Description
Sweet seasonal magic comes alive in these Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars, blending warm spices with hearty oats and rich pumpkin. Comfort meets deliciousness in each perfectly balanced bite you’ll savor from first crumb to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.75 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
Sweeteners:
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 0.25 cup honey
Spices and Extras:
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 cup chocolate chips or raisins (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350°F and lining an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for easy removal.
- Create the dry foundation by thoroughly mixing rolled oats, flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a spacious mixing bowl until uniformly blended.
- Craft the moisture component by whisking pumpkin puree, rich brown sugar, golden honey, farm-fresh egg, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture achieves a silky, consistent texture.
- Merge the dry and wet ingredients, gently folding them together with minimal stirring to prevent overworking the batter, maintaining a soft and tender consistency.
- Optional enhancement: incorporate chocolate chips or plump raisins into the mixture, distributing them evenly throughout for added flavor and texture.
- Transfer the complete batter into the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread the mixture uniformly, ensuring an even surface for consistent baking.
- Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges and a slightly firm center as indicators of perfect doneness.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan, which helps them set and makes cutting into clean, precise squares easier.
Notes
- Swap out regular flour for gluten-free flour blend to make these bars suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Toast the oats briefly before mixing to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra depth to the bars.
- Experiment with different mix-ins like chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or white chocolate chips for unique flavor variations.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer preservation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg