paleo pumpkin spice blondies

by Rachel MacKay

Tis the season to pumpkin-ize all the things! I’m not exactly what one might classify as “basic”, but I guess the autumnal season brings out a little basic-ness in all of us (aka pumpkin spice love). What better to pumpkin-ize than the basic brownie counterpart… BLONDIES! Here are the easiest and best ever paleo pumpkin spice blondies, that also happen to be vegan and gluten free  #basic


I’ve fallen in and out of blogging a lot over the past year, and I have now realized why. I have a problem with perfectionism in the worst way. It prevents me from doing so many things because I feel like they’re not good enough, so why even bother? I wrote and photographed this post for paleo pumpkin spice blondies almost 6 weeks ago and guess what, pumpkin spice season is pretty much OVER! Way to miss the boat Rachel, geeeeeeez. I figure better late than never, because this recipe still is seriously delicious, but I need to stop letting perfectionism run my life. Does anyone else experience crippling perfectionism that is blocking you from accomplishing your goals? What do I do? HELP MEEE!

 

Ok, back to the recipe… paleo pumpkin spice blondies, here we come!

This recipe is sweetened naturally with banana and maple syrup. It’s grain-free, gluten-free, paleo and vegan. Checkin’ all the boxes! They are decadent, but also the perfect option for a healthier dessert alternative, plus that are SO easy to whip up.

Besides procrastinating, I’ve spent my fall trying to get as much time outdoors as I can before my winter hibernation begins. This will be my first winter living in the country and I’m not sure this city gal is prepared. One of my favourite things about living in our new area is the easy access to sooo many amazing hiking trails. It’s become my go-to activity in my free time and I try to squeeze in as many hikes as I can in. In Japan they have a concept called “forest bathing”, which is simply being in the forest and soaking it in. Forest bathing is used for preventative healing and care. I love this idea! Walking in the woods can truly be like medicine for me. If I’m having a shitty day or not feeling great, being in the woods can really shift my perspective. Love you mama earth!

 Ok, here's the recipe:

paleo pumpkin spice blondies {vegan, gluten-free}

Ingredients:

  • 1 large ripe banana 
  • ½ can pumpkin puree (appx. 200ml)
  • ½ cup nut or seed butter (I used half tahini and half peanut butter)
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup
  • ⅓ cup coconut flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp pumpkin spice mix
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ cup chocolate chunks (I use Enjoy Life – adjust to your own level of chocolatey-ness)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350. Add in all ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) to a high speed blender or food processor. Blend until batter is formed. Spread the batter into a 9×9 (ish) pan so it’s about an inch think, lined with parchment paper. Smooth the top and sprinkle chocolate over top and bake for 25-28 minutes.

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