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Gooey Chocolate-Chip Bars (for a good cause!)

Note to self:

Don’t ask for suggestions. You’ll get way too many good ones, and thus it will be even harder to make a decision. Finally, at about 6 o’clock Friday night, I had to choose something…

healthy blondies

After a lot of wavering, I finally made my Chocolate Chip Blondies with beans.

When I bring those bars to parties, even “non-healthy” eaters gobble them up! Plus, they’re gluten-free, portable, and filled with chocolate. (Obviously that last point is the most important.) I packaged the blondie bars individually, and every last one was already gone when I came back an hour after dropping them off.

I hope that means people liked them.

gluten free blondies

We had to provide full ingredient lists with our baked goods.

In retrospect, I think I might’ve been a little too excited about the fact that my bars were gluten-free. But as someone with a special diet of my own (veganism), I always love when there’s food I can eat at an event… So I wanted people on gf diets to not feel left out at this bake sale.

gluten free ingredients

And I just noticed I forgot to close the parenthesis after “McCormick.”  My inner grammar nerd is annoyed. 😕

bean blondies

Above, pre-packaged Chocolate-Chip Blondies.

(Edit: These bars look different from the originals because I saved some of the chocolate chips and added them on top instead of mixing. I also cut bars instead of squares, as I wanted to give people a bigger serving for their money!)

I have a lot more photos from the bake sale (including what I bought and whom I got to meet!). Unfortunately, I left my camera at a friend’s house and couldn’t pick it up until late last night. So I’ll post the other photos later in the week.

Published on April 29, 2012

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Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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89 Comments

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    • L. says

      But on the bright side, you used “whom” correctly in your post. Thanks for doing that; hardly anyone uses it correctly nowadays!

      • Georgia says

        OK, now I’m trying to mentally diagram that phrase and figure out why “whom” is correct….I considered myself a grammar nerd too but I never noticed that one!

        (hmm, it follows a verb “meet”, so it’s supposed to be objective case…. whom instead of who… Got it! 🙂 )

        I’m starting to realize how long it’s been since I was in school when it takes me a while to go through all this stuff somewhere in the attic of my brain!

        • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

          Now I’m really going to show how much of a nerd I am… 🙂
          A fun trick: Use “whom” if you can answer the sentence with “him” because both words end in M. Use “who” if “he” would answer the sentence. In this case, I got to meet him.
          (In reality, I met a her, but that doesn’t work with my trick!)

          • Anonymous says

            Ahahha, i’m a 15 year old, in top set English, and I have no idea how to use “whom”. Actually, people in my school, at my age, still use “it’s” instead of “its” which really irks me. So thank you for teaching me somethingg (:

  1. Chantal says

    I tried making cookies with beans before and they turned out terrible. I’ve been scared to try it again ever since. I think I’m going to start with your cookie pie though. I think that one might be safe (judging by the comments) and then get more adventurous from there if I like it.

    The only problem is that my husband is allergic to beans. Wait, that actually may not be a problem if they’re as good as they look. 😉 More for me!

    • L. says

      You should definitely try the cookie pie! I’m obsessed!
      Even my “meat and potatoes” boyfriend loves it, and he normally HATES all beans and veggies except for corn!

      • Sarahishealthy says

        Another vote for starting with the cookie pie. I made black bean brownies before (not a CCK recipe) and they were awful! So I was hesitant to try again, but CCK’s cookie pie far exceeded my expectations!

        • Bekki says

          Definitely give the cookie pie a go! Even my dad – who is “allergic” to all vegetables, fruits, legumes…anything healthy, really, enjoyed it!

  2. Christina says

    I absolute love your blog… being a vegan, it is so hard to find recipes that work well in the dessert department. I am pregnant and have major sweet cravings all the time right now, luckily I found your blog and can get my sweet treat fix in, and love that it’s not unhealthy! Are you vegan or vegetarian? I noticed that many of your recipes were vegan… which makes me smile! 🙂 I can’t wait to make these brownies tonight! YAY!

    • Christina says

      oh my I’m not sure how I missed it before, but read the part where you said you have a special diet of your own (veganism)… haha well that answers my question! That is truly awesome, and I absolutely love that. I’m so excited to try more of your recipes!

  3. Alanna says

    Those look awesome! And lol on the grammar nerd… I saw it when reading the sign in your pic and wondered if you’d noticed later. 😉 The only bean dessert I’ve dared to try yet is the cinnamon roll pie, and it tasted good but I don’t think I could have fooled anyone into thinking it was a “normal” cookie since the inside sayed so gooey-looking. It actually reminded me a lot of a red bean rice ball I had once from Chinatown in San Francisco! Maybe someone who hadn’t tried that wouldn’t pick up on the mystery ingredient. 🙂 I’m still a bit wary of beans for their, um… musical properties. :/

    • L. says

      I do think that anyone who doesn’t know to look for it won’t taste the beans. When I serve the cookie pie or the pbj blondies or these blondies, I don’t tell anyone the secret ingredient until after they’re scaring them down!

  4. Sarahishealthy says

    Ooo a candy bar recipe??? I’m intrigued!
    Good call on the blondies. That’s one of my favorite recipes of yours. Oh wait, they ALL are ;).

  5. Lucia says

    Hi Katie, I have a couple of food processor questions:
    1. Do you have any tips about cleaning food processors/blenders? You use them frequently in your recipes so I hoped you might know some good ways of getting all the gooeyness off blades and out of corners.
    2. Do you have a recommendation for a good quality, all-purpose food processor that isn’t too costly? I convinced my mom to buy us our first food processor last summer, but it was such a cheap one that it’s already fallen apart.

    Thanks,
    Lucia

  6. Cathy says

    Those look awesome! And your sign is so pretty! (My handwriting is awful.) Please do something with cookie dough tomorrow! Even the sound of “cookie dough” makes my mouth water… It is like my favorite thing!

  7. katia says

    uuugh those look BOOOMB. I love every recipe on here. Brownies/blondies were a good choice, those, and ~cinnamon rolls~ always go sooo fast!

  8. Robyn says

    I think it’s great that you included all the ingredient info. I’m having a Cinco de Mayo party next weekend (olé!) and was considering doing that myself *in my own house*!

    Honestly, I went to a restaurant in Raleigh last night and asked the server if she could guide me toward the GF choices. When she told me they had an entire GF menu, I thought I would SQUEAL with delight (and then she pointed out 2 things that were naturally GF but prepared in a communal fryer, and then I really knew she “got” it–big tip!). It’s a simple thing but it really makes all the difference.

    That’s a long way of saying “Keep it up!”

    Thanks Katie–I make one of your treats at least a couple times a week, and your sugar free cookie dough dip will definitely be in the menu next weekend–it’s sorta Mexican, right?! 😉

  9. Jules says

    those look like HEAVEN !!!! I just thought of a recipe idea you could try to conjure up! how about a vegan cannoli ?
    oh and cookie dough sounds AMAZING!! I love all your recipes and you inspired me to go vegan when I’m in college! (my parents won’t let me now because I’m only 15 and they’re convinced that since I’m so active in sports that I’ll lose too much weight and I also just became a vegetarian)

  10. Mary says

    These look amazing! I’m really excited to make them & really want them to turn out well. I was wondering — can I sub in canola oil for the peanut butter to make plain blondies? Anyways I’m a really huge fan of your blog, Katie! Healthy desserts that truly taste DELISH!!! I don’t know how you do it 😉

  11. Melissa (Better Fit) says

    haha- I’m not surprised your blondies sold out in less than an hour! those people are in for a treat. I wish I could have bought some! 🙂

  12. Samantha says

    Very good call and I love your sign. 🙂

    The chocolate chip blondie recipe has been one of my favorites and this makes me want to do it again soon.

    I was hoping you would share your final bake sale decision. I love when I get to bake for a fun cause. 🙂

  13. Katerina says

    Whoa, crazy-coincidence, I’m stockpiling vegan chocolate bar recipes for when I decide to junk out! Therefore: I vote copycat candy bar. 🙂

    In addition, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, because you were one of my greatest inspirations to go vegan! I’m still in the process, but I think you rock! Thanks so much for sharing your recipes with us! 🙂

  14. Suzie says

    Mmm, those look absolutely delicious!! I love the big cookie pie and have made it several times, no one ever knows the difference! One of my fave desserts, but this is a great alternative to a part platter, thanks.

  15. Char @ www.charskitchen.ca says

    bahaha, I’m the same- I would be going nuts over my grammar mistake.

    These look amazing! I made your deep dish cookie pie (again) for a girls’ night last weekend, and everyone looooved them! They couldn’t believe they were healthy and made of chickpeas. It’s still one of my favourite desserts!

  16. Jordan says

    Katie- these blondies look incredible but I had a question? Is there are reason these look so much more chocolatey than the original post where you made these or is it just that it is different with different batches? Or maybe they aren’t any different and I am imagining things haha

  17. Sally @ sally's baking addiction says

    Katie – SO glad you chose this blondie recipe for the bake sale! i haven’t made these yet… or any of your “bean dessert” recipes.. i can’t wait to try them out though. i think the chocolate chips on top make them look extra special 🙂

  18. Nanci says

    My head is spinning from all of your wonderful recipes! I’m confused on one tiny bit (and I apologize if the information was clarified earlier in this post) The pictures looks like something different than the Blondie recipe. My non-vegan friend has said she’d eat them if I made -the bar on the picture. Which recipe is that one? I will make the Blondies for my girls, but I need to convert my friend to sensible eating and show her that dessert CAN be animal friendly too! Thanks again for your amazing creativity! Keep up the good work!!

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      I added chocolate chips to the tops this time, as opposed to just mixing them all in. I actually edited the original recipe to have that as an option, because it makes them so much prettier!

      I also cut them into bigger squares this time, because I wanted people get a lot for their money. 🙂

  19. Kit-Kat says

    Copy-cat candy bar, pleeeeeze!
    And if I were at a bake sale, I would buy your blondies for sure. They look so good!

  20. kspar66 says

    Nice bake sale contribution! I looove your cookie dough everrrything. Can’t believe you have even more ideas for it! can’t wait. I didn’t rediscover the importance of cookie dough to life until your blog. It changes a day from adult-world-serious to AWESOME.

  21. Jules says

    Oh and Katie! I have another idea! I really wanna make my mom a special mother’s day breakfast….any new pancake recipes planned?

  22. Amber with Slim Pickin's Kitchen says

    OMG! Your handwriting is so pretty! Seriously! Also, those look delish! I’m definitely going to make them soon. I’m in charge of dessert on Wednesday for dinner with the hubs & my sis-in-law and I’m having a go at your strawberry-chocolate truffle pie. I’m super stoked about it!

  23. Emilia says

    The bars look delicious, no wonder everyone ate them! I think it’s nice that you expressed that they were gluten-free enthusiastically, it can be so difficult to follow a special diet and NOT know if you can eat something. Also, I love your hand-writing, it’s so neat 🙂

  24. Karen says

    When baking with beans, can you substitute Great Northern Beans for the Garbanzo beans? I have Great Northern in the cupboard but no Garbanzo’s!!

  25. Janice says

    Omg…. *drools* Even though I’ve made these a few times… Im def going to put extra chocolate chips in mine… *continues drooling*

  26. kathy says

    This is probably a dumb question, but why are the brownies you made yesterday so much darker than the ones you made in the chocolate chip blondie recipe? Maybe I missed something in the ingredients. Well, actually I wasn’t able to link on the “this recipe” link. So I just went to the blondie recipe. Maybe they were somewhat different. Can’t wait to try them though. They look so yummy.

    • anonymous says

      My word, people. Do you not even bother to read the post where Katie specifically answers your question?? Let alone the comments, where Katie has already answered this question FOUR times? 😕

      • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

        Anonymous,
        I know that I often skim through others’ posts when I’m reading! I never mind questions!!

        I am, however, worried that you (Kathy) said you can’t open the link… Can you tell me what error message you’re getting? I can pull up the link on my own screen.

        • kathy says

          I am so sorry for asking a redundant question. I tried to see if someone already asked the question, but I am at work and didn’t have time to read through all the replies. Very sorry.

          When I try to open the recipe link I get: “Internet Exployer cannot display the webpage.”
          The address displayed at the top of the page reads: http://bit.ly/k5zgWd

          I tried to open it many times but I get the same error message. It may be because I’m at work and something is blocking it. not sure. I will try again when I get home to see if I get the same message. Again, very sorry.

  27. Lady Jennie says

    Is McKormick vanilla gf then? I know some aren’t and I’m not that sensitive, but some people are. The US is waaaay ahead of France in terms of household gf ingredients. So frustrating. These look yum as usual. I think brownies taste better gf than with wheat flour, but that’s when I use almond powder and corn starch or a gf mix. I want to try these ones.

  28. kris says

    Hi katie- i make these all the time – they are awesome. I was wondering why the photos of the bars look so different. The photos of the bars in today’s blog look a lot different than the bars in the linked recipe page. Were they made with different ingredients? Or measurements? Or am I just going crazy? 🙂

  29. Pooja says

    Katie,

    The way you have written “gluten-free” is so cute….that exclamation mark is making me smile every time I look at it :). It’s like you just discovered it yourself 🙂

    These look delicious and I am most definitely going to try these gluten-free (!) brownies asap. Keep up the lovely work and your obvious enthusiasm for what you do.

    Loads of Love
    Pooja

  30. Justine Duppong @ Life With Cheeseburgers says

    I bet tons of people would want to buy these. They look great and I think a lot of people are interested in healthier baked goods these days! I’m always amazed by the positive responses I get from some of my own healthy sweet recipes!

  31. Katie says

    Yes, you have said already that you added chocolate chips on the top of the “blondies” but the bar irself, looks more chocolaty. That’s my question, and possibly everyone else’s. I normally do not like blondies, but these look like brownies. they don’t look the same, and it isn’t just the chips on top. They look like maybe chocolate added to the bar itself, powder or something? I’m not trying to be a pest, just wondering, cuz those look like something I would make and eat, since I don’t really like “blondies.” Thank you, Katie

  32. Katie says

    I agree, these look way different- and it’s not just the chips on top- the middle looks much more chocolatey and gooey! And I notice these say Peanut Butter- that is not listed in the original recipe! How much did you use?

  33. Katie says

    I agree, these look way different- and it’s not just the chips on top- the middle looks much more chocolatey and gooey! And I notice these say Peanut Butter- that is not listed in the original recipe! How much did you use?

    Oops! is see it’s the last ingredient. does 1/4 c really make them peanutbuttery?

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      I don’t know what to tell you :-?. It’s the same recipe. I took these photos at night, so they’re automatic flash (*gasp* lol) photos, as opposed to the others, which were taken in the middle of a bright day with natural light. I’ve also edited the recipe since first posting, to up the cooking time. So the chocolate chips melt more.

  34. Melissa@A Time for Everything says

    I just made these this morning, and they are AMAZING! I could only have a nibble to taste since I’m actually not eating sugar right now, but I know my kids will think they’re incredible. I love knowing I’m feeding them such good stuff inside of something so yummy.

    The peanut butter does a fantastic job of hiding any sort of bean taste. Great addition!

    And BTW, mine look just like the photos from this post, with all that fudgy-ness inside, so it must be the increased cooking time like you said.

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