Who doesn’t love a good old peanut butter and jelly combination? If you’ve been craving it but don’t want to have a sandwich, you should try out these PB&J bars that star a special ingredient— chickpeas! The steps are super easy to follow, and you’ll have a healthy snack in no time.
Chickpeas for the Win
You’ve probably heard a lot about chickpeas and the benefits they can bring to our bodies. They are rich in carbohydrates and can be used in many different recipes.
When blended, they can create flavorful, creamy soups, a variety of dips, and, of course, a perfect base for a gluten-free batter. That’s why we’ll use them for these healthy PB&J bars.
How to Make Healthy PB&J Bars
You probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry already, so you won’t need to make an emergency store run. Here’s what you’ll need.
Ingredients:
- 1 15-oz can low-sodium chickpeas, rinsed
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
- 2/3 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 c. roasted unsalted peanuts
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/3 c. strawberry jam
Instructions:
- Start by heating your oven to 350°F. Then, line your baking pan with parchment paper and make sure to leave it overhang on two sides.
- Put the chickpeas, honey, and vanilla in a food processor and blend until you get a smooth texture. Add peanut butter and blend everything again.
- Combine the oats, peanuts, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a food processor, but this time, make sure to get a chunkier texture. Set aside 1 cup of dough in a bowl.
- Place the remaining dough in the prepared pan and press in. Spread jam on top and crumble the reserved dough over the jam.
- Bake the dough until you get a light golden brown top (it should take about 25-30 min.). Let cool for about 15 min. in the pan and transfer to let cool completely. Cut in squares and serve. Voilá! You have a delicious and healthy little snack.