Pumpkin Pie Granola Bars are healthy fall treats, full of pumpkin flavor and packed with nutrients. Perfect to make ahead and fuel your day.
Ever since I made these cute Caramel Apple Energy Bites earlier this month, I became obsessed with easy, healthy snacks.
Usually, my go-to snack is carrots. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE carrots and don't plan to stop eating them anytime soon. But sometimes I'm looking for a sweet snack.
Plus, make-ahead granola bars are way quicker than chopping and peeling carrots. It's so nice to grab a bar from the fridge and get back to whatever I'm doing.
These cute bars are reminiscent of a recipe I made a few years ago: Raw Apple Pie Granola Bars. Both bars have grains, nuts, dried-fruit, and fresh fruit.
And that last one is the key -- fresh fruit. Almost no store-bought granola bars have fresh fruit. Why? Because fresh fruit doesn't stay fresh long enough to be shelf stable.
But fresh fruit is arguably better for you than dried fruit. So why not make your own bars? You'll save yourself the money of overpriced store-bought bars and you'll also get the incredible nutrition of fresh fruits. It's a win-win!
And don't worry, these bars are not difficult to make, nor do they take much time. There's about 5 minutes of active time. Once prepared, you'll stick these bars in the freezer for 15 minutes and then they're good to go!
Ready?
Let's talk ingredients.
Start by lining a baking pan with parchment paper.
Add half of the quick oats, along with the dates, raisins, almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves to a food processor. Process until the nuts are broken into small chunks.
Add the pumpkin puree, puffed millet, and remaining oats to the food processor. Process until the mixture starts to stick together. You may need to scrape down the sides of the food processor.
Spread the mixture evenly in the pan (use your hands!) Freeze for 15 minutes. Cut into rectangles. Enjoy!
When you make homemade granola bars, especially with fresh fruit, you need to be careful about how and for how long you store the bars. The last thing you want is mold!
Store these bars in the refrigerator. They will last longer that way.
They should last at least a week, if not more. If you don't think you will eat an entire batch in one week, consider freezing some of the bars OR make only half the recipe. Enjoy!
Thank you God for healthy snacks. Amen.
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Pumpkin Pie Granola Bars are healthy fall treats, full of pumpkin flavor and packed with nutrients. Perfect to make ahead and fuel your day.
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