Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars with Creamy PB Frosting

These bars are truly super good for you!  I have had many gluten free black bean brownies before, but never a blondie brownie using chickpeas.  So, I thought why not use chickpeas in a brownie recipe with peanut butter?  Not only are these gluten free, but they can be vegan if you substitute maple syrup for the honey, and skip the frosting.  FYI, I had a few of thees without the frosting and they are still super good!

The creamy peanut butter frosting on these brownies is super scrumptious!  By using the peanut powder instead of actual peanut butter, I was able to cut the calories down but still get the full flavor of the peanuts.  The first time I ever made this recipe I actually used peanut butter, and it was to die for.  Super creamy and delicious!

Chickpeas are a mild tasting bean or legume and are packed with lots of nutrients.  They have a ton of protein, are very high in fiber and provide the body with lots of magnesium and folate.  When you are in the mood for a gooey blondie brownie but want it to be healthy too, indulge in one of my Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blondie Brownies with Creamy PB Frosting.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars with Creamy PB Frosting

Ingredients for the Bars

• 1 cup chickpeas
• ½ cup or 2 scoops Shaklee Chocolate or Vanilla Life Energizing Shake mix (or for vegan option use Vanilla or Cocoa Energizing Soy Protein)
• ⅓ cup honey (or maple syrup for a vegan option)
• ½ cup Peanut Powder, I used Santa Cruz Organic (or peanut butter)
• ¼ cup Stevia
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (or cocoa nibs) (I used Enjoy Life, to make these dairy free and vegan.)
• 2 tbsp coconut milk (or almond, cashew, flax, soy, or rice milk)

Ingredients for the Frosting

• ½ cup vegan yogurt (I used So Delicious) (If you eat dairy you can use 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.)
• 1 ½ tbsp peanut powder, again I used Santa Cruz Organic (or peanut butter)
• 1 ½ tbsp Shaklee Chocolate or Vanilla Life Energizing Shake mix
• 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup for a vegan option)
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp dark chocolate chips (or cocoa nibs) (I used Enjoy Life, to make these dairy free and vegan.)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Rinse chickpeas in a strainer then put in a food processor or blender and process until finely chopped.  In a medium bowl combine the chickpeas, honey, peanut powder, protein powder, stevia, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and milk, stir to combine.  Then fold in the chocolate chips.  Oil an 8 or 9 inch square dish and pour the batter into the pan.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and press into the batter with the back of a spoon.  Bake for 15 - 18 minutes.  While the bars are baking, if you are are making them with the frosting, combine the yogurt, peanut powder, protein powder, honey and vanilla, stir.  When the bars are done baking, let cool completely before frosting them.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the brownies.  Makes nine brownies.  Store in the refrigerator.  Enjoy!

Bar Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Bar

9 Servings per Recipe

Amount Per Serving
Calories 151
Total Fat 5.25g
	Trans Fat 0g
Total Carbohydrate 25.75g
	Dietary Fiber 3.25g
Protein 6.5g

Frosting Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1

9 Servings per Recipe

Amount Per Serving
Calories 24.75
Total Fat 0.5g
	Trans Fat 0g
Total Carbohydrate 2.75g
	Dietary Fiber 0.5g
Protein 2g

Combined Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Bar with Frosting

9 Servings per Recipe

Amount Per Serving
Calories 175.75
Total Fat 5.75g
	Trans Fat 0g
Total Carbohydrate 28.5g
	Dietary Fiber 3.75g
Protein 8.5g

Gluten and Dairy Free!  Vegan if you use the Energizing Soy Protein and malple syrup.

*Nutrition facts will vary if you use different protein powder, peanut powder or yogurt; or use peanut butter in place or peanut powder.

**I always suggest using organic ingredients whenever possible.

 

Health info is from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutrients-benefits-chick-peas-garbanzo-beans-7490.html