Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters
Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters / Vegan Protein-Rich Treat
Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters are an easy to make and delicious protein-rich treat! They are made with only 3 ingredients and are vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free. This fun, healthy candy has a rich chocolate taste and a satisfying crunch!
Welp, it’s the last week of 2021 and despite having my fair share of chocolate over the holidays, I’m looking forward to the new year and getting excited about all the fun ways to create with my favorite superfoods, like chocolate and chickpeas.
Have you ever tried chocolate-covered chickpeas? At first glance, it may seem odd to pour melted chocolate over beans. But when you think about it, chocolate can turn even the most humble ingredients into something special. And…this is one of the easiest to make and healthiest treats out there!
Roasting Chickpeas:
Roasting chickpeas is a pretty simple process. Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and then dry the beans using a kitchen towel. Spread the chickpeas evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet and roast at 350 F/ 180 C until they are hard and crunchy.
How long does it take to roast chickpeas?
In a standard oven, it takes about 60 minutes, and you’ll want to move the beans around every 20 minutes to ensure even roasting. My oven is from 1952 and it takes the full hour at 350 F. If you have a convection oven, the beans will roast much faster, only 35-40 minutes, with no stirring.
When are the chickpeas done roasting?
You’ll know they are finished roasting when they are hard on the outside and crunch between your teeth. The best way to test if they are done is to eat one!
Melting Chocolate:
Melting chocolate is also super easy. You can melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or on the stove top.
In the microwave:
Place your chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and glossy.
On the stovetop:
Pour your chocolate chips into a small saucepan and melt, while stirring, over medium heat until smooth and glossy.
Sprinkle with coarse sea salt:
This is the ultimate finishing touch. Sprinkle the clusters with coarse flakey sea salt, while the chocolate is still soft, so it will stick.
Can I add other ingredients?
Absolutely! Try mixing in ¼ cup of your favorite nuts with the chickpeas for a fun variation. Peanuts taste amazing!
These Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters are:
Semi-sweet
Protein-rich
Crunchy
Satisfying
Vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free
Once you’ve made these tasty clusters, I promise, they will become a staple in your kitchen. They’re so easy to make, you can get the kids involved too!
Keep scrolling for step-by-step instructions with photos!
Ingredients for Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters
(1) 15 oz. can (425 grams / 1½ cups) of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained, well rinsed, and patted dry
1 cup (170 grams) of dairy-free chocolate chips
Coarse sea salt for sprinkling (optional but recommended)
Makes about 15 clusters
How to make Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters
Steps 1-2:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 F / 180 C / gas mark 4. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for roasting the chickpeas. Then line another baking sheet with parchment paper for the clusters.
2. Drain and thoroughly rinse the chickpeas so they don’t taste “beany”. Then dry them with a kitchen towel and spread them evenly on the baking sheet.
Step 3:
3. Roast the chickpeas until they are hard and crunchy. This will take about 60 minutes in a standard oven. You’ll need to stir the chickpeas every 20 minutes to ensure even roasting. If you have a convection oven, this will take 35-40 minutes. The best way to test if they’re done is to eat one!
Step 4:
4. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl or a small saucepan. Melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and glossy. Or, melt on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring until smooth.
Step 5:
5. Pile the roasted chickpeas into the melted chocolate and stir until well coated. If you’re adding ¼ cup of chopped nuts, (optional) stir those in as well.
Step 6:
6. Using a spoon, scoop about 1 tablespoon of chocolate-covered chickpeas onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, forming a cluster shape. Leave a bit of space between clusters so they can settle. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and let cool until firm. You can place them in the fridge or freezer to speed this up.
Step 7:
7. Once the chocolate is firm, they are ready to eat! Store in an airtight container in the pantry or in the fridge if there is a chance the chocolate might melt.
Other fun and easy treats to try:
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Chocolate Covered Chickpea Clusters / Vegan Protein-Rich Treat
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F / 180 C / gas mark 4. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for roasting the chickpeas. Then line another baking sheet with parchment paper for the clusters.
- Drain and thoroughly rinse the chickpeas so they don’t taste “beany”. Then dry them with a kitchen towel and spread them evenly on the baking sheet.
- Roast the chickpeas until they are hard and crunchy. This will take about 60 minutes in a standard oven. You’ll need to stir the chickpeas every 20 minutes to ensure even roasting. If you have a convection oven, this will take 35-40 minutes. The best way to test if they’re done is to eat one!
- Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl or a small saucepan. Melt in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and glossy. Or, melt on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring until smooth.
- Pile the roasted chickpeas into the melted chocolate and stir until well coated. If you’re adding ¼ cup of chopped nuts, (optional) stir those in as well.
- Using a spoon, scoop about 1 tablespoon of chocolate-covered chickpeas onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, forming a cluster shape. Leave a bit of space between clusters so they can settle. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and let cool until firm. You can place them in the fridge or freezer to speed this up.
- Once the chocolate is firm, they are ready to eat! Store in an airtight container in the pantry or in the fridge if there is a chance the chocolate might melt.
Notes:
For step-by-step instructions, with photos, see blog post!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
78.49Fat (grams)
2.73Sat. Fat (grams)
1.26Carbs (grams)
12.03Fiber (grams)
2.55Net carbs
9.49Sugar (grams)
4.99Protein (grams)
2.79Sodium (milligrams)
41.48Cholesterol (grams)
0.00Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators.