Chewy Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars
Soft, chewy, sweet, pumpkin spice granola bars! Sweet cranberries, raisins, and coconut, warmly spiced pumpkin, chewy oats, and toasty nuts come together easily in this quick, tasty, low calorie snack. 170 calories per bar.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups rolled oats
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup pecans
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 + 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk (for softer bars, not essential though)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Combine the oats, almond flour, coconut, raisins, cranberries, flaxseed, pumpkin spice, and salt in a large bowl. Pulse the pecans and walnuts in a food processor until chopped small, stopping just before it turns to powder. Add to the bowl with the rest of the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Whisk together the pumpkin puree, syrup, vanilla, and optional milk. Pour into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well.
- Line an 8x11 baking dish with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the dish. Press the mixture down into the dish, making sure to compact well, flatten the top, and spread evenly to all edges.
- Cut into 12 bars - make one long cut lengthwise, and then 5 shorter cuts crosswise. Lift the parchment paper with the cut bars out of the dish and place on a cookie sheet. (Cutting the bars in the dish helps keep their shape, and baking on the sheet helps them cook more evenly and thoroughly.) Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until the top springs back slightly. Allow to cool completely on a cooling rack before separating