15 Dessert Recipes You Won’t Believe Are Made With Chickpeas (2024)

When you think dessert, chickpea isn’t the main ingredient that usually comes to mind. Believe it or not, chickpeas are way more versatile than a salad addition or a base to hummus: They are actually a great substitute for flour in many dessert recipes. Full of protein, fiber, folic acid and manganese, chickpeas are a nutritional powerhouse. Plus, this pantry staple is low-glycemic and gluten-free! Grab a couple extra cans next time you’re at the grocery store (or better yet, make your own!) and get cooking ASAP.

1. Cookie Dough Pops: Could a sugar-free, vegan cookie dough ice cream be real? Yes! Try these pops on ice for a sweet treat on those sticky summer nights. (via Including Cake)

2. Chickpea Flour Thin Mints: It’s not Girl Scout cookie season anymore, but does anything say summer more than mint? Recreate your favorite thin mints with chickpea flour for a nut-free, grain-free vegan take on a typically not-so-healthy indulgence. (via Oatmeal With a Fork)

3. Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies: Fool everyone at the office potluck and show up traditional brownies with this healthier version. These blondies sub in bananas for sugar and chickpeas for flour in this gluten-free and just-as-delicious treat. (via Ambitious Kitchen)

4. Vegan Meringues: Save the liquid from making your own chickpeas (trust us, way tastier than the canned version) and whip up a batch of these vegan meringues. (via Slate)

5. PB Cookie Dough Dip: Tastes like cookie dough. Is actually chickpeas. Is healthy… ish. Is a major win! (via Brit + Co)

6. Gooey Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Make girl’s night a little healthier with this version of everyone’s favorite cookie. These bad boys are grain-free, refined-sugar-free and… you guessed it, full of fiber and protein from the chickpeas and peanut butter. (via Lucky Penny Blog)

7. Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Chickpea Blondies With Maple Glaze: You’ll be counting down the days to winter just for an excuse to make these holiday-inspired blondies. Chickpeas help lower your blood sugar, and these are free of the refined sugar that elevates it. (via Hummusapien)

8. Chickpea and Orange Cake: Are you looking for a healthier option for your go-to quick bread? This yummy version is naturally gluten-free and delicious. (via Love Thy Carbs)

9. Peanut Butter + Jelly Cookie Bars: Don’t let giving up refined flours stop you from enjoying a childhood staple. These bars make a great hiking snack that will motivate you to get outside this summer! (via The Honour System)

10. Chickpea Cookie Dough Truffles: Curb that late-night cookie dough craving with chickpeas. In less than five minutes, you can whip up a batch of healthy yet still decadent truffles with the humble legume. Keep these in the freezer for easy snacking. (via The Nutritious Kitchen)

11. Chickpea Thumbprint Cookies: This is a healthy, plant-based take on a supermarket classic. These are perfect for a picnic or snacking on after a day at the pool. (via The Colorful Kitchen)

12. Gluten-Free Coconut Cardamom Ice Box Cookies: This baker recommends them with some kaffir lime mousse. And we can’t say no to that. (via Kathy Gori on Snapguide)

13. Strawberry and White Chocolate Muffins: Be the star of your summer brunch when you bring along these muffins. They are the perfect gluten-free way to use up your summer produce. (via A Tasty Love Story)

14. Dark Chocolate Chickpea Brownies: No one will guess that these brownies are not only grain-free and vegan, but positively delicious as well. Pair these with your favorite banana ice cream or coconut-milk-based ice cream for a healthy sundae night. (via The Roasted Root)

15. Gluten-Free Indian Dessert Laddu: Start brewing the tea for these treats. Stat. (via Kathy Gori on Snapguide)

Do you ever make desserts out of chickpeas? Leave us your favorite chickpea-based treats below!

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Cassandra is a San Francisco-based marketer by day and blogger by night (and weekend!). You can usually find her running, surfing, hiking, eating or at the yoga studio when she's not working - or planning her next adventure.

15 Dessert Recipes You Won’t Believe Are Made With Chickpeas (2024)

FAQs

15 Dessert Recipes You Won’t Believe Are Made With Chickpeas? ›

Chickpeas are a magical baking ingredient alternative loaded with fiber, protein, and folic acid, and manganese. They primarily function as a substitute for traditional all-purpose flour, as well as some binding agents (like eggs) and fat. They're great for those looking for gluten-free baked goods.

What do chickpeas replace in baking? ›

Chickpeas are a magical baking ingredient alternative loaded with fiber, protein, and folic acid, and manganese. They primarily function as a substitute for traditional all-purpose flour, as well as some binding agents (like eggs) and fat. They're great for those looking for gluten-free baked goods.

What is one of the most difficult desserts to make? ›

Desserts like chocolate soufflé are known to be challenging. Your chances of baking the ideal chocolate soufflé will increase if you carefully whisk and fold the meringue and wait patiently until the buzzer sounds before opening the oven. Meringues are sensitive to humidity, temperature, and movement.

Why use chickpeas in baking? ›

But chickpea flour, Love explains, "is a naturally dense flour, and because of that denseness, and its innate binding tendencies, it lends baked goods a sturdy yet tender texture when mixed with other gluten-free flours. So, for quick breads, muffins, and cakes, it holds up extremely well."

Why do you put baking soda in chickpeas? ›

They heat the mixture in a pot for a few minutes before adding water and cooking the chickpeas as usual. The alkaline environment created by the baking soda helps break down the pectin in the beans, softening the beans' skins so well that they disintegrate during cooking and are easily rinsed away.

Are garbanzo beans the same as chickpeas? ›

The name chickpea comes from the Latin word cicer, referring to the plant family of legumes, Fabaceae. It is also known by its popular Spanish-derived name, the garbanzo bean.

Which is the purest dessert in the world? ›

Petha - The purest dessert in the world.

What happens if you don't soak chickpeas before cooking? ›

If you forget, you can simply start the cooking process, but expect them to take longer to cook than if you had soaked them first. It can take up to twice the time if you don't soak them first. The reason most people prefer to soak beans is: Soaking makes the beans cook faster.

What is the white stuff in can of chickpeas? ›

Aquafaba is the thick liquid that results from soaking or cooking legumes, such as chickpeas, in water for an extended period of time. It's the translucent viscous goop you probably rinse down the drain when you open a can of chickpeas.

Can you replace flour with chickpeas? ›

You can usually substitute half the amount of plain flour in a recipe for chickpea flour. But, be warned, it can suck up a lot of moisture, so it may not be right for every recipe – especially if you're making a cake or bread.

How do you substitute chickpeas for eggs in baking? ›

The Formula. Three tablespoons of aquafaba is equivalent to about one whole egg, while two tablespoons of aquafaba is equivalent to about one egg white. Keep in mind that a can of chickpeas yields about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of this liquid, so about eight to 12 tablespoons.

Can I replace meat with chickpeas? ›

Use Chickpeas Instead of Chicken or Turkey‍

Roughly mashed, chickpeas can stand in for poultry in your favorite sandwich salads. Blended with breadcrumbs, they can be turned into mouth watering burgers and kid-friendly nuggets. You can also just add them whole to recipes for soups and curries.

Are chickpeas better than flour? ›

Chickpea flour is full of healthy nutrients. It's a great alternative to refined wheat flour, as it's lower in carbs and calories yet richer in protein and fiber. Research suggests that it may have antioxidant potential and could decrease levels of the harmful compound acrylamide in processed foods.

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