Why You’ll Fall in Love with These Healthy White Bean Blondies

• Lightning-Fast Preparation: From your pantry to your plate in a mere 20 minutes! This recipe is a lifesaver for last-minute dessert cravings or when you need a quick, healthy treat. Its simplicity ensures you can whip up a batch with minimal fuss.
• Naturally Sweetened Perfection: These blondies boast a delightful sweet flavor derived entirely from natural sources like maple syrup, with no refined sugars added. This means you can indulge without the worry of dramatic blood sugar spikes, making them a smart choice for a balanced lifestyle.
• Effortless Freezer Friendly: Double the recipe and freeze individual portions for convenient grab-and-go snacks or desserts. They hold up beautifully in the freezer, ensuring you always have a wholesome treat on hand whenever the craving strikes, making meal prep a breeze.
• Nutritional Powerhouse: Packed with plant-based protein and fiber from the white beans and whole grains from the oats, these blondies provide sustained energy and keep you feeling full and satisfied. The healthy fats from tahini further contribute to stable blood sugar levels, making this a truly nourishing indulgence.
• Oil-Free & Wholesome: Say goodbye to added oils! Tahini, a nutrient-dense sesame paste, acts as the perfect healthy fat source, contributing to the blondies’ incredible texture and flavor while keeping them whole-food plant-based. It’s a healthier alternative to butter or processed oil substitutes.
• Zero Compromise on Taste or Wellness: This recipe proves that healthy desserts don’t have to sacrifice flavor. You get all the rich, sweet, and satisfying taste you crave, along with the nutritional benefits that support your wellness goals. It’s a win-win for your taste buds and your body!
• Pantry Staple Convenience: Made with readily available ingredients like canned beans and old-fashioned oats, you likely have everything you need in your healthy pantry right now. This means you can decide to make these blondies on a whim, without a special trip to the grocery store.
• Diet-Friendly: Naturally vegan, dairy-free, and egg-free. For those with gluten sensitivities, simply ensure you use certified gluten-free oats to make these delicious treats suitable for a gluten-free diet.

Essential Ingredients & Smart Substitutions

• White Beans: The “secret” ingredient that gives these blondies their incredible moisture and a healthy boost of fiber and protein. Top choices for this recipe include great northern beans, cannellini beans (also known as white kidney beans), and navy beans. These varieties have a mild flavor and creamy texture that blends seamlessly into the batter. While garbanzo beans (chickpeas) can be used in a pinch, be aware they tend to produce a slightly thicker and denser result, more akin to a traditional chickpea cookie. Ensure your beans are thoroughly rinsed and drained before use to remove excess sodium and any canning liquid.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: These whole grain wonders are transformed into fresh oat flour right in your food processor, providing a wholesome, gluten-free base for our blondies. One cup of rolled oats typically grinds down to about ¾ cup of oat flour. If you prefer to skip the grinding step, you can purchase pre-ground oat flour; Bob’s Red Mill is a reliable brand. For gluten-free vegan blondies, it is crucial to use a brand of oats that is certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.
• Tahini: This light, creamy sesame paste is essential for achieving the perfect gooey texture in these blondies, while also contributing healthy fats. For the best results, use a drippy, well-mixed tahini. If you don’t have tahini or prefer a different flavor, you can substitute it with other smooth nut butters like peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter. Each will lend a slightly different flavor profile, but all are healthier choices compared to highly processed butter substitutes like Earth Balance.
• Pure Maple Syrup: Our primary natural sweetener, maple syrup not only provides sweetness but also adds a lovely depth of flavor. Ensure you use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup which often contains high-fructose corn syrup. Other liquid sweeteners like agave nectar or date syrup could also be used as a substitute, though they may slightly alter the taste.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A staple in most dessert recipes, vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors and contributes to that classic blondie aroma and taste. Don’t skimp on good quality vanilla!
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together to give the blondies a perfect lift and tender crumb. They react with the acidic components in the batter (like tahini and some components in maple syrup) to create air pockets, ensuring your blondies aren’t too dense.
• Vegan Chocolate Chips: No blondie is complete without chocolate chips! Use your favorite brand that meets your dietary preferences (dairy-free and vegan). For an extra gourmet touch, you can also chop up a high-quality vegan dark chocolate bar into chunks for a more rustic, melt-in-your-mouth experience.

If you’re starting with whole oats, place the full 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats into the bowl of a food processor. Alternatively, a high-powered blender can also do the job efficiently.

Process the oats until they transform into a fine flour. If you are using pre-ground oat flour, you can skip the previous step and simply measure ¾ cup directly into your food processor bowl to begin the recipe.

Now, add the rinsed and thoroughly drained white beans, drippy tahini, maple syrup, pure vanilla extract, baking powder, and baking soda to the oat flour in the food processor bowl. These wet and dry ingredients will form the base of your blondie batter.

Process all these ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth and wonderfully creamy. Stop occasionally to scrape down any batter clinging to the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula, then continue processing until no lumps remain and the consistency is uniform.

Once your batter is perfectly smooth, sprinkle the majority of your vegan chocolate chips over the mixture in the food processor. It’s a great idea to reserve about a tablespoon of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top of the blondies before baking for a beautiful presentation.

Using your spatula, gently fold the chocolate chips into the blondie batter until they are evenly dispersed throughout. Avoid overmixing, as this can sometimes lead to a tougher texture. You want just enough mixing to distribute those delicious chocolate morsels.

Carefully transfer the rich blondie batter into your prepared 8×8-inch baking pan, using your spatula to spread it evenly into all corners. Ensure the top is smooth. This is also the time to sprinkle those reserved chocolate chips over the top for an inviting visual appeal.

Bake in your preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for approximately 17 minutes. Once baked, allow the blondies to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. This cooling period is crucial for them to firm up slightly before you attempt to lift them out by the parchment paper onto a wire rack to cool completely.

How Do You Know When Your Blondies Are Perfectly Baked?

The ideal baking time truly depends on your preference: do you crave a super fudgy center, or do you lean towards a firmer, more cake-like texture? Generally, blondies are done when the edges begin to pull away slightly from the sides of the baking dish and the top looks set and lightly golden. Remember, these healthy vegan blondies will continue to firm up considerably as they cool, so it’s often better to slightly underbake than overbake. For lusciously fudgy blondies, aim for about 15 minutes of baking. If you prefer a firmer, cakey texture that’s easier to slice into neat squares, bake them for the full 17 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter.

Debra’s Pro Tips for Blondie Perfection

• Customize Your Texture: For those who love an intensely ooey and gooey center, bake your white bean blondies for just 15 minutes. If you prefer a moister, yet more structured brownie-like texture that makes for easier, cleaner cuts, bake them for the full 17 minutes. Remember, they’ll continue to set as they cool.
• Achieve “Perfect” Squares: To get those beautifully defined, non-smudged squares, allow your blondies to cool completely in the pan after baking. For an even crisper cut, transfer the cooled pan to the freezer for at least 30 minutes before removing the blondie slab with the parchment paper and slicing into individual portions. A sharp, warm knife can also help achieve clean edges.
• Scale Up Your Batch: Planning for a crowd or just want more deliciousness? This recipe is easily doubled! Simply use a standard 9×13-inch baking pan, spread the increased batter evenly, and adjust the baking time slightly – you might need an extra 3-5 minutes, so keep a close eye on them.
• Don’t Overmix: After adding the chocolate chips, stir them in just enough until they are evenly distributed. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the oats (even if gluten-free, the texture can become tougher), which we want to avoid for that tender blondie crumb.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: While not strictly necessary for this recipe, generally, using room temperature ingredients (like tahini, if it’s very firm from refrigeration) can help them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a more uniform final texture.
• Salt is Your Friend: A tiny pinch of flaky sea salt sprinkled on top of the blondies before baking (or even after) can truly enhance the chocolate flavor and balance the sweetness, taking them to the next level.

Storing Your Vegan Blondie Treasures

• Cool Before Cutting: Always wait until the blondies have cooled completely before slicing them into squares. This prevents smearing of the chocolate and ensures a cleaner cut.
• Airtight is Key: Store your white bean vegan blondies in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and prevent them from drying out.
• Storage Durations:
  • At room temperature: They will stay wonderfully moist and delicious for up to 3 days.
  • In the refrigerator: Extend their freshness by storing them in the fridge for up to a week.
  • In the freezer: For longer storage, these blondies freeze beautifully! Place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper if stacking, for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the microwave for a warm, gooey treat.

White Bean Vegan Blondies

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