A sweet treat that is sure to be an instant hit!
Indulge in these vegan and gluten-free plant-based peanut butter blondies for a satisfyingly sweet treat. Filled with creamy peanut butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup, these blondies will surely be an instant hit with the family. Easy to make, this recipe is a delicious way to enjoy dessert, even if you’re vegan!
See How to Make Them!
Why These Blondies Will Be Your New Obsession
These plant-based peanut butter blondies are perfect for those who want to enjoy delicious desserts without compromising their health.
Free of any animal products, these are a decadent but great alternative to traditional blondies for those with special dietary needs. They make an ideal family dessert or snack with just the right amount of sweetness.
Plus, they are made with simple, all-natural ingredients, so you can feel good about enjoying them. So why not give them a try? Your taste buds will thank you!
Blondies vs. Brownies
The main difference between blondies and brownies is in the cocoa powder. Brownies are traditionally made with cocoa powder, while blondies contain none. This gives them a much lighter, more subtle flavor than their chocolatey counterparts.
These plant-based peanut butter blondies are even simpler to make than regular brownies without the need for cocoa powder or chocolate chips.
Vegan Desserts
Just because you stick to a plant-based diet doesn’t mean you have to miss out on desserts. With a few simple tweaks, it’s easy to make deliciously indulgent treats like these plant-based peanut butter blondies while keeping up with your dietary restrictions.
Why We Love Peanut Butter
When making plant-based sweets, the hardest thing to substitute is the moisture and texture that dairy products like butter and cream provide.
Peanut butter is an excellent solution to this problem – it gives a depth of flavor that can’t be matched and adds a nice nutty undertone. Plus, peanut butter is full of healthy fats and protein, making it an ideal choice for vegan desserts like these blondies!
What Needs To Be Swapped To Make Them Plant-Based
For those who want to get creative with their plant-based baking, you can make plenty of other swaps.
Dairy Milk
Milk can easily be replaced in recipes with plant-based milk like almond, coconut, or hemp.
Eggs
Eggs can be swapped for vegan egg replacements like ground flaxseeds and chia seeds (both mixed with water), applesauce, nut butter, or store-bought egg replacements.
Butter
Coconut oil is a great butter alternative in baking recipes. It has a similar consistency and, when melted, has a very similar texture to butter.
Honey
Honey is a sweetener that is often considered non-vegan, so feel free to swap in maple syrup or agave syrup.
How To Make These Peanut Butter Blondies
If you’re ready to get baking, here’s a step-by-step guide for making your own plant-based peanut butter blondies.
Key Ingredients
To get started, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole wheat flour is high in fiber, which helps to keep you fuller for longer and can help reduce cholesterol levels. It also has a nuttier flavor than normal flour.
However, if you only have white flour on hand, it will still work in this recipe! Alternatively, you can swap in gluten-free flour if you cannot eat gluten.
Baking Powder
Baking powder is an essential ingredient in any baking recipe. It helps to leaven the dough and adds a nice light and fluffy texture to your blondies.
Don’t swap in baking soda- it won’t work! Baking soda is a different type of leavening agent that is used in recipes with an acid, like lemon juice or vinegar.
Salt
Salt is key to any recipe as it enhances the flavor of all your ingredients. I like to use cracked sea salt, but any kind of salt will do.
Peanut Butter
This ingredient will be the star of the show- you’ll need to use natural peanut butter for this recipe. As mentioned above, peanut butter works great as a dairy-free alternative in baking.
Be sure to use all-natural peanut butter to avoid any palm oil or added sugar. Also, if you don’t have peanuts on hand, you can use almond butter or cashew butter as an alternative.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil adds moisture and rich flavor to the blondies. In addition, it helps keep them nice and soft. If you don’t have coconut oil on hand, you can use vegan butter as an alternative.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener and helps to add sweetness to the blondies. You can also use agave syrup or date syrup if you don’t have maple syrup on hand.
Vanilla Extract
A little bit of vanilla extract adds an extra layer of flavor to these blondies. Feel free to leave it out or add more if you want to customize the flavor.
Just a Few Simple Steps
Now that you have all your ingredients, it’s time to get baking! Here are the three simple steps for making these delicious blondies:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8×8” baking pan with parchment paper.
Second, mix together the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until fully combined. Fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir it until everything is well incorporated.
Finally, spread the mixture into the lined baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool and enjoy!
Tip and Tricks
Here are my favorite tips and tricks for making this recipe!
1. Start at Room Temp
Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature before starting. Cold ingredients can affect the texture and consistency of your blondies.
2. Don’t Over-Mix
Once you add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, make sure not to over-mix. This can make your blondies tough and chewy instead of light and fluffy.
3. Avoid Over Baking
It’s important not to over bake your blondies, or else they will be dry and crumbly. Take them out of the oven when the edges are golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs.
4. Let Them Cool
Allow your blondies to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into them. This will help them stay together better and have a nice texture.
Customizations
You can customize these vegan blondies however you like!
1. Add Mix-Ins
Feel free to add some mix-ins like chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or anything else you like.
2. Switch to a Different Nut or Seed Butter
If you don’t have peanut butter on hand, feel free to use almond butter or cashew butter as a substitute. If you are allergic to nuts or peanuts, you can use sunflower seed butter.
3. Change the Extract
If you don’t have vanilla extract, you can use almond extract or pistachio extract as a nutty alternative.
4. Change the Sweetener
The recipe calls for maple syrup, but it is consistent with agave syrup or date syrup if you don’t have maple on hand. You can even use brown sugar or coconut sugar.
5. Add Some Spice
For a nice spicy twist, add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon to the recipe. You can also try adding some pumpkin pie spice for an even more festive flavor!
Prep and Storage
You can easily make the batter for these blondies in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking.
Store your plant-based peanut butter blondies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they called blondies?
Blondies are a light, blonde-colored dessert that is similar to brownies but without the cocoa powder.
How do I get the right texture?
You want your blondies to be somewhat gooey, but not too wet and not too hard. This can be achieved by avoiding over-mixing the batter and taking them out of the oven when they are golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Can I use a different nut butter in this recipe?
Yes, you can use almond butter or cashew butter as an alternative. Just make sure to get all-natural nut butter that doesn’t have any added sugar or palm oil.
How do I know when the blondies are done?
The blondies are done when the edges are golden brown, and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Can I make these blondies gluten-free?
Yes, you can easily make this recipe gluten-free by using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend like almond or oat flour.
I’m allergic to coconut, can I use something else?
Yes, you can use vegan butter as an alternative to coconut oil. Just make sure it is melted before adding it to the wet ingredients.
More Plant-Based Desserts
Want to try some other plant-based desserts? These are some of our favorites!
- Carrot Spice Oatmeal Cookies
- Easy Tofu Chocolate Mousse
- Oil-Free Chocolate Muffins
- Avocado Fudge Brownie Recipe
- Sweet Potato Brownies
- Banana Pudding Ice Cream
There’s plenty more where that came from! Check out these 15 Plant-Based Desserts You’ll Fall In Love With!
Plant-Based Peanut Butter Blondies
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole wheat flour fine
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup peanut butter creamy, all-natural
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease an 8×8 inch baking pan.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, mix together peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined.
- Spread batter into prepared baking pan and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool before cutting into 12 squares and serving.
Nutrition Information
Have you made this recipe?
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Never would have guessed this is so healthy. Thanks!