Pumpkin Spice Granola Bar Recipe

OK so I have definitely been on a pumpkin kick but I am totally in love with the flavor!  I'm also trying to eat more healthy and have been changing my food habits.  I love granola but the brands available at the local grocery store are filled with sugar and other additives that I really don't need or want.  So I decided to search for a recipe so that I can make some at home.  Granola bars are the perfect snack for me.  They fill up my belly and are perfect for grab and go!

Below is the best pumpkin spice granola recipe that I found to suit my tastes.  I choose this one because it had both pumpkin seeds and pumpkin puree in it.  I wanted the pumpkin seeds for health benefits but I wanted the pumpkin puree for the pumpkin flavor.  It also has less sugar than other recipes and uses honey to replace the lessened amount of sugar so they still have the sweetness that I desire.  I'll probably omit the white chocolate drizzle as well just to keep them more healthy and less sweet.

If you don't have the time nor the inkling to make your own pumpkin spice granola bars try Nature's Path Organic Granola Bars, Pumpkin-n-Spice.  These are a great organic, non-GMO granola bar alternative and they sell out quickly at the current advertised price of $17.88 for a pack of 6.  That's less than $3 a box!

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

 

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

40 mins

Total time

1 hour

Recipe by: Fork Knife Swoon

Yield: 12 Granola Bars

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 cup puréed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil

Chocolate Drizzle

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch sheet pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients until well-combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir to combine, until the entire mixture is moist and well-incorporated.
3. Pour the granola onto the sheet pan, and using your fingers or the back of a spoon, press the mixture into an even layer from edge to edge. Bake for 35-40 mins, until the granola is golden brown and just firm to the touch.
4. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully lift the parchment paper to remove the granola. Let rest on a baking rack, until completely cooled. Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the granola into bars.
5. If adding the chocolate drizzle, melt together the chocolate chips and cream in the microwave or using a double-boiler, stirring constantly until completely smooth. Drizzle the granola bars with the chocolate. Let cool.
6. Can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container.