Maybe I’ve been sitting too close to a lit pumpkin spice candle, but I felt the air change this week. Instead of flip-flops and short-sleeved tees, I found myself subconsciously reaching for slippers and scarves. I’m also dumping cinnamon on everything (plus baking Cinnamon Blondies), and debating how to use my first purchased can of precious pumpkin. While Pumpkin Coffee Cake or Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies would be tasty choices, I think these healthy pumpkin bars may just edge them out of contention. Packed with pumpkin flavor and warm spices, these healthy pumpkin bars are everything I love about fall (and dessert) in a single recipe.
They’re ultra moist, pleasantly chewy, and incredibly filling.Loaded with taste-good, feel-good ingredients like cranberries, ginger, and dark chocolate (like these Trail Mix Peanut Butter Granola Bars).Thanks to pumpkin and peanut butter, these oatmeal breakfast bars contain no butter or no oil so they’re low in fat.Contain zero processed sugar. Instead, they’re naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup (like this Vegan Pumpkin Bread).A “dessert” that’s also socially acceptable for breakfast (like these Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins).
I was a bit worried about how the pumpkin and peanut butter would go together, but the combo turned out to be perfect.
How to Make Healthy Pumpkin Bars
Similar to my Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars but with the addition of pumpkin, these healthy baked pumpkin oatmeal bars are moist, flavorful, and ultra-versatile.
The Ingredients
Oats. Add texture and a little chew to these pumpkin bars.Oat Flour. A wholesome, nutty flour choice that also has the added bonus of being gluten free (reminder: always check your labels).Peanut Butter. Makes the bars moist, but its flavor is subtle.Pumpkin. Packed with fiber, vitamin A, and antioxidants, pumpkin is the true star of these healthy bars. Make sure you don’t accidentally use pumpkin pie filling!Ginger. I went a little heavy on the ginger because I love the way it tastes paired with the pumpkin.Maple Syrup. No sugar required. These healthy pumpkin bars are naturally sweetened with nature’s best.
The Directions
How to Store Healthy Pumpkin Bars
To Store. Leftover pumpkin oatmeal bars can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week or at room temperature for 3 days.To Freeze. Individually wrap the bars, and freeze them in a ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight (or on the counter for a few hours if you are in a hurry!).
Never mind that the forecast is 69 degrees; fall is here. My boots, scarf, and stash of healthy pumpkin bars are (finally) ready!
Dark Chocolate Chips + CranberriesPumpkin Seeds + Coconut FlakesDried Apricots + PecansWalnuts + Raisins
I’ve been making these bars on repeat for weeks, yet the versatile mix-ins make them a little different every time.
More Tasty Treats with Pumpkin
Pumpkin Maple Coffee CakeAlmond Flour Pumpkin MuffinsBuckwheat Pumpkin PancakesPumpkin Baked Oatmeal
