Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars
These healthy pumpkin oatmeal bars mix real pumpkin, oats, and maple syrup into a soft, spiced bar ready in about 35 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans, optional
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Preheat and prep the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy lifting.
- Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients. Stir in the rolled oats, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt until fully combined.
- Fold in the mix-ins. Gently fold in the chopped pecans and chocolate chips, if using.
- Bake. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 22-25 minutes, until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and slice. Let the bars cool completely in the pan, about 15 minutes, before lifting them out by the parchment overhang and slicing into 12 bars.
Notes
Store pumpkin oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.