Indulge Guilt-Free: The Ultimate Gluten-Free White Bean Brownies (Chickpea Blondies) Recipe
Prepare yourself for a delightful surprise! These White Bean Brownies, often lovingly referred to as Blondies, are a revolutionary dessert. Imagine rich, soft, and utterly delicious gluten-free brownies made using wholesome garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) instead of traditional flour. They are incredibly easy to make, surprisingly healthy, and absolutely delectable. It’s a dessert that truly hits all the right notes!
What an exciting day! The anticipation has been building, and I’m thrilled to announce that it’s my turn to host this month’s Mystery Dish challenge. Since we first embarked on this culinary adventure, I’ve eagerly awaited April, knowing it would be my opportunity to select the ingredients and lead the group. That long-awaited day has finally arrived, and the results from our talented bloggers are truly inspiring!
The process of choosing the ingredients was both fun and a little daunting. I began with a sprawling list of over 30 potential items, each one sparking a different idea. The goal was to curate a selection that would be challenging enough to inspire creativity, yet versatile enough to allow for a wide range of dishes – from savory to sweet. After much deliberation and careful consideration, I finally narrowed it down to these 12 distinct ingredients:
– Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
– Eggs
– Flaxseed
– Cilantro
– Potatoes (any variety)
– Bread
– Quinoa
– Lime
– Popcorn
– Dark chocolate
– Ground turkey
– Asparagus
Some might look at this list and think it’s straightforward, and my husband certainly gave me a bit of good-natured ribbing, suggesting my choices were “too easy.” However, going from a sprawling list of thirty diverse foods down to a concise dozen that still offered ample room for imaginative cooking was no small feat! I aimed for a balance of pantry staples and a few more unique items to really get the creative juices flowing within our group. I couldn’t be happier with the incredible array of recipes everyone in the Mystery Dish group managed to conjure up!
I genuinely adore this community of bloggers. Each month, their talent and creativity shine through in ways that continuously impress me. Our core group consists of 11 dedicated bloggers who participate in the Mystery Dish challenge, and there’s always an extra, special spot reserved for a guest blogger. As the host for the month, I had the privilege of selecting this guest. And who did I choose? My wonderful friend, Andi, from The Weary Chef!
Andi is truly awesome, and her blog is an absolute treasure, especially for anyone with a busy lifestyle. Her recipes are not just fabulous; they are thoughtfully designed to be quick, easy, and, most importantly, delicious. If you’re looking for fantastic meal ideas that don’t demand hours in the kitchen, her blog is the place to go. Seriously, if you haven’t discovered her incredible work yet, I urge you to head over to The Weary Chef and explore her offerings. Go ahead, I’ll wait right here. 😉 You won’t regret it!
Now, let’s talk about my all-time favorite dessert: brownies. I absolutely adore them. These particular bars, while possessing the irresistible fudginess of a brownie, might technically be classified as blondies due to their lighter color and lack of cocoa powder as the primary flavor agent. But honestly, “white bean brownies” sounds pretty great, and the truth is, they’re so delicious that the name hardly matters!
What makes these brownies truly special is their healthier profile compared to most traditional bars. The magic ingredient? An entire can of garbanzo beans! Yes, you read that right – chickpeas! These nutritional powerhouses completely replace flour, making these brownies entirely gluten-free. Beyond just being a flour substitute, garbanzo beans contribute valuable fiber and protein, transforming a typically indulgent treat into something that also offers a healthy boost. You literally won’t find a single drop of flour in this recipe.
To further enhance their healthier qualities, I opted for coconut oil, which provides healthy fats and a lovely richness, and Truvia, a natural sweetener that helps significantly cut down on the sugar content without sacrificing sweetness. The best part? The entire batter comes together effortlessly in a food processor, making preparation incredibly quick and simple. Just a few pulses, and you’re ready to bake!
For this Mystery Dish challenge, I proudly incorporated three of my chosen ingredients into these delightful treats: garbanzo beans, eggs, and dark chocolate. Many people are skeptical about baking with beans, but I promise you, you cannot taste the beans in these brownies. Their subtle flavor and creamy texture blend seamlessly into the batter, creating a wonderfully moist and dense result. Seriously, just take a look at the photos. Do they *look* like they’re made with beans? Absolutely not! They look like pure, decadent goodness.
The ultimate test, of course, was my boys. And guess what? They absolutely loved them! They devoured piece after piece, completely unaware that their favorite “brownie” was secretly packed with chickpeas. It’s truly a parent’s dream come true – sneaking in wholesome ingredients into a treat kids will happily eat. Muahahaha! 😉 These white bean brownies are a fantastic way to satisfy your sweet tooth while enjoying a healthier, gluten-free alternative that everyone will adore. They’re soft, chewy, incredibly flavorful, and perfect for any occasion.
White Bean Brownies (Gluten Free)
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Ingredients
- 1 15.5-oz can garbanzo beans, drained
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. Truvia or 3/4 c. sugar
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips plus any extra for the top if desired
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray an 8×8″ pan with cooking spray.
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In a food processor, blend beans until very pureed and creamy. Add in eggs, Truvia, coconut oil, vanilla, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Blend together.
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Add in oats and pulse until combined. Add in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan, smoothing down top to an even level.
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Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top of brownies, if desired. Let sit for about 20 minutes until cutting into bars and serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Discover What My Fellow Mystery Dish Friends Created This Month:
Witness the incredible ingenuity of my fellow bloggers as they tackled this month’s Mystery Dish ingredients. Here’s a glimpse at the diverse and delicious creations:
1. Culinary Couture’s Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake: A rich and indulgent gluten-free dessert that proves you don’t need flour for an extraordinary chocolate experience. Perfect for a sophisticated sweet treat.
2. Blahnik Baker’s Pineapple Cashew Quinoa “Fried Rice”: A fantastic savory dish that beautifully combines sweet and nutty flavors with wholesome quinoa, offering a unique and healthy twist on a classic comfort food.
3. The Pajama Chef’s Chili Lime Popcorn: Elevate your snack game with this vibrant popcorn recipe, featuring a zesty and spicy kick that makes movie nights or casual gatherings much more exciting.
4. The Weary Chef’s Cilantro Lime Hummus: My guest blogger, Andi, crafted a fresh and flavorful hummus. This dip is bursting with bright cilantro and tangy lime, making it a perfect healthy appetizer or spread.
5. Yummy Healthy Easy’s Gluten Free White Bean Brownies: My very own contribution to the challenge – these secretly healthy, flourless brownies are fudgy, delightful, and a hit with everyone, even the pickiest eaters!
6. The Well Floured Kitchen’s Homemade Popcorn with Cilantro Lime Butter: Another creative popcorn recipe, this one features a rich, aromatic butter infused with the fresh flavors of cilantro and lime, transforming a simple snack into gourmet popcorn.
7. Joyful Healthy Eats’ Tex-Mex Chickpea Salad: A vibrant and satisfying salad packed with the robust flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine and the wholesome goodness of chickpeas, perfect for a light lunch or side dish.
8. Chez Catey Lou’s Quinoa Salad with Asparagus and Tomato: A light, refreshing, and incredibly nutritious quinoa salad, featuring the crispness of asparagus and the sweetness of fresh tomatoes for a balanced and healthy meal.
9. I Dig Pinterest’s Key Lime Pie Popcorn: This imaginative snack captures the tangy and sweet essence of key lime pie in a fun, crunchy popcorn form, offering a unique dessert experience.
10. I Want Crazy’s Turkey Sausage Breakfast Casserole: A hearty and flavorful breakfast casserole, combining savory turkey sausage with other delicious ingredients to create a perfect meal for feeding a crowd or for meal prepping.
11. Baking a Moment’s Frozen Pineapple Cilantro Mojito: A refreshing and unique beverage that brings a tropical twist to the classic mojito, with the unexpected but delightful addition of cilantro.
12. The Dessert Chronicles’ Pretzel Caramel Crunch: An irresistible sweet and salty snack, combining the satisfying crunch of pretzels and popcorn with a rich caramel coating for a truly addictive treat.
Other Delightful Mystery Dish Recipes from Past Months:
Explore some of the delectable creations from previous Mystery Dish challenges, showcasing the diverse possibilities of unexpected ingredient pairings:
Carrot Oatmeal Cookies – March Mystery Dish
These incredibly moist Carrot Oatmeal Cookies were a highlight from our March Mystery Dish. Packed with wholesome ingredients like shredded carrots, oats, coconut, and walnuts, they offer a perfect balance of sweetness and texture. They’re an ideal, slightly healthier indulgence, perfect for a spring dessert or a comforting snack any time of year.
Easy Pesto Pita Bread Pizzas – February Mystery Dish
Our February challenge brought forth these delightful Easy Pesto Pita Bread Pizzas. Using pita bread as a convenient and quick crust, these pizzas are generously spread with vibrant pesto and topped with an assortment of fresh vegetables. They make for a deliciously healthy and incredibly quick option for lunch, dinner, or a satisfying snack, proving that healthy eating can also be incredibly flavorful and effortless.
Red Velvet {Beet} Cupcakes – January Mystery Dish
Kicking off the year with an exciting twist, the January Mystery Dish inspired these stunning Red Velvet {Beet} Cupcakes. These cupcakes are moist, decadent, and possess a beautiful, natural red hue thanks to a secret ingredient – beets! They offer a delightful and slightly healthier take on the classic red velvet, proving that nutritious additions can enhance both flavor and aesthetics in baking. These were a truly unique and memorable creation.