Fresh Lentil Bars Protein Snack (Printable Version)

Protein-rich bars combining lentils, oats, nuts, and dried fruits for a wholesome, energizing snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Lentils

01 - 1 cup cooked green or brown lentils, drained and cooled

→ Dry Ingredients

02 - 1½ cups rolled oats
03 - ½ cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
04 - ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
05 - ¼ cup sunflower seeds
06 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
09 - ¼ cup melted coconut oil
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1 large egg, lightly beaten

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, mash the cooked lentils with a fork until mostly smooth.
03 - Add rolled oats, chopped nuts, dried cranberries or raisins, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and salt to the mashed lentils. Stir to combine thoroughly.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together honey or maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and the beaten egg.
05 - Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry mixture and mix until fully integrated.
06 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press down firmly and evenly with a spatula or your hands.
07 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden and set.
08 - Allow to cool completely in the pan, then lift out and cut into 12 bars.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They taste like a treat but give you steady energy without the sugar crash.
  • You can mix up the nuts and fruits based on whatever you have in the pantry.
  • They hold together beautifully and never crumble in your bag.
02 -
  • If the lentils are even a little wet, the bars will turn out mushy, so drain them well and pat them dry with a towel.
  • Pressing the mixture down really hard is what makes them slice cleanly instead of crumbling.
03 -
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting or theyll fall apart, patience really pays off here.
  • If you line the pan with parchment on both sides, you can lift the whole slab out and cut it on a cutting board for cleaner edges.

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