Since I am always on the quest to optimize my health, trying to find gluten free energy bars THAT I LIKE the taste of has been challenging.  I ran across this and think it might be the key to getting something tuned to my tastes.  Matt Frazier at www.NoMeatAthlete.com posted a recipe that is completely customizeable to your likes or allergies!  

NOTE:  Make sure all of your ingredients are GLUTEN-FREE!

The Ultimate Energy Bar Formula

• 1-pound can of beans, drained and rinsed (or 1.5 cups cooked beans)
• ½ cup binder
• ¼ cup sweetener
• ¼ cup soft sweet fruit
• 1 teaspoon of extract (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of dry spice (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 1.5 cups of oats (you can toast them if you want but I can’t tell the difference)
• 1 cup dry base ingredient
• 1 cup stir-ins

In a food processor, combine beans, binder, sweetener, soft fruit, extract, spice, and salt until smooth.  Add the oats and dry base ingredients and pulse just to combine.  Add stir-ins and pulse again just to combine.

If the consistency seems spreadable, you’re good.  If it’s too dry, add 1/4 cup of water; if it’s too runny, add an additional 1/4 cup of the dry base ingredient.

Grease 13×9 pan with baking spray or rub with 1 tablespoon oil, then spread mixture into pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.

Note: You’ll have the most success if you use unsalted, unsweetened versions of the ingredients, and control the sweetness and saltiness through the sweetener and added salt.

Recommended beans

• White beans
• Black beans
• Pinto beans
• Chickpeas
• Adzuki beans

Recommended binders

• Almond butter
• Peanut butter
• ¼ cup of ground flax seed mixed with ¼ cup water
• Pureed pumpkin
• Mashed avocado

Recommended sweeteners

• Maple syrup
• Brown rice syrup
• Agave nectar
• Honey (if you’re not vegan)

Recommended soft, sweet fruit

• Applesauce
• Mashed banana (about half of one)
• Chopped dates (remove the pits!)
• Crushed pineapple

Recommended optional extracts

• Vanilla
• Almond
• Lemon
• Coconut
• Coffee

Recommended dry spices

• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Cardamom
•  Instant coffee

*For stronger spices like nutmeg and cardamom, use just a ¼-½ teaspoon and combine with less intense spices like cinnamon.

Recommended dry base ingredient (a combination is usually best)

• Protein powder
• Brown rice flour
• Spelt flour
• Cocoa (max ½ cup)
• Whole-wheat flour
• Buckwheat flour

Recommended stir-ins

• Shredded coconut
• Dried cranberries
• Raisins
• Dried apricots
• Chopped nuts
• Cacao nibs
• Dry cereal
• Crushed pretzels
• Chocolate chips

So that’s the basic formula! To help get you started, here are three variations.  For each of them, follow the same procedure from above for mixing and baking.

Example #1: chocolate black bean happy bars

• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed (about 1.5 cups)
• ½ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup agave
• ¼ cup mashed banana
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1.5 cups of oats
• 1/2 cup cocoa + ½ cup brown rice flour
• ½ cup shredded coconut + ½ cup raisins

Example #2: cranberry-pistachio protein bars

• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• ½ cup binder: ¼ cup of ground flax seed with ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup agave nectar
• ¼ cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1.5 cups of oats
• 1 cup vanilla protein powder
• ½ cup pistachios + ½ cup dried cranberries

Example #3: maple pumpkin health bars

• 1 can of great northern beans, drained and rinsed
• ½ cup pureed pumpkin
• ½ cup maple syrup (used more maple syrup in place of the sweet fruit here, for more maple flavor)
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1.5 cups of oats
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1 cup raisin bran cereal

So there you go, three examples to get you started.  But really, the point is for you to create your own, using the basic formula as the framework.