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 those healthy dessert recipes that comes to the rescue!
Watch how easy these are to make!
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.
So, back to the blondies. The following week I brought my first batch to my newly found group of taste testers, and they all agreed they were great! Thrilled with my newly found zero-guilt recipe, I now make them from time to time and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days. They usually don’t last that long since my husband and kids have discovered them as well.
On a final note, I’ve made these with added protein powder, up to ¼ of a cup, for extra nutrition and have 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, it holds together. Trial and error I tell you.
Are you a chocolate brownie person or a blondie person?
Healthy Blondies Recipe Substitutions FAQ
There have been many questions regarding this simple recipe about the ingredients and substitutions. Check the answers below if you have any questions regarding substitutions.
Can you use almond butter or cashew butter instead of peanut butter?
You can use any nut butter for this recipe. However, nut butters that have a runnier/thinner consistency tend to need more time to set or 1 to 2 teaspoons of additional coconut flour.
Can you use almond butter or cashew butter instead of peanut butter?
You can use any nut “butter” for this recipe. However, nut butters that have a runnier/thinner consistency tend to need more time to set or 1 to 2 teaspoons of additional coconut flour.
Can you make these healthy blondies nut-free?
Absolutely! For a nut-free alternative, use sunflower butter, pea butter, soy butter, or sesame butter.
Can you use another flour in place of coconut flour?
Unfortunately no. Coconut flour is not really a “flour” it’s ground and dehydrated coconut meat. It also absorbs 10 times its weight in liquid and it does not perform like any other “flour.”
This recipe only works with coconut flour.
Can you freeze this recipe?
I’ve always found that freezing coconut flour goods changed the texture so I would not recommend freezing these healthy blondies bars.
The good news is that they last in the fridge for up to a week and the recipe doesn’t yield enough for an army so you probably won’t have many leftovers to freeze anyway!
Can I omit the chocolate chips?
This recipe can certainly be made chocolate-free for a plain blondie. You could also add chopped raisins, dried fruit, or chopped nuts in the same amount as the chocolate chips.
Is there a good replacement for bananas?
If you don’t like bananas or don’t have any ripe bananas on hand, try mashed pumpkin instead. The pumpkin texture is “wetter” so you’ll need to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of additional coconut flour.
No Bake Healthy Chocolate Chip Blondies
These no bake healthy chocolate chip blondies are the perfect treat without the guilt! They come together in a single bowl and are ready before you know it!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 squares 1x
- Category: Healthy Desserts
- Method: No-bake
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- ½ cup mashed banana
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons coconut flour, sifted
- 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 ½ 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 ¼ cup vanilla protein powder for an extra protein boost (not included in nutrition facts).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 16.3g
- Sodium: 53.2mg
- Fat: 6.6g
- Saturated Fat: 1.8g
- Carbohydrates: 22.9g
- Fiber: 4.2g
- Protein: 4.6g
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: healthy desserts, no-bake recipes, chocolate chip blondies, healthy blondies
lisa franklin
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
Felisha
Allergic to coconut. Is there a substitute
Laura Fuentes
This recipe does not have a substitute for coconut. Sorry!
Rebecca
One of my kids is allergic to banana. Oftentimes you can substitute applesauce for banana. Do you think applesauce would work?
Laura Fuentes
I’ve never tried it for this recipe. sorry!
Jodi
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 🙂
★★★★★
Julie
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!
Danielle
`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?
Laura Fuentes
there is no substitute for coconut flour in this recipe. Sorry!
Autumn
Could you substitute AP flour for coconut flour? I know it wouldn’t be as healthy, but it’s usually what is on-hand.
Laura Fuentes
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
Jacquie
Can you you subsitute Almond flour for the coconut flour and app;e sauce for the bannana and Agava for the honey
Laura Fuentes
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
Sandy
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?
Laura Fuentes
this recipe was developed to be used with coconut flour only. sorry!
Nina
Hi Laura,
sounds and looks amazing! Would it be possible to substitute almond butter for peanut butter?
Thank you!
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
Absolutely!
Natalie
What can I substitute for peanut butter? (We are allergic to soy too)
Laura Fuentes
there is a no-nut butter made with sunflower seeds and another with yellow peas. I hope this helps!
Lauren
Do you think almond or cashew butter would work? My kids can’t have peanuts.
Laura Fuentes
absolutely!
Hm
Why coconut flour? Can I use a different flour?
Laura Fuentes
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.
RW
What can I use if I do not have coconut flour? I have wheat flour and flaxseed meal.
Laura Fuentes
Unfortunately those won’t work. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
Molly
Why coconut flour? Can you use whole wheat flour?
Laura Fuentes
Unfortunately no. coconut flour is not really a “flour” and it absorbs a lot more than regular flour.
Heidi
If I don’t have coconut flour, can I use another type of flour?
Laura Fuentes
Unfortunately no. The recipe was developed with coconut flour and not tested with traditional flour.
Eileen
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!
Laura Fuentes
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!
Jen
I used wheat flour, they were good
Laura Fuentes
🙂
Faiza
Wouldnt raw unroasted/uncooked wheat flour cause stomach ache?
Lisa
Have you tried using almond butter or cashew butter instead of peanut butter?
Laura Fuentes
Yes, and both work wonderfully!
Emilia
These look great! I’m always looking for healthy and sweet snacks. Thanks for sharing!
Molly
When you add the vanilla protien powder do you need to make an adjustment to the amount of coconut flour you add?
Thank you!
★★★★
Laura Fuentes
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!