Healthy Eggless Protein Tahini Blondies

Blondies, or blonde brownies, are basically just brownies without cocoa powder or chocolate! They usually have a deep vanilla flavor, and are soft, chewy and fudgy. But of course, the texture and flavor profile will vary from recipe to recipe depending on the ingredients and proportion of ingredient used.

For this healthier version, we are using chickpeas in place of flour, dates in place of sugar and tahini in place of butter!

• Healthy and high protein- Only made from wholesome ingredients, these eggless protein blondies are a great healthier alternative to traditional blondies. Plus, there is a decent amount of protein coming from chickpeas and tahini.
• Easy and quick to make- All you need to do is whisk up the batter in a food processor, then bake it.
• Sweet, gooey and utterly delicious-This might sound ridiculous, but they actually taste better than normal blondies! It will be gone almost immediately every time I make a new batch.
• Naturally gluten-free, eggless and vegan- Hence, this wholesome treat can be enjoyed by those with special dietary needs!

Place in chickpeas and dates into a food processor. Blend until a smooth paste forms. Then, add in tahini, oat flour, baking powder and salt. Process until everything is well combined.

The batter should be slightly wetter than cookie dough. Add in a splash or two of water or plant milk to thin if the mixture is too thick.

Using a spatula or spoon, stir in chocolate chips.

Transfer batter to a lined or greased 8x8 baking pan. Using the back of a spoon, smooth out the edges.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned and a toothpick comes out fairly clean with a few crumbs when inserted in the middle.

Let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, before transferring it to a wire rack to be cool down to room temperature. Slice and enjoy!

• Chocolate chips. I am using regular dark ones, but other chips like white chocolate or butterscotch will work as well.
• Chocolate chunks. Chop up your favorite chocolate bar and add them in if you like yours to be super sweet!
• Vanilla extract. Use about 2 teaspoons of it for a strong vanilla flavor.
• Chopped nuts. Some nuts that pairs well with this protein eggless blondies include pecans, walnuts and peanuts.
• Candy bars. Get yourself some of your favorite treats and toss them in for the ultimate loaded tahini blondies!

• Use good quality tahini. A quality one should be runny and is relatively mild in flavor. (I had purchased some bitter ones in the past, and that sure was nasty!) An Arabic one should do the trick, and it is pretty affordable too! I am using this brand of tahini and highly recommend it.
• If your batter heats up after blending, do let it cool down to room temperature before adding in chocolate chips to prevent them from melting.
• Do not overbake! The toothpick might still comes out sticky when inserted in, but don't worry as blondies will continue to cook out of the oven.
• Let it cool down completely before slicing into it. This will prevent blondies from crumbling when cutting.
• If possible, use a plastic knife to slice it instead of a metal one. As plastic knifes are naturally non-stick, it will not pull and tear your blondies apart.

These protein tahini blondies can be served both as a snack or after-dinner treat. You can even have it for breakfast along with a side of yogurt and fruit!

To make it more gourmet, serve it with a scoop of your favorite ice cream, whipped cream and a generous drizzle of chocolate syrup. For a healthier version, you can serve it with some toasted nuts or nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter.

I also love topping eggless protein blondies with a generous scoop of this chickpea cookie dough or dark chocolate hummus to bump up the protein content.