Protein Energy Bars

By littlefish

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 2/3 cups low-fat granola cereal
• 1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 15 ounces can pinto or Great Northern beans, rinsed drained and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup dark raisins
• 1/2 cup walnuts or almonds, chopped
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Details

Servings 30
Cooking time 45mins

Preparation

Step 1

1.Line a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan with foil. Lightly coat foil with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.Combine cereal, dates, coconut, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in large bowl. Stir in beans, raisins, and nuts.

3.Combine honey, butter or margarine, oil, vanilla, and salt in small bowl. Add to cereal mixture; stir until combined. Spread in prepared pan.

4.Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until edges of bars are lightly brown and center is firm to touch. Cool completely.

5.Use foil to lift out of pan; cut into bars. Freeze bars, wrapped in foil, up to 3 months.