Healthy Pumpkin Chickpea Blondies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

This healthy fall dessert is packed with fiber and protein! Chickpeas are the star ingredient in these Pumpkin Chickpea Blondies, but you'd never know it. These blondies are gooey and sweet, while being made with healthy ingredients. They are also fully gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free.

If pumpkin pie is your favorite fall dessert, then you are going to love these pumpkin chocolate chip blondies. They taste like pumpkin pie filling.... with chocolate chips. Gooey and dense, they have a similar creamy texture to pumpkin pie, just more fudgy with pockets of melty chocolate. My recipe is a secret nutritional powerhouse, though, making them perfect for weekend baking or as part of a Thanksgiving dessert spread.

Healthy Pumpkin Dessert 

As we head into the holiday season, some of you might already be dreading all the sugar and heavy foods that await us. That's why I love this recipe! Let me show you that you can still eat and enjoy delicious treats while staying healthier. These gluten free pumpkin blondies are made with chickpeas and oat flour to keep them high fiber & higher protein. They are combined with maple syrup to keep them refined sugar free.

What Makes These Chickpea Pumpkin Bars Healthier

• These healthy chocolate chip pumpkin blondies are not only completely gluten free, but also dairy free, nut free, and lower sugar than traditional blondies. Most healthy blondie recipes contain nut butter, like almond butter or peanut butter, but these blondies are completely nut and seed free making them allergy friendly.
• Pumpkin not only makes these blondies seasonal, but it's full of vitamins and antioxidants to support overall health, including the immune system during peak cold and flu season.
• Chickpeas also boast an impressive nutrient profile and provide plant-based protein and fiber for a dessert that leaves you feeling full and satisfied instead of empty and with a sugar crash. Both of these ingredients provide diverse fiber sources for gut health, amping up the nutritional profile of this dessert even more!

Easy Pumpkin Blondies

These blondies are made with a few simple ingredients in the blender, so they are super easy and quick to whip up. The perfect kid-friendly fall baking recipe, they even cook in under 30 minutes!

Can You Taste the Chickpeas?

Don't worry, you can't taste the chickpeas at all! This recipe doesn't taste like beans. Chickpeas are already one of the mildest beans and work great in a variety of dishes, but when blended with other ingredients they take on the flavor of the dish. This makes them perfect for baked goods like these blondies.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Chickpea Blondie Ingredients

• Chickpeas: we add fiber and protein to this recipe by utilizing chickpeas as the base. You can't even taste them! 
• Pumpkin puree: be sure to use unsweetened, pure pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
• Maple syrup: opt for pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
• Oil: coconut oil, olive oil, or melted butter will work in this recipe. See FAQ below for oil free options.
• Egg
• Oat flour: be sure to use certified gluten free oats/oat flour to keep this recipe gluten allergy safe
• Chocolate: I like to use a mix of chocolate chips and a chopped chocolate bar. Chopped chocolate doesn't hold its shape so you get pockets of melty chocolate throughout the pumpkin chickpea bars! Stick to a brand like HU Kitchen to keep these easy blondies refined sugar free.
• Baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract

How to Make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies

• Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
• Combine the chickpeas, pumpkin, oil, syrup, egg, and vanilla in a high speed blender or food processor and blend on medium high speed until smooth.
• Add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and soda, and salt and blend again until just combined.

• Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Spread batter evenly in the baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Let blondies cool before slicing.

Substitutions and Variations

• Chickpeas: these recipe is designed around chickpeas. Another bean will not work.
• Maple syrup: Agave nectar will also work. I have not tested this recipe with a granulated sweetener like coconut sugar. 
• Flour: oat flour acts differently than gluten free flour or a nut flour like almond flour. I have not tested anything but oat flour in this recipe, if you try using tigernut or almond flour, let me now how it goes.
• Variations: for a stronger flavor, try using pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon. Chopped walnuts might be a great addition to these easy chickpea pumpkin blondies!

Serving and Storage

Serve pumpkin blondies at room temperature or even warmed up slightly so the chocolate gets melty along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you are making these further ahead for the holiday season, you can also freeze sliced portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and heat on low in the oven or microwave for that gooey, melty chocolate.

FAQ

More Delicious Gluten Free Pumpkin Recipes

Looking for more delicious, fall inspired pumpkin recipes? Try these!

The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Gluten Free Pumpkin Brownie Cookies

These Pumpkin Chickpea Blondies are proof you can enjoy fall desserts in a healthy way. Bake a batch this weekend and let me know in the comments how you served them — plain, with ice cream, or straight from the pan!