Vegan Chickpea Bars (Printable Version)
Soft, chewy bars made with chickpeas and peanut butter for a healthy, vegan snack or breakfast.
# What You'll Need:
→ Wet Ingredients
01 - 1 can (15 oz / 400 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1/2 cup (120 g) natural peanut butter
03 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Dry Ingredients
05 - 1 cup (90 g) rolled oats (gluten-free if required)
06 - 1/2 cup (80 g) almond flour
07 - 1/3 cup (60 g) dairy-free chocolate chips
08 - 1/4 cup (30 g) chopped walnuts (optional)
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch (20x20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a food processor, combine chickpeas, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract; blend until smooth and creamy.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, stir together rolled oats, almond flour, dairy-free chocolate chips, walnuts if used, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add the chickpea blend to the dry ingredients and stir until fully incorporated.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
06 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until set and lightly golden around the edges.
07 - Allow to cool completely in the pan before lifting out and slicing into 12 bars.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They're genuinely chewy and satisfying, not mealy or dry like store-bought versions.
- One batch fuels your week without feeling like you're eating the same boring thing.
- No weird ingredient list, just real food you can pronounce.
02 -
- Over-processing the chickpeas turns them into a paste that makes the bars too dense—stop as soon as they're smooth and creamy.
- These are supposed to have a chewy texture, not be cake-like, so don't add extra liquid and don't overbake trying to make them firmer.
03 -
- Don't skip the salt—it's what transforms these from healthy to actually delicious, and people won't even know it's there.
- If your peanut butter is really thick, let it warm up to room temperature before mixing so everything combines smoothly without lumps.