Description
Pumpkin oatmeal cookie bars deliver autumn’s warmth in a delightful, spiced treat that blends comforting seasonal flavors. With wholesome oats and rich pumpkin, these bars invite you to savor fall’s most beloved dessert in one irresistible bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) rolled oats
- ½ cup (120 ml) white whole wheat flour
- ½ cup (120 ml) creamy cashew butter
- ½ cup (120 ml) unsweetened pumpkin puree
Flavor Enhancers:
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) coconut sugar (or light brown sugar)
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) chocolate chunks (+ more for topping, if desired)
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by warming it to 350ºF (175ºC) and coat an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Gather all dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl: rolled oats, white whole wheat flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, blend wet ingredients using a whisk: egg, cashew butter, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
- Slowly incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, folding gently to maintain a light texture. Mix until ingredients are just combined, avoiding overmixing.
- Carefully transfer the batter into the prepared baking dish, using a spatula to create an even surface. Optionally, scatter chocolate chunks across the top for added richness.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, checking for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean when the bars are fully cooked.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars rest for 10 minutes, allowing them to set and cool slightly.
- Finish by sprinkling sea salt over the surface to enhance the flavors, then slice into bars and serve.
Notes
- Transform ordinary baking into a cozy autumn experience with these wholesome pumpkin oatmeal cookie bars bursting with seasonal comfort.
- Swap traditional sugars for coconut sugar, adding a deeper, more complex sweetness and lower glycemic impact to your treat.
- Cashew butter introduces creamy richness and plant-based protein, making these bars more nutritionally balanced than standard cookie recipes.
- Pumpkin pie spice blends warmth and complexity, delivering an instant taste of fall in every single bite.
- Sprinkle sea salt on top to elevate flavor profiles, creating a delightful sweet-and-salty contrast that makes these bars irresistibly gourmet.
- Quick 18-22 minute baking time means you can enjoy fresh, homemade goodness without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg