Almond Butter Quinoa Blondies

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Almond Butter Quinoa Blondies are a “makeover recipe.”  They have less fat and sugar than traditional blondies and an added protein boost from quinoa flour.  Quinoa flour can be found at specialty or natural food stores; you can make your own by putting uncooked quinoa into a food processer or clean coffee grinder.

Almond Butter Quinoa Blondies

Makes 16 bars

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C butter (half a stick), softened
• 3/4 C chunky almond butter
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 C dark brown sugar
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 3/4 C quinoa flour
• 1 t baking powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 1 C semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 C raw or turabindo sugar

Directions:

Heat oven to 350.  Line an 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper.  Coat parchment with nonstick baking spray.

Combine butter and almond butter with stand mixer.  Add brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Scrape sides if needed.

Add quinoa flour, baking powder and salt.  Add chocolate chips.

Dump into prepared 8×8 baking pan.  Spread gently with your fingers until batter is level.  My batter appeared wet, don’t worry.

Pour raw sugar on top.  It will stay intact and adhere to the surface, giving bars a pretty, crunchy topping.

Bake 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan for about 45 more minutes.  Remove and cool completely.

Cut into bars and serve.

Recipe adapted from “Almond Butter Quinoa Bars,” Eating Well magazine, April 2015, page 9