Pumpkin Bars

Howdy Peeps,

So happy it’s Friday Saturday!  Woohoo!!!  I don’t have any plans for the weekend except that today is my Husbands birthday, so I am sure we will do something fun!  I just wish he would tell me what he would like to do!  I ask him what do you want for your b-day?  He says nothing.  I asked him if he wants special dinner or a cake and he says nope.  He sure makes it difficult!!  Does your significant other do that to you?  If you ask me what I want, I could give you a list a mile long!!

Today I have for you pumpkin bars.  These bars are a combination of a granola bar meets crisp!  The filling is made with my homemade Maple Pumpkin Butter with a touch of stevia to sweeten it up.  Their healthy, delicious and pretty nutritious!

I will tell you these bars do have a pretty crumbly top if you eat them right away.  What I did is refrigerate them overnight and they firmed up pretty good!  When I took them to work the next day, the top was no longer crumbling!!  I came up with this recipe by changing up my Cherry Crumble Bars with just a few adaptions to make the pumpkin bars.  These are vegan and gluten-free!!  I used gluten-free rolled oats for the flour and coconut oil instead of butter.  I’m pretty proud of these little Guys!!

These bars would make for a great snack, quick breakfast or even to break apart and top on oatmeal or yogurt!  The bars come in at 92 calories each, 3 grams of fat and just under 4 grams of sugar!  Not to shabby for bar made with almond meal and coconut!  I found the next day the bars seem to be more sweet, than on the first day!  However, If you like things super sweet I recommend using a tad more sugar on the topping and/or mixing it into the pumpkin butter.

Pumpkin Bars

Nutrition Information

• Serves: 16 Slices

• Serving size: 1 Slice

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  30 mins

Total time:  40 mins

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A healthy, gluten free, vegan, crumbly oat bar filled with pumpkin butter.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups pumpkin butter (I used homemade Maple Pumpkin Butter)
• 1 tsp. maple syrup to sweeten jam (optional)
• ½ tsp stevia (optional)
• **For Base**
• ¾ cup oat flour
• ¾ cups oatmeal (not quick oats)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• **Topping**
• ¼ cup almond meal
• ¼ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened (reduced fat)
• ¼ cup oat flour
• ¼ cup oatmeal
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
• 2 Tbsp. coconut sugar or brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F spray an 8 x8 pan with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Base: In a bowl add oat flour,oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into large bowl. Stir. Add in the applesauce, maple syrup, water, vanilla and mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan and push down firmly with fingers to smooth out.
3. In a small bowl add pumpkin butter,maple syrup and stevia; spread over top of oat mixture.
4. In a separate bowl add almond meal, shredded coconut, ¼ cup oat flour, ¼ cup oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Add coconut oil and coconut sugar. Crumble mixture with your hand. Sprinkle over top of pumpkin mixture.
5. Bake for 30 - 35 mins. or until the top is slightly golden and firm. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Notes

To make oat flour: add oats to a food processor and process until it turns to flour, about 30 seconds.

I recommend refrigerating the bars after they cool to become more firm. You can leave them out on the counter the next day!

Calories per bar: 92.4, Fat: 3.1, Cholesterol: 0, Sodium: 175,7, Potassium: 70.7, Carbs: 14.8, Fiber: 1.9, Sugar: 3.8, Protein: 2.2

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I want to say Happy Birthday to my Husband!!  I hope you have a great birthday full of love (he he that’s me) and fun!!  I am looking forward to spending the day with you!  Happy Birthday Sweetie!!

Everyone, have a super fabulous weekend!!

Toodles,’

Jen

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