Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars are the perfect fall treat! Packed with warm spices and made with wholesome ingredients, these bars provide a delightful combination of pumpkin and chocolate that you and your family will love. Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast option, a healthy snack, or a sweet treat to enjoy with your afternoon tea, these bars hit the spot. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, let’s dive into how to whip up a batch of these delicious oat bars!
What You’ll Need for Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars
To get started, gather the following ingredients:
- 3 cups gluten free oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
- 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive or melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling on top
Step-by-Step Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars Recipe
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Preheat the Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While that heats up, spray a 9×9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
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Make Oat Flour: To create your oat flour, place the gluten-free oats into a blender. Blend for about 1-2 minutes until it resembles a fine flour. Measure out 2 1/2 cups of this oat flour.
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Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves or allspice. Set this mixture aside.
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Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, vanilla extract, olive oil or melted coconut oil, and applesauce. Mix until everything is smooth.
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Combine Mixtures: Slowly stir the dry oat flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
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Add Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in 1/3 cup of the vegan chocolate chips.
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Pour and Sprinkle: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top for an extra sweet touch.
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Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-25 minutes. Keep an eye on them; they are done when a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Cool and Slice: Once baked, let the bars cool for about 10 minutes on a wire rack. After cooling, cut them into 16 slices.
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Store or Serve: These bars can be frozen for later! Just cool, cut, and store them in a Ziploc bag. Reheat individual bars for 30 seconds in the microwave whenever you’re ready for a delicious treat.
How to Serve Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars
These bars are delicious on their own, but here are a few serving ideas to elevate your experience:
- Perfect Breakfast: Enjoy them warm with a fresh cup of coffee or tea to start your day.
- Snack Time Delight: Slice them up and serve as a healthy after-school snack for kids (or yourself!).
- Dessert Option: Pair with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of yogurt for a delightful dessert.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Nut Additions: For an extra crunch, consider adding 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter.
- Sweetness Level: Adjust the sugar to your liking. If you prefer less sweetness, try reducing it to 1/3 cup.
- Spice Tweaks: Feel free to experiment with different spices like ginger or cardamom for a unique flavor twist.
Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars FAQs
Can I use regular oats instead of gluten-free?
Yes, if you don’t need them to be gluten-free, you can use regular oats.
How do I store leftovers?
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze them for longer storage.
Can I substitute the pumpkin?
If you’re not a fan of pumpkin, apple puree or mashed bananas can be used as alternatives, but may alter the flavor slightly.
These Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars are an amazing way to enjoy the delicious flavors of fall any time of year. We hope you give this recipe a try and share it with your friends and family. Happy baking!
Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars
Delicious fall treat made with wholesome ingredients, combining pumpkin and chocolate in a healthy oat bar.
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups gluten free oats (Used to make oat flour.)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice (Choose based on preference.)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) (Ensure it’s plain canned pumpkin.)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar or coconut sugar (Can adjust based on sweetness preference.)
- 1 tablespoon olive or melted coconut oil (Choose based on preference.)
Additions
- 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips (Plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling on top.)
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- To create oat flour, blend the gluten-free oats for about 1-2 minutes until it resembles fine flour. Measure out 2 1/2 cups of oat flour.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves or allspice. Set this mixture aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, vanilla extract, olive oil or melted coconut oil, and applesauce until smooth.
- Slowly stir the dry oat flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold in 1/3 cup of the vegan chocolate chips.
Baking
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-25 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the bars cool for about 10 minutes on a wire rack, then cut into 16 slices.
Storage & Serving
- These bars can be frozen for later. Cool, cut, and store in a Ziploc bag, reheating individual bars for 30 seconds in the microwave when ready to enjoy.
For an extra crunch, add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans. Adjust sugar to your liking and feel free to experiment with different spices like ginger or cardamom.
