Best Dessert of 2014 (so far, anyway)

Old friends (and former students from youth group days) Cassie and Chase had me over for dinner last night and blew me away with a glorious feast of lentil veggie burgers, baked sweet potato fries, onion relish for the burgers, topping it off with this RIDICULOUS dessert.

After taking several bites, Cassie tried to get me to guess the ingredients. Never in a zillion years would I have figured this out. But friends and neighbors, you don't have to be a gluten-free, granola-lovin' vegan who doesn't shave your legs to like this amazingness. JUST. TRY. IT.

(P.S. Cassie got this from a friend, who got it here... just spreading the love through the blogosphere!)

Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies with Sea Salt {vegan, gluten-free & healthy}

INGREDIENTS

Cooking Spray
1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup all natural almond butter or peanut butter
1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave nectar (you can also use honey if you’re not vegan)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup vegan (or regular) chocolate chips plus 2 tablespoons
sea salt, for sprinkling

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray 8×8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a food processor, add all ingredients except chocolate chips and process until batter is smooth. Fold in 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, I like to use dark chocolate because it has less sugar but it’s up to you. Note: Batter will be thick and super delicious, so you could actually just eat it on it’s own!

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top. (The batter may stick to your spatula, so I like to spray my spatula with nonstick cooking spray first.) Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean and edges are a tiny bit brown. The batter may look underdone, but you don’t want them to dry out!

Cool pan for 20 minutes on wire rack. Sprinkle with sea salt then cut into squares. Makes 16 blondies.

Notes
Adding an egg to the batter will make it more cake-like, but not vegan.
You can use your favorite nut butter, just make sure it’s all natural.
Feel free to add in other things according to your dietary needs like nuts, dried fruit, or other types of chocolate.