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By definition, hummus is a dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas. A traditional hummus blends in garlic, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Just like the traditional ones, this “hummus” starts with a chickpea base but differs by blending in ingredients that give it more of a dessert-like flavor. You might be thinking that this type of “dessert” can’t possibly taste good and surely tastes like beans, but keep an open mind! Especially because peanut butter and chocolate chips are a match made in heaven, right?
This sweet treat is perfect for two of February’s big holidays, Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month. It’s not loaded with sugar, and it contains oats, chickpeas, and dark chocolate, all of which fit into a heart healthy diet. It’s quick and easy to make with pantry staples and is fairly inexpensive, so it’s worth giving it a try!
Chill it and eat it with a spoon, or use it as a dip for fresh fruit. Store it covered in the fridge for a few days, or freeze in grab ’n’ go containers for later use. Let us know in the comments what you think!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip “Hummus”
Ingredients:
1 cup cooked chickpeas
3/4 cup milk of choice
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup oats
2-3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Directions:
Add chickpeas, milk, and peanut butter to a food processor (or blender if you don’t have a food processor) and process until smooth.
Add oats, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon, and pulse until ingredients are combined and desired consistency is reached.
Transfer to a bowl and stir in chocolate chips. Serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator prior to serving.
Notes:
A note on salt: you may need a few pinches of it if your peanut butter is not salted. You probably won’t need to add any salt if using salted peanut butter.
Variations:
Feel free to stir in some unsweetened shredded coconut or dried cranberries for additional flavor and texture.
Benefits:
This recipe contains good doses of fiber, protein, and plant-based fat. It offers a sweet flavor but is unlikely to cause a blood sugar spike. It contains a variety of B vitamins, as well as several minerals including iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, and manganese.