Everyone will love this recipe for rich and gooey yet healthy Caramel Chocolate Chip Paleo Blondies! Made with cashew butter, almond flour, and an easy dairy free caramel, they’re gluten free, grain free, dairy free, soy free with no refined sugar.
Happy Friday! This felt like the shortest week ever for me with the Boston Marathon Monday and I’m still out of sorts. I’m still riding the high of finishing the race and also absolutely starving every minute of every day, if that’s possible.
Truth be told, it feels good to NOT run, have no running plans in sight and focus on creating more delicious recipes! Aside from it being a short week, this is also the first Friday in what feels like forever, that I won’t be anticipating a long run the following day – and let me tell you – how sweet a feeling that is! I mean, it actually feels like a real Friday – woohoo!
No running clothes set out, no headlamp, no worrying about what I’m eating, no planning out logistics or trying to go to sleep early. No weather stalking! I’m gonna party like it’s 1999! (Okay fine that’s a bit out of my league at this point.) Point is, I’m in heaven, THIS is heaven!
These blondies are coming with me to heaven too, because I made them again this week. They do not involve any bananas so they are definitely on my good side this week 😉 Plus you all know I’m obsessed with caramel, caramel, and caramel (amongst other yummy caramel treats) so these were high up on my list to “taste test” one more time before sharing.
One fabulous thing about these blondies, besides the caramel, is that you can use whatever nut butter you have on hand to make them and they taste great no matter what. I originally used cashew butter (sort of my favorite!) but the second time I made them with almond butter and they were just as dreamy! I’m sure peanut butter would be insanely delicious – just saying 🙂
So let’s get started with the recipe, and then I’ll be off to celebrate my weekend with lots of food and very little moving. I’m thinking by the end of the weekend I’ll be able to run down stairs again without crying out a single swear word, at least that is my goal 🙂
Caramel Chocolate Chip Paleo Blondies
Caramel Chocolate Chip Paleo Blondies
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1 cup creamy cashew butter or other creamy nut butter
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cupblanched almond flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- pinch fine grain sea salt
- 1/3 cup dairy free dark chocolate chips I usedEnjoy Life brand
For the Caramel
- 1/2 cup canned coconut cream or thick part of full fat canned coconut milk
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch fine grain sea salt
Instructions
Make the Caramel First:
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In a small saucepan, whisk together the coconut cream and 3 tbsp maple syrup, then heat over medium heat, stirring, until the mixture reaches a boil.
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Continue to simmer over low heat, stirring and scraping the sides to avoid the syrup from burning. After about 10-15 minutes, the mixture should appear light golden brown and thickened. At this point, remove from heat, stir and allow to cool a bit. Stir in the vanilla and sea salt and set aside while you prepare the blondie batter
For the Blondie Batter:
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, whisk the egg with the cashew butter, 1/3 cup maple syrup and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, baking soda and salt.
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Stir the dry mixture into the wet - you will get a thick batter than resembles a sticky cookie dough. Stir in the chocolate chips, then spread the batter out evenly in the prepared baking dish, scraping the bowl to use up all the batter.
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Swirl a butter knife around the batter to create space for the caramel sauce, then pour in over the top. You can further swirl the caramel into the blondie batter right before baking.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until just beginning to brown. Don't overbake! The blondies might not look totally done, but once they cool they will firm up.
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Cool completely (you can refrigerate or even use the freezer to speed up cooling time) cut into bars, and enjoy! I recommend storing in the refrigerator for the best texture.
Nutrition
What are you celebrating this Friday?
What are your weekend plans?
meredith @ cookie chrunicles says
April 22, 2016 at 5:26 amthese look so good and yummy! this week even feels weird for me and I didn’t run the marathon on Monday!
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:26 pmMaybe it’s the warm weather we’re finally having!
Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine says
April 22, 2016 at 6:04 amThis week has gone by pretty fast for me too, although I can’t believe the Boston marathon was just 4 days ago! These look really good, I might be giving them a try this weekend.
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:25 pmI think you’ll like them! Have a great weekend!
SuzLyfe says
April 22, 2016 at 6:47 amThese look so incredibly decadent. I”m honestly not sure if this week has flown by or not. There were definitely parts that have! I have a feeling my time in NYC will as well. Never enough time to do what you want in that city!
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:24 pmJust getting around the city seems to take up all the time! Have a great weekend!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
April 22, 2016 at 7:10 amOh how good do these look! I haven’t done cashew butter lately. I must get on that!
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:23 pmI can’t be without – I go for it over almond 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
April 22, 2016 at 7:18 amCaramel and chocolate is always a good thing 😉 There was no caramel baking this week, but there was some KILLER chocolate baking 😉
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:23 pmMmm can’t wait to see those chocolate treats!
lindsay Cotter says
April 22, 2016 at 7:41 amthis week has flown by! glad you can sleep in (some) and bake! hehe. best recovery
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:22 pmYes! And enjoying every minute 🙂
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl says
April 22, 2016 at 10:17 amI’m going to use this caramel recipe to drizzle over a flourless chocolate cake I’m making for Passover 🙂
Michele says
April 22, 2016 at 12:21 pmAwesome! Happy Passover!
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
April 22, 2016 at 4:18 pmThese look increeeeedible! I am loving all the caramel related things at the moment so I’ll have to try these! <3
Michele says
April 24, 2016 at 8:52 pmHard not to love caramel! And so easy to make it with healthy ingredients!
Julia R says
April 22, 2016 at 6:53 pmI can’t believe no one has commented yet about your sly Prince reference! RIP. And delicious recipe 🙂
Michele says
April 24, 2016 at 8:49 pmRIP and thank you!
Keith @ How's it Lookin? says
April 23, 2016 at 2:54 pmThey look delicious. I love anything with caramel, thanks for the idea
Michele says
April 24, 2016 at 8:47 pmOf course! Hope you like!
Angie says
April 25, 2016 at 3:39 amOh gosh, there is nothing like a gooey chocolatey blondie. These look perfect!
Michele says
April 25, 2016 at 6:36 amAgree, thanks!
jillconyers says
April 26, 2016 at 4:45 amYum. I can’t believe I almost missed this recipe. Pinned so I can make them later.