These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Cookies are moist, sweet, salty and nutty all at the same time. Each cookie packs about five grams of protein – the perfect snack to curb your post-dinner sweet craving!
It has been a hot damn minute since I’ve used chickpeas in a dessert recipe.
I’ll never forget the first time that I made chickpea blondies. It was my junior year of college, and I’d just started dating Christian. I began cooking when I was a sophomore, so by the time I was a junior, I was super into it, and already sharing my creations on my Instagram. I’d been following food blogs, and if I remember correctly, I was inspired by one of my favorites at the time (and still do this day), Ambitious Kitchen, to use chickpeas in baking.
Additionally, it was during this year that I’d given up gluten completely. I’ve been struggling with IBS my entire life, but when I was in college, I began to see patterns after eating certain foods where I would get CRAZY sick out of no where every time. Like – the most painful stomach aches I’d ever had, even after years and years of dealing with stomach pain. It turned out to be my gallbladder… this is a story for another time, but the point is – I gave up gluten for an entire year. I legitimately did not eat one molecule of anything that contained gluten the entire time because I was so afraid to get those stomach aches again. And… it actually worked. (I’ve read that gallbladder dysfunction can be confused with gluten sensitivity. Who knows.)
Giving up something that was so prevalent in my diet was a challenge, but it forced me to be creative. And actually, I would say that this was one of the most creative times in my life cooking-wise. I never had toast *gasp* ! Because at this time, anything gluten-free was a needle in a haystack. Nowadays, gluten-free products are ubiquitous. Back then I had to pay $10 for a miniscual loaf of gluten-free bread, and each loaf was the size of my palm.
Quick tip: to remove the skin from chickpeas, run them under water and use your fingers to easily remove. This is not required, but if you prefer them without the skin.
[Tweet “Ever used chickpeas to bake? Start with this recipe:”]
But, I’m back working with chickpeas! I’ve had what seems like an unlimited supply of chickpeas for so long, and have been wanting to bake with them for a while. But I’ll be honest – I was a little intimidated. It’s been so long since I’ve baked in this fashion, I was afraid I’d lost my touch.
Spoiler alert: YA GIRL IS BACK. These were SO good, I don’t know why I ever stopped making them!!
These were the easiest cookies I’ve made in a while, too. Don’t let the fact that they contain chickpeas fool you. I didn’t even use a bowl! I stuck everything into my food processor and simply scooped each ball straight from there.
Quick tip: make sure you process the chickpeas first before adding any of the other ingredients. Process them until they are completely smooth to avoid any chickpea chunks in your cookies!
[Tweet “Can you guess what the secret ingredient is in these cookies?”]
These cookies are:
Moist (cringe, but seriously they’re moist)
Soft
Sweet
Nutty
Salty
Smooth
Filling
[Tweet “Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Cookies…YESSS!”]
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup creamy, natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup chocolate chunks
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a cookie sheet.
- Add chickpeas to a food processor and process until completely smooth.
- Add in peanut butter, vanilla, syrup, baking powder. Process until well-combined.
- Add chickpeas and pulse until well-combined. I like to have little chunks of cashews – you can surely process until smooth, however.
- Add in chocolate chunks and pulse until well-combined.
- Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, spoon out batter and form into balls. Place about 1 1/2 inch from each other onto the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle salt over each cookie (use photos for reference).
- Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Join the conversation:
Have you ever used chickpeas in your baking?
Have you ever tried a certain diet (like how I went gluten-free)?
Did you like this recipe? Pin it for later!
Amanda Elizabeth - Meet at the Barre says
I tried a recipe once and all those things you talked about that could happen did…..like chunks of chickpeas. I think I need to try again and use your little insider tips to get them right.
The Blissful Balance says
Yeah that used to happen to me every time I tried it in college, and I definitely have it down now and realize why so many people use chickpeas haha because before I was like ew this is chunky! I would definitely try again!!
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It says
You had me at chocolate peanut butter…these look SO GOOD! I love using chickpeas in my baking, I think the first thing I made with them was Chocolate Covered Katie’s cookie dough dip. You have to try it if you haven’t! I’ve been a pescetarian for a long time but I picked up lean chicken and turkey again because my doc said I could use the extra protein. Makes meal times a bit easier
The Blissful Balance says
Anything by her I’m sure is amazing so YEAH I’ll try it ;D I’m kind of the opposite, I think I get too much protein, and not enough veggies haha. Like when I tried the Whole30, I ate way too much protein and it messed with my tummy. I needed more greens!
Alysia at Slim Sanity says
Chickpeas are kinda like magic, aren’t they? and food processors!! Easily my favorite kitchen tool. These sound fantastic!
The Blissful Balance says
Yes it IS like magic! Whoever first discovered this might as well be compared to Thomas Edison I mean seriously.
Erin @ The Almond Eater says
Oh wow it’s been a hot minute since I’ve baked with chickpeas too. I LOVE CHICKPEAS SO MUCH I need to hop back on that train ASAP. Thanks for the inspoooooo.
The Blissful Balance says
GIRL YAS GET ON DAT TRAIN
Natalie @ A Fit Philosophy says
YUMMMMM!!! I have a slight obsession with all things peanut butter and chocolate and the fact that these are gluten free make these perfect for me!! OMG remember when there was no gluten free anything?!?! I feel ya – $10 for a quarter size piece of bread, that wasn’t even that good anyway…boo. BUT silver lining to everything, because now I get to try these delicious looking babies!
The Blissful Balance says
HAHA yes!!! There was nothing it was so hard!! But I do miss how creative it forced me to be!
rachel at athletic avocado says
I’ve actually never baked with chickpeas before! These cookies look amazing, I love how they are healthy enough for dessert and a pre/post workout snack
The Blissful Balance says
What!! You’ve gotta try it you’d love it! And yes totally good for pre/post workout. Sort of resemble energy bites but texture of a cookie. If that makes sense. haha
Kellen McAvoy says
YUM! I haven’t used chickpeas in baking yet but I eat them all the time in my salads. I can’t wait to try these! I have a jar in my cupboards right now
The Blissful Balance says
KELLEN Ya gotta try it!! It’ll change your life. Ok maybe that’s dramatic but seriously, you won’t believe how perfectly they go with baking recipes!
Diana @ Live Lean Eat Green says
It’s amazing how chickpeas can transform into the exact texture you need for cookie dough or when actually baking the cookies. Pinned and making ASAP!
The Blissful Balance says
Totally!! They go soo perfectly. When I first started making dessert with chickpeas I was in college using a crappy food processor and just straight up not doing it right, so I always had little chunks of them in the final product lol yuck. But now, I want to use them for everything because I’ve got it down haha
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
These look delicious! I love the hidden chickpeas!
The Blissful Balance says
Thanks Dani!! It’s so crazy how well they go with baking!
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
I’ve never tried another diet – well, unless you count gluten free… but that was kind of forced when I found out I was coeliac 😛 But just switching from a eat whatever you want diet to a gluten free with 101 food intolerance “Kristy” diet was seriously difficult and forced me to be creative!
These look dangerously delicious. Like the kind of treat that just seems to disappear from our refrigerator 😛
The Blissful Balance says
I tried the Whole 30 “diet” one time to see what foods were causing all of the hot mess that is my digestive system. I lasted two weeks. bahah oh well.
Shannon says
These look so good! I love making cookie dough with chickpeas!
The Blissful Balance says
Thanks Shannon! That’s something I have not tried. Although I will say I did take a few bites of this batter ;D
Megan says
Hahaha moist. Can’t help but squirm a little with that one. I’ve made chickpea cookies before and they were delicious, so I’m definitely game for these. Have you seen Fit Foodie Finds chickpea granola? I really wanna give that a go!
The Blissful Balance says
No Megan I hate that word too like it disgusts me hahah blegh. But I HAVE TO – they really are moist lmao! I have not seen that recipe, wow I need to look it up thank you!! <3 Happy Thursday! xo
Emily says
The absolutely deliciousness and fudgy look of these makes me want to make them right now, but I don’t think our B&B owners would like that right now… Totally pinning for when we get home. Chickpea adds protein to the yummy baked goods without changing the flavor, and that’s why I love them so much.
The Blissful Balance says
Where are you?!?
Emily says
We’re in Ireland!!! The land of sheep and big cliffs and lots of big Irish breakfasts. The people here are SO friendly too!
Georgie @ Healthy Pears says
Wow! These look amazing! I’ve been meaning to give chickpeas and baking for ages!! I think I’ll start off with chickpea flour instead! Ha ha I’m about to embark on an 8 week I quit sugar program! We will see how it goes!!
The Blissful Balance says
YES Georgie try it, it’s life-changing 😀 And oh my goodness, I totally NEED to do that, but I don’t think I could lol! I’m too weak ;D
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen says
These look SO chewy and delicious. I don’t use chickpeas in baking enough. Love these photos!
The Blissful Balance says
You should totally try I’m sure you would make something spectacular!