Name: Gooey Pumpkin-Oat Bars
Prep time: PT15-20M
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 16 bars
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup dates (about 12 Medjool (see notes)); 1 can pumpkin puree (1.5 cups); 1 cup rolled oats; 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk (I like almond milk); 1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 cups rolled oats; 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice; 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg; 1/2 tsp ground cloves; 1/4 tsp allspice; 1/4 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/3 cup raw/unrefined sugar (i.e., Sucanat); 1/2 cup dried cranberries; 1/4 cup mini non-dairy chocolate chips

Gooey Pumpkin-Oat Bars

These tasty bars are substantial and very moist, without being overly sweet. They are sweetened primarily with dates, using a small amount of sugar. The non-dairy chocolate chips are optional (but delicious of course!).

CourseBaked Goods, Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
CuisineAmerican

Servings	Prep Time
16bars	15-20minutes

Cook Time

1hour

Servings	Prep Time
16bars	15-20minutes

Cook Time

1hour

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients (Blender)

1cup datesabout 12 Medjool (see notes)
1can pumpkin puree1.5 cups
1cup rolled oats
1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milkI like almond milk
1/2cup unsweetened apple juice
1tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

2cups rolled oats
1tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1/2tsp ground cloves
1/4tsp allspice
1/4tsp ground ginger
1/2tsp salt
1/3 cup raw/unrefined sugari.e., Sucanat
1/2cup dried cranberries
1/4cup mini non-dairy chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare an 8×8 Pyrex dish with either parchment paper or cooking spray.
Cover dates with warm water and let soak while prepping the remaining ingredients.
In large bowl combine 2 cups rolled oats, spices, salt, sugar, cranberries and chocolate chips, if using.
To blender add 1 cup oats, pumpkin, non-dairy milk, vanilla, apple juice, and the soaked dates (drain the soaking water first). Blend until smooth.
Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until well combined.
Pour into baking dish and bake for one hour. Place on cooling rack once removed from oven and let cool completely before slicing.

Recipe Notes

Make sure your dates are pitted. Blenders aren’t happy when you put non-pitted dates in them. Trust me on this one.