These vegan, whole grain Chocolate Chip Pear Blondie Bites are the perfect dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Meet my little friends.
When I was home in Cleveland last weekend, my dear mumsy told me about a pear blondie recipe that my fam has been loving lately. I got quite a kick out of the 1992 cookbook it came from, oohing and ahhing over the "butter flavored crisco" and cake mix that nearly every recipe called for. Apparently trans fat was the thing in the early nineties.
When I got to the pear blondies recipe, I got all excited because the ingredients weren't that bad. A cup of brown sugar. A quarter cup of butter (or margarine aka trans fat). Three quarters cup of white flour, and so on. I immediately started brainstorming about how I could make a healthier version because I was head over heels in love with the idea of combining pears and chocolate.
I ended up swapping in a half cup plus two tablespoons of coconut sugar (a healthier, less processed alternative) for the cup of white sugar, coconut oil for the butter, and whole wheat flour for the white flour. Even after cutting the sugar nearly in half and using an 100% whole grain flour, they tasted AMAZING. Like a little bite of blondie heaven.
I don't even really know what blondies actually are (these seem more like cookie bites to me....) but hey, I thought I'd give credit to the original recipe name.
Like when you bring home a new dog named Joel and you're dying to change it to Jackson but that would just be plain wrong.
The best part about these blondie babies is how easy they are. Like that dog named Joel could even make them.
These taste like itty bitty chocolate chipey cookies with gooey bites of sweet pears. While their cute size should in theory aide in portion control, I ate three four straight out of the oven. They're officially my new favorite dessert! Secretly healthy, totally delish, and super duper cute.
Did I mention they're totally vegan, too? If you're not following a vegan diet, feel free to swap in a real egg for the flax "egg." You could also use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar, though they do sell coconut sugar now at Trader Joe's for super cheap! I have a feeling these would be awesome with bananas or chopped apples and cinnamon, too! The possibilities are endless, my friends.
MAKE 'EM!
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Chocolate Chip Pear Blondie Bites
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 18 mins
- Total Time: 28 mins
- Yield: 20 1x
- Category: Dessert
Description
These vegan, whole grain Chocolate Chip Pear Blondie Bites are the perfect dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water (or 1 egg)
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 medium ripe pear, chopped into small pieces
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a mini muffin tin with coconut oil or cooking spray. (You could also use a regular muffin tin but you'll need to adjust the baking time.)
- In a small bowl, combine flax and water. Set aside to gel for 5 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, stir together coconut sugar, melted oil, vanilla, and flax egg until combined.
- In another medium bowl, mix together flour, salt, and baking powder. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and stir until just combined. It will look like a small amount of batter.
- Fold in chopped pears and chocolate chips.
- Spoon mixture into mini muffin tins, using your hands to press mixture evenly.
- Bake for 18 minutes. Cool pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before carefully removing blondies from pan to cool completely.
JK says
I make these ALL the time! So easy and so good. But really, I made them with only 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup mini choco chips. I add more vanilla, too. They are PLENTY sweet with the pear. Plus I have made them with 3 over ripe bananas, too. Always a big hit at potlucks with the mini size, 1st to go!
★★★★★
Alexis says
Mmmm love that! I totally need to remake these!!
JK says
this are awesome! I have made them MANY times, with pears and very ripe bananas, about 3. I use only 1/4 cup brown sugar , 1/4 cup mini choc chips and 1 tsp vanilla with a GF flour blend. WOW, they are so easy and fast and everybody loves them. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Alexis says
Yummm! So you just mix in 3 ripe bananas? Sounds so good!
JK says
this are awesome! I have made them MANY times, with pears and very ripe bananas, about 3. I use only 1/4 cup brown sugar , 1/4 cup mini choc chips and 1 tsp vanilla with a GF flour blend. WOW, they are so easy and fast and everybody loves them. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Alexis says
Yummm! So you just mix in 3 ripe bananas? Sounds so good!
Rebekah Jaunty says
A MyFitnessPal article recommended this recipe, so I tried it out yesterday. The blondies are delicious, and even better the second day!
★★★★
Rebekah Jaunty says
A MyFitnessPal article recommended this recipe, so I tried it out yesterday. The blondies are delicious, and even better the second day!
★★★★
Moz Ramos says
I have almond and coconut flour as another healthy apternative to white flour since I don't have whole wheat flour on hand, can i used either coconut or almond flour instead?
Alexis says
Yes you should be able to no problem! If you swap wit coconut flour I might use half cup 🙂
Moz Ramos says
Cool. Thanks so much. So excited to make these tom 🙂 I'll let u know how it goes..
Moz Ramos says
I have almond and coconut flour as another healthy apternative to white flour since I don't have whole wheat flour on hand, can i used either coconut or almond flour instead?
Alexis says
Yes you should be able to no problem! If you swap wit coconut flour I might use half cup 🙂
Moz Ramos says
Cool. Thanks so much. So excited to make these tom 🙂 I'll let u know how it goes..
sweetkitchenscience says
I just tried these at home and they are absolutely amazing!
Alexis says
Awesome! I'm thrilled you liked them!
sweetkitchenscience says
I just tried these at home and they are absolutely amazing!
Alexis says
Awesome! I'm thrilled you liked them!
Liz S. says
Blondies are my favorite baked good, so I especially love this recipe. Great ingredient/flavor pairing!
Just discovered your blog - I will definitely be a loyal reader from now on. So glad I found it, such a great resource! I'm also a fellow Ohioan 🙂
★★★★★
Alexis says
Awwww so glad you found me, Liz! I'm glad to have a fellow buckeye around!
Liz S. says
Blondies are my favorite baked good, so I especially love this recipe. Great ingredient/flavor pairing!
Just discovered your blog - I will definitely be a loyal reader from now on. So glad I found it, such a great resource! I'm also a fellow Ohioan 🙂
★★★★★
Alexis says
Awwww so glad you found me, Liz! I'm glad to have a fellow buckeye around!
Cassie says
Waiiiit how did I never know that pears + chocolate = love? I feel like I've been lied to the past 25 years... lying by omission of not knowing this existed.
Alexis says
It's seriously a match made in heaven!!
Cassie says
Waiiiit how did I never know that pears + chocolate = love? I feel like I've been lied to the past 25 years... lying by omission of not knowing this existed.
Alexis says
It's seriously a match made in heaven!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
I love that I was born in the decade when trans fats were all the rage. Can't wait to tell my kiddos all about it! Ummmm these look amazing. I want them. Bring Z and come over for a tea party!
Alexis says
Same. We're coming armed with gluten-free chocolate chip pear blondies and allll the wine!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
I love that I was born in the decade when trans fats were all the rage. Can't wait to tell my kiddos all about it! Ummmm these look amazing. I want them. Bring Z and come over for a tea party!
Alexis says
Same. We're coming armed with gluten-free chocolate chip pear blondies and allll the wine!!
Julia says
Mumsies are the bombdiggitydotcomforeverandeveramen! These are brilliant and I want to eat the whole batch. Please and thank you 😀
Alexis says
Eat alllll the blondies! Extra chocolate chips, please.
Julia says
Mumsies are the bombdiggitydotcomforeverandeveramen! These are brilliant and I want to eat the whole batch. Please and thank you 😀
Alexis says
Eat alllll the blondies! Extra chocolate chips, please.
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
love the idea of putting pear in there! YUM!!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
love the idea of putting pear in there! YUM!!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
Currently obsessing over pear and chocolate right now after reading this and I mean seeeeerious cravings for it right now! YUM! Pinning this and making it asap!
Alexis says
It's my recent favorite combo! So delish.
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
Currently obsessing over pear and chocolate right now after reading this and I mean seeeeerious cravings for it right now! YUM! Pinning this and making it asap!
Alexis says
It's my recent favorite combo! So delish.
Robin lucas says
I can't wait to make these this weekend!
Alexis says
Hope you love them!
Robin lucas says
Oh my....they are so good!
Alexis says
Wahoo!!!
Robin lucas says
I can't wait to make these this weekend!
Alexis says
Hope you love them!
Robin lucas says
Oh my....they are so good!
Alexis says
Wahoo!!!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
K so I freaked out when I saw these on IG because not only are they adorable but they sound freakin' amazing. And they're healthy too?! Mind.blown.
I love the story behind them too. Lol, I actually changed my dog's name when I brought her home. Does that make me a bad person? 😉
Alexis says
They're SO cute and SO tasty! I seriously ate 4 out of the oven 🙂 And no, I think you're a fabulous person!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
K so I freaked out when I saw these on IG because not only are they adorable but they sound freakin' amazing. And they're healthy too?! Mind.blown.
I love the story behind them too. Lol, I actually changed my dog's name when I brought her home. Does that make me a bad person? 😉
Alexis says
They're SO cute and SO tasty! I seriously ate 4 out of the oven 🙂 And no, I think you're a fabulous person!
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says
I've got almost everything on the ingredient list. Off to get a dog named Joel and some coconut sugar. Will let you know what happens...
Alexis says
Good luck on finding a Joel!!
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says
I've got almost everything on the ingredient list. Off to get a dog named Joel and some coconut sugar. Will let you know what happens...
Alexis says
Good luck on finding a Joel!!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I have just recently become a pear lover, so I LOVE that they are making an appearance here. I bet the pear/chocolate combo is one that I would most definitely love. What's not to love about chocolate, right? 😉
Alexis says
Agreed! There's never a bad time for chocolate.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I have just recently become a pear lover, so I LOVE that they are making an appearance here. I bet the pear/chocolate combo is one that I would most definitely love. What's not to love about chocolate, right? 😉
Alexis says
Agreed! There's never a bad time for chocolate.
Rachael@AnAvocadoADay says
Pears and dark chocolate are a match made in Heaven! My all time favorite cake is Smitten Kitchen's pear and bittersweet chocolate cake - so delish!
Alexis says
Yum that sounds sp fab!!
Rachael@AnAvocadoADay says
Pears and dark chocolate are a match made in Heaven! My all time favorite cake is Smitten Kitchen's pear and bittersweet chocolate cake - so delish!
Alexis says
Yum that sounds sp fab!!
Carly says
Holy yum!! These look great and I'm super pumped to try them.
Thanks!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Sandra says
These look yummy. Could you substitute the flour for a gluten free option? Like coconut flour, or rice flout?
Alexis says
A gluten-free all purpose flour or oat flour would work well. Coconut flour isn't interchangeable, so don't use that. Not sure about the rice flour!
Alexis says
Awesome! Enjoy!
Carly says
Holy yum!! These look great and I'm super pumped to try them.
Thanks!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Sandra says
These look yummy. Could you substitute the flour for a gluten free option? Like coconut flour, or rice flout?
Alexis says
A gluten-free all purpose flour or oat flour would work well. Coconut flour isn't interchangeable, so don't use that. Not sure about the rice flour!
Alexis says
Awesome! Enjoy!
Lindsay says
How would you adjust the baking time for a regular muffin tin?
Alexis says
I would check them after 20 minutes and then use a fork to test them to see if they're done. I'm not exactly sure how long they'll take in a regular muffin tin!
Lindsay says
How would you adjust the baking time for a regular muffin tin?
Alexis says
I would check them after 20 minutes and then use a fork to test them to see if they're done. I'm not exactly sure how long they'll take in a regular muffin tin!
Dietitian Jess says
I've been looking for a dessert to use pears in, thank you 🙂
Alexis says
You've found it! Wahoo!
Dietitian Jess says
I've been looking for a dessert to use pears in, thank you 🙂
Alexis says
You've found it! Wahoo!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Oh my!! These are going to make an appearance in my kitchen for sure! Love the way you fixed the original recipe. Nobody needs margarine in their life!
Alexis says
Amen, sister! Margarine is the worst.
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Oh my!! These are going to make an appearance in my kitchen for sure! Love the way you fixed the original recipe. Nobody needs margarine in their life!
Alexis says
Amen, sister! Margarine is the worst.
Khushboo says
These are super cute...and so much more appealing than the regular recipe. Just the word 'margarine' makes me cringe! What did the fam jam think of these?
Alexis says
Me too!! They haven't tried them yet, but I can't wait to see how they compare to the original 🙂
Khushboo says
These are super cute...and so much more appealing than the regular recipe. Just the word 'margarine' makes me cringe! What did the fam jam think of these?
Alexis says
Me too!! They haven't tried them yet, but I can't wait to see how they compare to the original 🙂