you found me
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Made these today and have already eaten my portion of the pan! Yum! I used navy beans, half brown sugar/half stevia in the raw, almond butter and doubled the chocolate chips.
My dad even liked them and he normally abhors my healthy food. I wouldn’t tell him what they were made with until after he tried them and he couldn’t believe they were made with beans! But he did say “They taste like chocolate chip cookies into which someone put too many chocolate chips.” Such heresy!
LOLOL!! Too many chocolate chips? No such thing! I love that you doubled the amount. Tell your dad he raised a smart girl
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Such a fan, Katie! I’d buy up a cookbook of yours in a heartbeat. This is my first comment on any recipe blog, which I discovered the wonders of thanks to foodgawker, and I just wanted to say these are divine! I’m also eating one of your fudgsicles while I type
My poor blender couldn’t handle the beans so an egg beater and a little determination got the job done. No way I was quitting on these delicious things lol. I also used 30g of wholemeal flour instead of flax seed meal and they turned out perfectly delicious. Every night I make some healthy dessert, usually from CCK, and get to shock my family with the secret ingredients hahaha. (“Chick peas? In these? That’s so gross… pass me another one!”)
Wow, Laurel, that pretty much is one of the most meaningful comments ever! The fact that you’ve never commented on a blog before, but took the time to do so here, means SO much to me. I can’t even tell you how much! Thank you
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Hi Katie, I have been making your fudge babies and absolutely love them. Im now off to make some more of your delish recipes. My only question is are there any plans on providing the nutritional content for these recipes? I know they are all natural and fab ingredients but one who is watching her waist line (and suger levels) wants to know HOW much of a good thing I can have..hehe Also In some recipeswhere you have suger can one substitute dates for them? Thanks so much Im loving your blog.
I’m confused… most of my recipes (especially the more-recent ones) already have the nutritional info listed.
I’m sure you can substitute dates for sugar in some recipes. I think it depends on the recipe, and you’ll have to experiment.
Hey Katie,
You’ve seriously just saved my morning! I’m procrastinating studying for an exam tomorrow, it’s only 9.40am and I’ve already cooked and eaten 1/4 of these blondies. So good! I’d never have thought of using chickpeas as a base, you’re a fricken genius.
Jess
LOL! Eating baked goods is seriously my favorite form of procrastination too! Procrastination from writing, from running, even from writing posts!
I made this recipe, and I don’t know what kind of taste buds you guys have, but obviously mine aren’t cut out for “hummus blondies.” They literally smelled and tasted like garbanzo beans, which I normally love outside of dessert.
These are the BEST THINGS I have EVER made!!!!! I cannot believe they are not filled with butter and cream and eggs! Katie, you are a GENIUS! My entire family gobbled these things up almost as quickly as I put them on the table, and no one even believed me when I said they were vegan and healthier than normal blondies. And my dad, who HATES beans, had three of them! Thank you so much for what is now my family’s FAVORITE dessert!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
I just made these, and WOW. That’s all I can think to say. WOW.
And WOW a few more times.
Now I just have to find a good hiding spot so no one else will discover them and eat them all!
I love to bake and am trying to transition to gluten-free/vegan ways — substituted white beans (as mentioned in the snickerdoodle reviews, I think) and used 1/2 pb, 1/2 applesauce — doubled the recipe and added extra choc chips — and they turned out just AWFUL!! I love the black bean brownies, but these bars tasted just like beans — I cooked them a lot longer than the directions indicated, and still they were really gooey (I love a gooey bar, but these were beyond gooey — and beany…). I will try the recipe as written next time, but any thoughts as to why these turned out so horribly wrong?!?
Hi Sharon,
(If not, maybe the recipe is just not your thing… that’s ok too!)
Unfortunately, as I cautioned in my lower-calorie notes, I only think the blondies will be good with all the fat. I wouldn’t sub 1/2 with applesauce. You need a little fat for flavor, and also the pb will make them much drier (less gooey) than if you sub extra applesauce. Hopefully that’ll fix the problem!
hi- quick q.
1 1/2 cup of beans is 12oz= 340g u wrote “250g”
which is it?
If you measure out a 1/2 cup of garbanzo beans (drained), it will weigh around 80 grams. So 1 and 1/2 cups will weigh around 240 grams.
Ahem… Hello again
My other brother… I have 4 brothers by the way. Came by last night as a surprise for me from Costa Rica with his newborn baby and fiance. They are moving to New Mexico this Wed and I’ve been wanting to make these blondies or the deep dish cookie pie when everyone is here and this is so the last minute and Im going to make them tomorrow! So, I was wondering If I could just mush them with a large spoon or the smasher -the ones you use to mush potatoes and such?- :p or does it have to be with a processor? I have a processor, i’m just too lazy to clean it up. LOL But If I have to use it, then I will because I REALLY want to FINALLY try these guys. Also, do you think wheat germ might work well instead of flax? Only because I dont have any in hand besides old fashioned oat which i can process into flour but then my mother and I wont have anything for breakfast If i keep using the oats that way lol…
Hmmm… I think they’d be pretty chunky without a food processor, and maybe weird… but you can try it if you want. And lol let me know how it goes!
As for the flax, you can definitely sub wheat germ!
I have a pan of these in the oven right now, and oh my word, if they taste as good cooked as the batter does, then I’m going to struggle resisting eating all of them right away! I’m on a diet and bless you for inventing nummy treats I don’t have to feel guilty about!
Eeeeee I hope you like them! Hehe I sometimes just eat the filling. Forget cooking them
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Hi Katie, just wanted to let you know that I used oat bran instead of flax seeds and they came out great. I have found that these taste better when cold! I also think these are great for breakfast, they are filling with all that healthy protein, and though it does have added sugar, so does whole wheat bread (I usually eat peanut butter toast in the morning.)
Thanks!
I love oat bran… why do I never remember to cook with it?! Your oat bran idea sounds delicious!
haha thanks Katie, but it was your idea! You had said that you thought it would work, but hadn´t tried it. So thank you for the idea! I would recomend it, oat bran is so good for us!
Katie (I know you get this a lot), but I LOVE your recipes. I’m a long distance runner, and I made these for my team as a snack after a 12 mile run.
NOBODY guessed that they were made out of beans.
Thank you!! And I’m always inspired by long-distance runners… lol 8 miles is a long run for me!
I just discovered your site this week! I am always looking for healthy recipes. I made these, they are superb! My husband and 4-year-old son gobbled them up, I kept the chickpeas a secret…I’m going to try the PB and J ones next maybe, and Fudge Babies I think. Thank you!
Aw, thank YOU for trying them! I am so glad you found my site!
Epic fail times two.
First batch? I ate raw. the entire bowl. It never made it into the baking pan. Ok, not so much of a fail really, but not quite the baked yummy I was intending.
Second batch? I use Better Butter which is made from defatted peanuts. So I added about a tablespoon of coconut oil for the fat. After an hour in the oven they were still *boiling* so I pulled them out. Still not a total fail as I made some gooey delight that resembles a hybrid between the filling in truffles and taffy…
Third time is a charm. It has to be. Going to Trader Joes tomorrow to find some real peanut butter!
Hi Katie! I just got into your blog and omg you are a freakin mastermind! These are the best blondies I’ve ever made! The best part is that they’re vegan! The only thing I had trouble with was blending everything together. Whew! But worth it. Thanks alot for the recipe!
omg! I seriously wasn’t expecting much when I made them. But they are soooo good! thanks for sharing all of your recipes.
I have the BIGGEST sweet tooth ever so I have been trying to incorporate more healthy dessert recipes into my diet. I just made these….and they are so delicious I ate the entire pan minus like 2 blondies. I added white and dark chocolate chips…not sure the combination of these and the fact I ate almost the entire pan equals healthy….but worth it I think.
Hey Katie! I tried the blondies today, and I have to agree with my husband that they dont really taste like chocolate or peanut butter! But we want them to! The consistency is fabulous, but the flavor is underwhelming the two best ingredients ever! Any suggestions?
Love the site…looking forward to trying more things!
These are currently baking in my oven…so excited to try them! the batter was amazing, so I have high hopes for the blondies!
Hi Katie!! Love the site and keep updated religiously at the moment!!
I came across this particular recipe a few days ago and have been thinking up ways of replacing the sugar somehow..
What I have come up with is subbing the sugar and nut-butter ((for the right consistency)) for mashed banana, or banana-butter ((<–Which I now LOVE!! Especially on banana pancakes, crackers, toast, let's just say I haven't found anything it DOESN'T go well with yet!!)).
If you or anyone else have tried this please share your results!! If not, I'm thinking of giving it a go and I'll post back afterwards.
((P.S. – Katie, I'm very sorry about my comment the other day, it was inappropriate and silly of me))
Aww no worries, girl!!!
Maybe try cooking my no sugar cookie dough dip” in a pan? If you do, let me know how it goes!
I made the chocolate chip blondies today and i seriously think i could eat the whole pan in one sitting. so good! in addition to the flaxseed i also added 1/4 cup oats (i can’t seem to make a cookie without adding oats) and i tried subbing the peanut butter for 1/4 cup applesauce and then realized i was being silly and ended up adding in a spoonful of peanut butter at the last minute. the peanut butter really helps disguise the flavor of the beans. the one downside to finding your website is that i want to make every recipe now lol at least i don’t feel too guilty for indulging in these desserts
Hi Katie!
I have been a long-time reader and can’t thank you enough for all the creations you’ve shared. Anyways, I was wondering if I could sub splenda for the brown sugar since they offer it at my grocery store in bulk bags for baking? Also, what would the conversion be–still 3/4 cup or less? I know you warned people think it tastes like soap with stevia but I’m very much used to artificial sweeteners 
I love your site– the recipes and photos are amazing
Thanks!!
Sorry, I really don’t know because I’ve never tried it
I’m coming off the hcg diet and am in the phase where I am not supposed to have sugar but I really wanted to make these. I was wary of using JUST stevia since I certainly did not want soap bars so I doubled the recipe but used a very scant 3/4 cup coconut sugar (technically a no-no for me, but whatever… I’m almost to the point where I can start adding sugar back in so I don’t feel too bad about it) and 3 dropper fulls of liquid stevia. I also used Barney Butter (amazing brand of almond butter that you can get at Whole Foods) instead of peanut butter since I didn’t want a pb cookie taste. These were amaze-balls good! Next time I make them, I will definitely use less sugar and more stevia (maybe even ALL stevia) or replace the sugar with a banana or some dates.
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