Food & Cooking Recipes Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Vegan Granola Bars 3.6 (179) Yield: 8 Oats bring a pleasant chewiness and an old-fashioned goodness to these vegan, nutrient-dense bars. Pureed dates lend just enough sweetness to this convenient breakfast or snack. Nuts, ground flax, and dried fruits add antioxidants, vitamins, good fats, and flavor. Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dates in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a simmer. Drain. Puree in a food processor until smooth. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Mix oats or quinoa flakes, nuts, papaya, cherries, blueberries, bran, flaxseed, wheat germ, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix in date puree and brown-rice syrup or honey. Press mixture into pan. Bake until center is firm and edges are golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 8 bars. Credit: Bryan Gardner Cook's Notes Protein-rich quinoa flakes, which have a nutty flavor, also work well in this recipe.