Banana Nice Cream has become my latest obsession because it is easy to make, completely guilt-free, and tastes unbelievably amazing. It is so good that I have gotten into the habit of keeping bananas in the freezer at all times. Is there anything better than ice cream that is acceptable to eat for breakfast? Not in my book! This recipe has a base of frozen banana and is swirled with peanut butter in every bite.

Banana Nice Cream Recipe Breakdown

As I mentioned above, this Banana Nice Cream is extremely simple and almost too easy to make (and to eat), but let’s break it down.

What you’ll need:

1. Frozen banana

2. Peanut butter

3. Dairy free milk

4. A blender or food processor

Method:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth and creamy and enjoy! Yes, it is really that simple.

Feel free to let loose and add any additional toppings or flavors that you might like. I always opt for mini chocolate chips or a touch of cocoa powder if I want a chocolate ice cream base.

If you love the combination of banana and peanut butter, be sure to check out my Healthy Banana Oat Cookie recipe for another guilt free treat!

Enjoy!

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Banana Nice Cream

Course Dessert, Snack

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Ingredients

• 2 overripe bananas sliced
• 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter
• 1-2 tablespoons of nondairy milk ex: almond milk or soy milk
• Optional: chocolate chips

Instructions

• Place banana slices in a ziplock bag and place in freezer until frozen (about 3 hours).
• Remove frozen bananas from freezer and place in a high powered blender or food processor along with nondairy milk and blend until completely smooth (if your ice cream is not reaching a smooth consistency, try adding a little more milk).
• Serve immediately with optional chocolate chips or any other desired toppings.

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These chewy blondies seriously melt in your mouth, which is why you would never guess that their main ingredient is chickpeas! Yes, chickpeas. These protein-packed legumes are what give these addicting blondies their amazingly fudgy texture and magical crackly top. Perfectly sweetened with maple syrup, these babies are filled with chocolate chips and packed with peanut butter flavor.

Did I mention that these blondies are almost TOO easy to make? All they require are 8 simple ingredients, a few minutes in a food processor, and BOOM! They’re ready for the oven in no time!

Blondie Ingredient Breakdown

Chickpeas

Let’s talk about chickpeas. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are a member of the legume family that obtain a mild slightly nutty flavor and are packed with protein. They are also a great source of fiber as well as other vitamins and minerals. This means that chickpeas will help keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout your day! Plus, they are super affordable and versatile!

Peanut Butter

The next main ingredient in these blondies is peanut butter. Peanut butter is not only DELICIOUS, but it is also a wonderful healthy fat source! Nut butter is a great substitute in vegan baking for real butter, and offers far more health benefits! Peanut butter is another great source of protein and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. This amazing ingredient ensures that these blondies are chewy, soft, and flavorful.

For maximum health benefits, be sure to opt for “all-natural” peanut butter. When you look at the ingredient list on the jar, it should only state peanuts and salt. Many other name brand peanut butters will add in unnecessary oils and sugars that you might want to avoid.

Maple Syrup

Last but not least, maple syrup. Maple syrup is a healthier and natural sugar alternative that is full of antioxidants and has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar. Glycemic index ranks how fast foods will cause a spike in your blood sugar, which is why a lower glycemic index is better for your blood sugar levels. Maple syrup also has a wonderful flavor profile that obtains hints of vanilla and caramel, which is why it is one of my favorite sugar substitutes in healthy baking!

The last thing that you need to know is that this blondie batter is extremely addictive. I’m lucky if any of it even makes it into the pan! If you love peanut butter as much as we do, be sure to check out these recipes for more: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies and Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Enjoy these guilt-free blondies anytime you need to satisfy your sweet tooth or shock your friends with how amazing healthy vegan treats can be!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies

These decadent guilt free blondies melt in your mouth and are SO easy to make.

Course Dessert

Keyword blondies, chickpea, flourless, healthy, vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 9

Ingredients

• 1 15oz can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup of maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/3-1/2 cup of chocolate chips vegan if desired

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8 baking pan.
• Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until well combined and the batter has reached a thick and creamy consistency.
• Add desired amount of chocolate chips and mix in by hand.
• Evenly spread batter into baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until sides are slightly golden brown (be careful not to over bake).
• Allow blondies to cool for 120-30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

The post Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Blondies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

Ah, chocolate and peanut butter. This classic flavor combo is one that I will never get tired of. There is something so magical about salty nutty peanut butter when paired with sweet dark chocolate. I am happy to say that these brownies are what every peanut butter and chocolate lover dreams of – rich, moist, chewy, chocolatey, and packed with peanut butter flavor. Did I mention they are dangerously addicting? This dessert is always a crowd pleaser and never lasts more than 24 hours.

Not only are these brownies beautiful, but they are also SO easy to make. No electric mixer required! What’s the secret to obtaining the perfect peanut butter swirl pattern? It’s all in the fork! All you have to do is drop dollops of the peanut butter around the surface of the brownie batter, grab your fork and gently swirl the two mixtures together until you have a pattern you’re satisfied with. Creating the swirls on these brownies is my favorite part of this process!

Why this recipe works

This recipe is 100% vegan, but no one would ever know because these brownies are SO decadent. The richness in these brownies comes from the combination of coconut oil and boiling water. These two ingredients are a power couple for making moist, chewy, and chocolatey desserts.

Why use boiling water? You may have come across boiling water listed as an ingredient in other chocolate cake or brownie recipes before. This is because boiling water helps the cocoa powder to bloom. What does it mean to bloom cocoa powder? Cocoa powder is bloomed when it is mixed and thoroughly combined with a hot liquid. This will help the cocoa powder to dissolve and release all of the chocolatey flavor particles into the hot liquid. This baking technique will intensify and enhance the chocolate flavor in these ultra-rich brownies!

I know that you will love this easy and indulgent recipe, so let’s get baking! If you’re a peanut butter and chocolate lover, be sure to check out these recipes too: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Granola Bars, and Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies.

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Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

This decadent dessert perfectly combines peanut butter and chocolate to result in chewy, rich, and and beautiful brownies. Plus, they are almost too easy to make.

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Ingredients

Brownies

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips dark or semi sweet
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Optional: 1/3 cup of chocolate chips

Peanut butter swirl

• 1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8 baking pan with coconut oil.
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Combine one cup of boiling water with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, vanilla and coconut oil – whisk until all ingredients are melted and combined.
• Gently pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir until just combined (add in optional chocolate chips). Evenly pour batter into your greased baking pan.
• In a separate small bowl combine peanut butter with powdered sugar and coconut oil until smooth.
• With a spoon, evenly distribute peanut butter mixture onto the top of the brownies in lines or just small spoonful – use a fork to swirl the peanut butter throughout the brownie batter until desired appearance and the mixture is distributed evenly.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes in or until a toothpick comes out clean – let cool for 15 minutes and enjoy!

The post Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

You will absolutely LOVE these thick and chewy Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies! Yes, you read that right. These cookies are made with chickpeas, and YES they’re amazing. Did I mention these little gems are also vegan, refined sugar-free, and grain-free? Although, I promise you would never know the difference because these cookies are filled with peanut butter flavor and melt in your mouth with every bite.

I developed this recipe during a phase of chickpea obsession. After eating chickpeas multiple times a day, I finally decided that I wanted to utilize them as a healthy flour alternative in baking. I first tried to make my own chickpea flour out of dried chickpeas, but it was slightly unsuccessful. I then moved onto using canned chickpeas, which lead to the creation of these amazing cookies!

Why this recipe works

I wanted this recipe to be easy, guilt-free, and still taste indulgent. There are four key ingredients in this recipe: chickpeas, peanut butter, maple syrup, and baking soda.

Chickpeas have become one of my new favorite flour alternatives. Not only are they are filled with health benefits, but they also make these cookies super thick and chewy. Using peanut butter in this recipe gives these cookies the addition of healthy fat, and further gives them their amazing peanut butter flavor! I chose to use maple syrup as the sugar alternative to help thin out the dough and add a wonderful sweetness. The last key ingredient is baking soda. This leavening agent is used in baked goods to help give batters or doughs a lighter texture, and works to give these cookies a little extra lift!

Now that you know the basics, all you have to do is throw together everything in a food processor! Then you will have your amazing and healthy cookies in less than 15 minutes! Be sure to check out this Flourless Peanut Butter Blondie recipe for another easy, healthy, and amazing dessert.

These cookies have become a staple item in our household, and I have definitely made this recipe multiple times in a day because they disappear so fast! I hope you enjoy these guilt-free indulgences as much as we do. Happy baking!

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Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

These cookies are made secretly healthy and vegan with a little help from chickpeas. Chickpeas make these cookies soft, chewy, and completely guilt free!

Course Dessert

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 10 people

Ingredients

• 1 cup canned chickpeas (well rinsed and drained)
• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon of creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup (add an extra tablespoon for extra sweetness)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼-⅓ cup chocolate chips vegan if desired

optional

• a pinch of salt if using unsalted peanut butter

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place all ingredients except for the chocolate chips, in a food processor and blend until completely smooth (you may have to scrape the edges and blend a few times).
• Stir in chocolate chips by hand.
• Place heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared cookie sheet and flatten slightly (or shape to desired size) since these cookies do not spread much in the oven. 
• Bake for about 10-12 minutes until bottoms are light golden brown.
• Cool on pan for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack. Enjoy!

The post Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

These Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars will bring you right back to your childhood. We are definitely big peanut butter lovers in my household and my little brother has been asking me to create a peanut butter granola bar recipe as long as I can remember, and I finally have the perfect recipe for him and all of you.

Granola bars are one of my favorite healthy snacks, but the processed bars are usually hiding unwanted and unhealthy ingredients. Sometimes they even have as much sugar as a candy bar (yikes!), but I am happy to say that these homemade bars are made with nutritious and wholesome ingredients you can feel good about.

Why this recipe works

These granola bars require no time in the oven. All you have to do is combine the ingredients, press the mixture firmly into a pan, and pop in the freezer to set! Once they have set for about an hour, you can remove and slice each bar into whatever size you desire. Not baking these bars help to add to their chewiness, as well as make this recipe SO easy! These bars make the perfect summertime treat because you don’t need to turn on the oven.

Note: it is better to store these bars in the fridge or freezer after slicing to make sure that the peanut butter does not melt.

The addition of adding shredded coconut to this recipe also helps to make these bars extra chewy and flavorful. I prefer to use slightly sweetened coconut because it is often softer than unsweetened varieties. The honey and peanut butter work together to create a wonderful texture and salty and sweet flavor profile. If you love granola bars, chocolate, and peanut butter – you will adore these healthy treats! Be sure to check out these recipes for more: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies and Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

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Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

These granola bars are chewy and filled with peanut butter flavor. This recipe only requires 6 simple ingredients and no time in the oven, which makes them the ultimate snack!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Ingredients

• ½ cup all natural peanut butter 
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon softened/melted coconut oil
• 1 ¾ cups old fashioned oats
• 3 tablespoons shredded coconut (I prefer sweetened)
• 3-4 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (vegan if desired)

Instructions

• Line an 8×8 pan with one sheet of parchment paper.
• Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well combined. 
• Pour all ingredients into lined baking pan and spread evenly. Use the bottom of a cup or another flat surface to firmly press down mixture until it is firmly packed. 
• Place pan into the freezer to set for 1-2 hours. Remove from freezer, remove the granola bars from the pan by lifting up the parchment paper and cut or slice into desired sizes. 
  Store granola bars in a container in fridge or freezer.

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