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!
- 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
- 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.
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?
Khushboo recently posted…Coconutty Apple Chia Pudding
Me too!! They haven’t tried them yet, but I can’t wait to see how they compare to the original 🙂
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!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} recently posted…Look Again: Gluten-free and Dairy-free Pumpkin Pie Bars
Amen, sister! Margarine is the worst.
I’ve been looking for a dessert to use pears in, thank you 🙂
Dietitian Jess recently posted…Favorite Fitness Apps
You’ve found it! Wahoo!
How would you adjust the baking time for a regular muffin tin?
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!
Holy yum!! These look great and I’m super pumped to try them.
Thanks!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Carly recently posted…A Fail-Proof Treadmill Workout
These look yummy. Could you substitute the flour for a gluten free option? Like coconut flour, or rice flout?
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!
Awesome! Enjoy!
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!
Rachael@AnAvocadoADay recently posted…Gluten Free Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Chicken Sausage Salad
Yum that sounds sp fab!!
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? 😉
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl recently posted…Hot Cocoa Oatmeal (Vegan)
Agreed! There’s never a bad time for chocolate.
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…
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth recently posted…Spiced Apple & Pear Brown Rice Pudding
Good luck on finding a Joel!!
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? 😉
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health recently posted…Market Day in Aix en Provence
They’re SO cute and SO tasty! I seriously ate 4 out of the oven 🙂 And no, I think you’re a fabulous person!
I can’t wait to make these this weekend!
Hope you love them!
Oh my….they are so good!
Wahoo!!!
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!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance recently posted…Cherry Cheesecake Crepes – Vegan
It’s my recent favorite combo! So delish.
love the idea of putting pear in there! YUM!!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…Slap Ya Mama Salmon
Mumsies are the bombdiggitydotcomforeverandeveramen! These are brilliant and I want to eat the whole batch. Please and thank you 😀
Julia recently posted…Seared Duck Breast with Pomegranate Reduction
Eat alllll the blondies! Extra chocolate chips, please.
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!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…Salt and Vinegar Brussels Sprout Chips
Same. We’re coming armed with gluten-free chocolate chip pear blondies and allll the wine!!
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.
Cassie recently posted…Now Trending – Best Links Week of 11.3
It’s seriously a match made in heaven!!
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 🙂
Awwww so glad you found me, Liz! I’m glad to have a fellow buckeye around!
I just tried these at home and they are absolutely amazing!
Awesome! I’m thrilled you liked them!
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?
Yes you should be able to no problem! If you swap wit coconut flour I might use half cup 🙂
Cool. Thanks so much. So excited to make these tom 🙂 I’ll let u know how it goes..
A MyFitnessPal article recommended this recipe, so I tried it out yesterday. The blondies are delicious, and even better the second day!