Chickpea Blondies

Instructions

1. Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with nonstick spray. Line with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on two sides like handles, then lightly coat the paper with nonstick spray. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, pulse the oats until well ground. Add the beans, peanut butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple extract and process until very smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the maple syrup, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Blend until the oats are completely broken up and the mixture looks thick and smooth, stopping to scrape down the bowl a few times. It may take several minutes.
3. If the mixture feels warm from the food processor, let it cool a bit (the chocolate chips will melt otherwise). Add the chocolate chips, reserving 2 tablespoons to sprinkle on top as desired. Add the remaining mix-ins, again saving a little to decorate the top if you like.
4. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan (it will be very thick) and, with an offset spatula or spoon, smooth the top. Sprinkle on the reserved chocolate chips and mix-ins. Bake for 18 minutes, until the top lightly cracks at the endges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake!
5. Let the bars cool to room temperature in the pan. Lift from the pan with the parchment paper, slice, and enjoy! The bars taste even better when refrigerated overnight.