It can be so hard to find healthy snacks at Christmas time. These healthy gingerbread chickpea blondies tick all the boxes. Made with chickpeas and nut butter, they're packed full of protein making a delicious and nutritious snack.
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My kids adore sweet treats and my healthy chickpea and peanut butter blondies always go down well with them.
When I was brainstorming ideas for healthy Christmas snacks I just knew that these were the perfect contender for a festive adaptation.
And I was right.
In fact I think that these healthy gingerbread blondies are even better than the original version.
What is a blondie?
A traditional blondie is a lighter coloured version of a brownie. It is made with eggs, sugar, butter and flour and is often flavoured with vanilla.
A chickpea blondie on the other hand is rather different
Chickpea blondies are much healthier. Instead of using flour, eggs and butter you use a simple tin of chickpeas and some nut butter.
These blondies are free from eggs and dairy making them suitable for vegans. They're also refined sugar free, although they do contain maple syrup.
I have tested several different versions of these blondies. For the maximum ginger taste I like to add a couple of pieces of stem ginger, chopped up finely, with a tablespoon of syrup from the jar.
This obviously adds a little refined sugar to the recipe so do leave it out if you prefer - they are still delicious.
Make them nut free
I have tested these blondies with sunflower seed butter.
While they tasted great they did turn green in the middle once cooled.
This is completely normal and is because the natural chlorophyll in the seeds reacts with the raising agent and turns the blondies green in the middle once they've cooled.
They're completely safe to eat but picky eaters might be put off by the colour
Do you need any special equipment to make chickpea blondies?
You will need:
Storage
Allow to cool then freeze in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Freezing
Another great thing about these healthy gingerbread chickpea blondies is that they can be frozen.
Take them out of the freezer in the morning and they'll be defrosted by tea time.
Other Christmas posts you might like:
Ingredients
For full recipe, ingredients and quantities go to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
To make this recipe you will need:
- oats
- nut butter (I use cashew butter)
- chickpeas
- maple syrup
- cider vinegar or lemon juice
- ground ginger
- bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- baking powder
How to make healthy gingerbread chickpea blondies
For full recipe, ingredients and quantities go to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Preheat the oven and line a 20cm (8 inch) square cake in with baking paper.
- Place the oats in your food processor.
3. Grind until you have a flour-like consistency.
4. Add the remaining ingredients.
5. Process until you have a smooth batter.
6. Scrape out into your cake tin, smooth over the top and bake for 20 minutes.
If you've made this recipe please a star rating and comment below. Thank you!
Please do not reproduce this recipe without permission.
Healthy gingerbread blondies
Ingredients
- 75 g oats
- 240 g tinned chickpeas drained and rinsed (1 standard tin)
- 170 g cashew butter or peanut or almond butter
- 75 g maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 2 pieces of stem ginger chopped (optional)
- 1 tablespoon syrup from the jar of stem ginger optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6.
- Grease a 20cm square baking tin and line with non-stick baking paper.
- Place 75g oats in your food processor and grind until you have a rough, flour-like consistency.
- Add 400g tinned chickpeas, 170g nut butter, 75g maple syrup, 2 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 2 pieces of chopped stem ginger and 1 tablespoon syrup from the ginger jar (optional). Pulse until well combined.
- Scrape out into the baking tin and smooth the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Allow to cool in the tin and then cut into squares.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin healthy gingerbread chickpea blondies for later
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Martha Johnson
Do you use the chickpeas and the aquafaba in the can or only the chickpeas?
Mandy Mazliah
Just the chickpeas
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
I've not tried chickpeas in blondies before, but now I am officially intrigued! They sound yummy with the gingerbread flavour and maple sweetness.
Mandy Mazliah
You have to try it to believe it I think - they really do work well!