You know when your body wants something sweet, but you just want none of the guilt? I have those moments all the time, and these Healthy Chocolate Chip Blondies is one of the recipes that comes to the rescue!
How to make healthy no bake desserts
When I think of the foods my body craves, it’s usually salty things like nuts, cheese, olives, hummus… I mean, growing up in Spain that’s what we had for snack regularly, salty things. Like in the afternoons, I’d sit with my grandpa playing cards while shelling peanuts and eating olives.
However, I hate to admit that I’ve developed quite a sweet tooth through recipe development. I try all things, snack on all things, and therefore, eat all things!
I made these blondies for a group of ladies in my boxing class that has so kindly volunteered to be the testers for all my Family KickStart Program recipes and treats. They were all doing their own whole food 30-day programs so my KickStart recipes were perfect for them!
If you’ve never heard of Family KickStart, it’s a 30-day program created with a Whole Food & Whole-Family approach where the entire family eats real foods together while eliminating processed foods and sugars from their diets. Check out Family KickStart here.
I brought a batch to eat from “a Pinterest recipe that I had to modify because I didn’t have half of the ingredients.” Oh, how familiar this was to my ears since I know that sometimes people change things and they don’t always come out as described. Ha!
Making these is a very simple process. Can you mix ingredients in a bowl with a spoon and then press them down into a container? Seriously, it’s that easy. Check out this video where I show you how to make them.
On a final note, I’ve made these with added protein powder, up to 1/4 of a cup, for extra nutrition and been able to reduce the honey in half by removing 1-2 tablespoons of coconut flour. How do you know it’s going to hold together? When the texture in the bowl has the consistency of playdough, and you pinch it, and it holds together. Trial and error I tell you.
Are you a chocolate brownie person or a blondie person?
No Bake Healthy Chocolate Chip Blondies
- Yield: 6 squares
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut flour, sifted
- 1/2 cup mashed banana
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line an 8×4 loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash the banana, add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla. Once the mixture is cohesive and creamy, add in the coconut flour and combine well. The final step is to add in chocolate chips and combine.
- Spread mixture into a lined pan with your hands, pressing down and spreading evenly, to about 1/2 thick. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until firm.
- Picking up the parchment paper, remove from pan and cut into individual squares.
- You can wrap them individually or in an airtight container and refrigerate them for a week. They can also be wrapped individually and frozen for up to a month.
Notes
Make sure to measure the mashed banana since coconut flour is not a very forgiving ingredient. You can add up to 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder for an extra protein boost (not included in nutrition facts).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 158
- Sugar: 16g (7 added sugars)
- Fat: 6.6g
- Carbohydrates: 22.9g
- Fiber: 4.2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0
When you add the vanilla protien powder do you need to make an adjustment to the amount of coconut flour you add?
Thank you!
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No. I just add 1/4 cup of vanilla protein powder to the recipe as written. Now, if my bananas are on the small side, I might add a tablespoon of water. You’ll feel the texture. I hope it helps!
These look great! I’m always looking for healthy and sweet snacks. Thanks for sharing!
Have you tried using almond butter or cashew butter instead of peanut butter?
Yes, and both work wonderfully!
If coconut flour is not an option, is there anything else you would recommend as a substitution, and how would it affect the measurements of the other ingredients?
Thanks!
If coconut flour is not an option, I suggest you look at another recipe that uses traditional flour. I have not tested it with other substitutes. sorry!
I used wheat flour, they were good
🙂
Wouldnt raw unroasted/uncooked wheat flour cause stomach ache?
If I don’t have coconut flour, can I use another type of flour?
Unfortunately no. The recipe was developed with coconut flour and not tested with traditional flour.
Why coconut flour? Can you use whole wheat flour?
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
What can I use if I do not have coconut flour? I have wheat flour and flaxseed meal.
Unfortunately those won’t work. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
Why coconut flour? Can I use a different flour?
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour. This recipe was designed to be lower carb and GI than using traditional grain flours.
Do you think almond or cashew butter would work? My kids can’t have peanuts.
absolutely!
What can I substitute for peanut butter? (We are allergic to soy too)
there is a no-nut butter made with sunflower seeds and another with yellow peas. I hope this helps!
Hi Laura,
sounds and looks amazing! Would it be possible to substitute almond butter for peanut butter?
Thank you!
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Absolutely!
My daughter is allergic to coconut. Is there another option for flour? Also, with flour I was under the understanding that flour needed to be heated/cooked to make sure to kill any bacteria before consuming. Is this not true?
this recipe was developed to be used with coconut flour only. sorry!
Can you you subsitute Almond flour for the coconut flour and app;e sauce for the bannana and Agava for the honey
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
Could you substitute AP flour for coconut flour? I know it wouldn’t be as healthy, but it’s usually what is on-hand.
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
`Hi Laura,
I only use pea protein, will that work? And if i add it do I still use the same mount of coconut flour or will it make the bars too dry?
there is no substitute for coconut flour in this recipe. Sorry!
Laura, you mentioned you could halve the honey by removing a tablespoon or two of coconut flour. Would I do that to the recipe as written above or is the recipe written with that modification already? These look great! Will try them soon. Thanks!
This was a great recipe! My kids & I loved it and it was very easy. I was also very excited because I’ve had this bag of coconut four in my cabinet for months and was so confused about how to use it! Perfect 🙂
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One of my kids is allergic to banana. Oftentimes you can substitute applesauce for banana. Do you think applesauce would work?
I’ve never tried it for this recipe. sorry!
Allergic to coconut. Is there a substitute
This recipe does not have a substitute for coconut. Sorry!
on the healthy chocolate blondies:
love this! i did very little honey – just a few drizzles – and added more banana and lots more peanut butter
Made these yesterday and love them! Thanks!
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I’m so glad! thanks for trying my recipe!
Do you think these would freeze well?
I’ve always found that freezing coconut flour goodies changes the texture.
How many calories are in a serving of this? Looks yummy!
Hi Holly, we don’t count calories on our recipes (at the moment) but you can plug it into any calorie counter and you’ll have it!
What do you do if you don’t have any chocolate chips? I did not plan ahead when making this.
you can make blondies without them, no biggie. add chopped raisins?
How many carbs do these have?
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Hi Carmen, you can easily calculate the nutritional information for this recipe on any fitness/nutritional app.
OOooh! These look both yummy and doable! I will make as directed because they sound so yummy but will also try with sunflower butter because if I could get my daughter to eat them I could send them to day care where no nuts are allowed.
I was happy to see how easy this recipe looks because I saw a different snack bar recipe somewhere else recently and was horrified by the mass quantities of stuff (peanut butter and coconut milk – Whoa! high calorie and fat) for just 18 servings. It sounded delicious but like I should use it to fuel me as I run from coast to coast (haha! if only I would do such a Forrest Gump thing. hint: I would not.) So I was pleasantly surprised to see these as I can easily see myself making these. And I have coconut flour already! yay!
Keep up the good work! (I love your non-dairy, gluten free and vegetarian recipes).
Delia
I hope you enjoy these Delia!
What are the nutrition facts Laura?
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Hi Ander, the recipe has been updated to include the nutritional data. Enjoy!
Great idea. Can’t wait to try. Thanks!
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Tried to make these yesterday but sadly they still haven’t set! Not sure where Iv gone wrong!
were any substitutions made?
No substitutions were made- it still hasn’t set ♀️
I am sorry but I really don’t know. I make these bars every week almost and they set every time.
Hey there. My son is allergic to all nuts but this recipe sounds and looks amazing. Could I use soybutter?? I saw the other comments on nutbutter. Soybutter is pretty running though.
Absolutely. Use soy butter for this recipe. There’s also Sesame Butter (Amazon) and I love it. not as runny. Enjoy!
If I don’t have mashed bananas, what can I use as a substitute?
Thanks!
pumpkin!
I tried this with almond flour and it never formed up. I also wasn’t measuring how much almond flour I was using, though. However, the taste was just fine! I’m just going to use it as a dip!
That is because almond flour is not recommended for this recipe. The recipe uses coconut flour which is essential to absorb the moisture. Glad you were able to use it as a dip! I bet that fruit tasted amazing.
I tried this recipe and it came out kind of bland and chalky, what do you suggest?!
It’s far from bland. were any substitutions made? What brand of coconut flour did you use? and what type of nut butter was used?
These look so good. I can’t wait to make them. I am always looking for quick no bake snack ideas and we love anything with chocolate chips. 🙂 I found this on Pinterest and it had been saved over 100k times. Figured I better check it out.
Thanks for trying them Stacy!