Almond Butter Blondies - Guilt Free?

Okay, so I love baking but I have a consumption problem... meaning that if I bake goodies most likely it's all I'm going to eat until it is gone (nutrition coaches have struggles too, people!). Because of this "issue", I limit my baking. To get my baking fix I am rewatching The Great British Baking Show (yes, that's how much I love it- I'm REWATCHING baking shows...). Now that I think of it, I've actually been watching almost any baking show that I can find so if you have any suggestions PLEASE lemme know :)

So as I daydream about making creations that Paul Hollywood would shake my hand over (#ifyouknowyouknow), I stifle the urge to run amuck in the baking the aisle at the grocery store. But sometimes a girl just has to bake SOMETHING, and when I do these treats never disappoint.

Almond. Butter. Blondies. What is there NOT to love? The recipe that I use is paleo, and courtesy the brilliant Juli Bauer Roth (@paleomg). To check out her direct recipe page you can click here, though I will share the recipe below. BUT if she wasn't on your radar before, first of all, you must live under a rock, but second of all, her website has gotten me out of a cooking funk SO many times, so you need to check her out immediately. She has so many brilliant ideas and she does Crossfit and she's fit AF sooo yeah, go check her out.

Now before I share the recipe I want to have a little heart to heart about desserts. In the title of this post I pose the question, "Guilt free?" and the truth is that food should ALWAYS be guilt free. I would like for us all to be moving in the direction of food freedom where we are happy with our food choices, and don't feel shamed by them. That being said, if you are following a paleo diet, or a keto diet, or any other diet that has desserts made within the parameters for that diet, the desserts are still DESSERTS. It's a weird tight-rope walk and even as I type this I find that I am having trouble walking that line. While I want there to be food freedom, there still needs to be a mindfulness about what you put in your body and what is truly best for you. Desserts are meant to be consumed rarely, or in moderation. And whether or not it's "paleo" doesn't give you the A-OK to binge on it. I think the misconception that people have since it is paleo, is that "it's healthy". And while that's not necessarily incorrect, it also doesn't mean that I can shove my face full of these brownies on a daily basis and still reach my goals. Does that resonate? I feel like I'm being a bully who is telling you to walk away from the ice cream, but really I LOVE ICE CREAM and I think it's great if we can get to a place where we can enjoy those treats and not feel like we have to punish ourselves for it.

Calling all ingredients!

So are these heaven-sent blondies guilt free? They absolutely SHOULD be when you are eating them. Just remember that these treats could derail some goal progress if consumed too regularly. Fair enough?

In 20ish minutes these babies are ready!

Okay, here's the good stuff - let's make the blondies! Here is what you will need:

1 cup almond butter

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of sea salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

So I like to double this recipe because I like a thicker brownie, but you can do whatchu want. I normally use an 8x8 baking dish, but again, depending on how thick you want these bad boys to be, you can use whatever size pan you want, it's just going to alter the baking time some. Start by greasing your pan and preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together all ingredients, and lastly fold in chocolate chips. The batter will be thick so when you pour the mixture into the baking dish, make sure you spread it out evenly. Bake for about 20-23 minutes and check them. If the center does not seem set bake for another 5 minutes and check again (repeat if necessary). Juli notes on her recipe page that the top will look a little soft at first but looks more firm as they cool. After they are out of the oven allow them to cool for a bit (like 10-15 mins) and then enjoy (GUILT FREE!!!!) to the fullest.