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Pumpkin Oat Power Bars
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Pumpkin Cranberry White Chocolate Oat Power Bars
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
50 mins
 
These vegan power bars pack good nutrition into a small bar and will appeal to children and adults. They freeze well, so are easy to keep on hand for lunches and snacks.
Servings: 36 (1-1/2 x 2") bars
Author: Mary Gillespie
Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons / 60 ml ground flax meal
  • 1/2 cup / 125 ml water
  • 1 cup / 250 ml canned pumpkin puree
  • 2-1/2 cups / 625 ml oatmeal
  • 1 cup / 250 ml cooked lentils see note
  • 2 teaspoons / 30 ml cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon / 5 ml ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon / 1.25 ml cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon / 1.25 ml ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon / 2.5 ml salt
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons / 7.5 ml grated orange rind optional
  • 1/2 cup / 125 ml vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup / 60 ml molasses
  • 1/4 cup / 60 ml brown sugar
  • 1 cup / 250 ml dried cranberries
  • 1 cup / 250 ml white chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F / 176 degrees C.
  2. Line a 9x13-inch / 23x33-cm baking pan with parchment paper.
  3. In small bowl, stir together ground flax and water. Let sit for 5 minutes until the mixture has thickened.
  4. Meanwhile place all other ingredients (pumpkin, oats, lentils, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper, salt, orange rind (if using), vegetable oil, molasses, brown sugar, cranberries and white chocolate chips) in large mixing bowl, and stir until blended.
  5. Stir flax into mixture.
  6. Spread into parchment-lined pan and bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven.
  7. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes in pan.
  8. Gently lift bars out of pan with parchment paper, and place on a cooling rack.
  9. When cooled completely, cut into bars.
Recipe Notes

To cook lentils:
Combine 1 cup red lentils with 4 cups water and bring to a simmer in a medium-sized saucepan. Simmer covered for 30 minutes, stirring frequently to keep the lentils from sticking. Remove from heat and cool. Use 1 cup of the cooked lentils in this recipe, and refrigerate the leftovers. You can add it to baked goods and main dishes for extra nutrition. It will not affect the taste.

Some people may find the smell of the lentils unappetizing when they are mixing the bars. Don't worry about this if you notice it. It will not be present in the completed dish!