I’ve made these bars for so many different people, some healthy eaters and others… not so healthy. And they are all amazed that these contain no flour or sugar, and are actually made with chickpeas!
Chickpeas? Yes, I know it sounds weird! But trust me, you would never know that these bars contain chickpeas! It makes the bars super moist and delicious.
Chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans)Â are packed with:
- protein
- fiber, which helps you to feel full and improves your digestion. Fiber also helps to balance your cholesterol levels.
- folate, which is an essential vitamin for pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant.
- iron, zinc, and B vitamins.
If you are using canned chickpeas, be aware that many brands use the chemical BPA in the lining of their cans. BPA is a very dangerous chemical with a long list of frightening side effects. Here in Riyadh I buy chickpeas which come in glass jars, to avoid this risk.
To boost the nutritional content even further, you can sprout your chickpeas first, and then boil until soft. Read here about How (and Why) to Sprout Legumes.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1 1/2 cups cooked, drained chickpeas
- 1 medium banana
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons nut butter such as almond butter or cashew butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon natural salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the oats to a food processor and blend until a flour forms.
- Add the remaining ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and blend until well combined.
- Spoon the mixture into a baking dish (8 x 8 in) and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top. Gently swirl the chocolate chips into the mixture.
- Bake at 350F (180C) for about 25-30 minutes until set. Let cool completely before cutting. Enjoy!
These look delicious, and I am intrigued that the secret ingredient is chickpeas. I have never made anything like this before so let’s see! I wanted to ask about the lining of cans having BPA…do we have to worry about that with ANY canned goods?
Yes unfortunately Emily, unless the can (or plastic) is marked “BPA free”, it most likely contains this toxic chemical. Canned soups and sauces contain more BPA than canned fruits. Try to use glass, ceramic and stainless steel food storage containers and water bottles instead. And NEVER put plastic in the microwave.
Can you also share which chocolate chips you recommend?
Thanks for reminding me, I usually put a link in the “Recipe Notes” for the chocolate chips I use, but I forgot this time. I just added the link.
I use “Enjoy Life” chocolate chips which I order from iherb. Or I try to find a chocolate bar in local stores which doesn’t have any artificial ingredients, and I break it up into small pieces and use instead of the chips.
I hope you enjoy these bars!
Really excited to try out these bars.
Can u please roughly tell me the quantity of the chickpeas, because I usually boil them at home and don’t buy them canned from the stores.
Also, can i just skip the step of adding nut butter or is it essential?
Hi Javeria, thanks for your comment! I updated the recipe to make it more clear- so it now reads 1 1/2 cups of cooked chickpeas. Since the amount of nut butter is so small (only 2 tablespoons), I think you could probably get away with omitting it. Or maybe add regular softened butter instead, just to keep the same consistency. I hope you love these as much as we do!
I was glad to try out the chocolate chip banana bars. They were delicious, super moist and very quick n easy to make. A great treat for banana lovers!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them Javeria, thanks for the comment!
These look so delicious. I am making them tomorrow in shaa Allah.
Let me know how you like them!
So, I made the chocolate chip banana bars yesterday. And today we just have two left. Subhan Allah so soft and scrumptious !
Thoroughly enjoy baking all your guilt-free treats. Being an amateur baker, they always turn out yummy! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
That makes my day Sanah! Thanks for your comment 💗