Recipe Review: Gooey PB&J Blondies
Chocolate-Covered Katie’s recipe for Deep Dish Cookie Pie made healthy with garbanzo beans has been a big hit at our house this summer. I’ve made it numerous times for us to enjoy and to take to parties.
Gooey PB&J Blondies from Katie’s blog also intrigued me, so I made them this past weekend. My first thought when I bit into a bar was that it both tasted and smelled like Goober Grape peanut butter. Mr. SP had the same thought with no prompting from me!
These bars are moist and yummy but a bit sticky because of the jelly.
I liked them but didn’t think that they were as good as the Deep Dish Chocolate Chip version, probably because there was no chocolate! I will make this recipe again as it is healthy treat that contains no oil or butter.
Gooey PB&J Blondies
- 1 can garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (not unsalted)
- 1/4 cup quick oats
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 plus 1/8 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup brown sugar (I may add a touch more the next time)
- 1/2 cup jam of choice (I used strawberry)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process garbanzo beans until they are very smooth. Add other ingredients except for the jam and process a bit more. Spread into a greased 8×8 pan. 
Spread the jam on top.
Bake for 35-38 minutes. (Watch carefully as your oven may be less, mine was.)
Cool and cut into 16 squares and place on a pretty platter or cake stand.
A comment left on Chocolate-Covered Katie’s post calculates the calories as approximately 121 calories per bar. The fat content has to be extremely low.
The next time I make these I plan to either stir a small amount of chocolate chips into the batter or add a touch more brown sugar to make them a bit sweeter.
Be sure to visit Chocolate-Covered Katie for healthy dessert ideas and if you make any of them, I’d love to know your opinion.
one word- “Yum”!
Looks great Paula, I’m working on bake goods today for a church bake sale. Lots of flour flying around the kitchen today.
Really? Another garbanzo bean recipe? I MUST try these! I wonder–do you think they’d work just as peanut butter bars without the jelly? Or would it work to sprinkle some milk chocolate chips across the top right as they come out the oven and then spread them out as they melt for a thin layer of chocolate? We love peanut butter and peanut butter and chocolate, but I’m not sure my boys would go for the jelly. What do you think?
Wow, these sound healthy enough to make for breakfast! But, I am with Richella- skip the jelly and throw some chocolate chips on top!
I love the chic chip cookie pie!!! These look good too but I like Ricella’s idea About the chocolate chips. I love pb&j
I love ooey-gooey cookies like these. I’ll have to try them once I can turn the oven on again, it’s still to warm for any kind of baking at my house!
Thanks for the link! I love baking and am always looking for healthy treat recipes! Those bars look moist and delicious!
I’ve been so out of the loop – but I’m thrilled to have you recommend a place where I can find some healthy dessert recipes! I’m really trying to whip my family into healthier shape over here! Thanks!
Hi Paula!
I saw this recipe and had to give it a try. I STRUGGLE with an inherited sweet tooth and I am always on the lookout for dessert recipes that are healthy and tasty, to assuage my guilt. This is a great recipe! I used sugar free jelly (sweetened with Splenda)and substited half the brown sugar with Splenda. I will definetly make it again.
Thanks so much for posting it!
Sincerely,
Lori in Hanover, VA