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Pumpkin Oatmeal Granola Bars

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10 bars

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp canned pumpkin puree
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup avocado or vegetable oil any flavorless oil
  • 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt
  • 2 Tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seed (flax meal)
  • 1 cup quick-cooking "instant" oats
  • 2 cups regular "old-fashioned" rolled oats

White chocolate drizzle (optional)

  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips or 2 oz white chocolate bar, chopped
  • pinch pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp refined coconut oil or vegetable oil

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease with oil spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, oil, honey, and vanilla. (If you measure the oil before the honey, the honey will easily slide out of the measuring cup.)
  • Whisk in the pumpkin spice, salt, chia seeds, and ground flax.
  • Stir in the oats using a large spoon or rubber spatula. Mix until all of the ingredients are well combined.
  • Spread the oat mixture evenly in your prepared baking pan. I like to use the back of a spoon to get into the corners and smooth the surface along the edges.
  • Bake until the edges are very golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Allow to cool fully before cutting into bars. I like to cut into 5 equal pieces in one direction then in half to make 10 bars.
  • Bars are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 days or individually wrapped and frozen for up to 2 months.

White Chocolate Drizzle

  • If topping the bars with a chocolate drizzle, melt the chocolate and oil together until smooth. (I do this in a small bowl in the microwave.)
  • Stir in a pinch of pumpkin spice for a little extra flavor.
  • Drizzle each bar with the melted chocolate. Place in the fridge or freezer to set the chocolate.

Notes

You can add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the batter instead of the drizzle on top.
 If you don't have quick oats, you can pulse a 1 1/4 cups of rolled oats in a food processor until they are broken up into smaller bits then measure and use in the recipe. Do not over process into a flour. 
Keyword granola bar, oats, pumpkin