Description
Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars are a delicious and nourishing snack that combines warm, cozy pumpkin flavor with hearty oats. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup or honey, these bars are packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them perfect for breakfast, an afternoon boost, or a post-workout snack. Easy to prepare with wholesome ingredients, they offer a balanced sweetness and a chewy texture everyone in the family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds or flaxseeds
- Optional: 1/4 cup nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped dates)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup nut butter (such as almond or peanut butter; or sunflower seed butter for nut-free option)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients: Gather all ingredients. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, chia or flaxseeds, and any optional dry mix-ins like nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit.
- Blend wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, nut butter, maple syrup or honey, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated and form a sticky batter.
- Bake: Evenly spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges turn golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan to firm up and ensure they hold together well. Once cooled, slice into bars and serve.
Notes
- Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best chewy texture.
- Allow bars to cool fully before slicing to make cutting easier and maintain shape.
- Adjust sweetness by starting with less maple syrup or honey, adding more to taste if desired.
- Experiment with spices such as cardamom or cloves to customize the flavor.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate to keep fresh up to a week.
- For longer storage, freeze bars individually wrapped in plastic wrap inside a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
- Reheat bars in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or bring to room temperature before serving; add a drizzle of nut butter for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg