Enjoy all the flavors of fall AND trail-mix in the form of chewy pumpkin granola bars. —These healthy bars make an ideal grab-and-go breakfast and an excellent post-workout snack!
Or get-in-my-belly-STAT bars.
Pretty accurate description.
The last last pumpkin recipe I shared with you guys was pretty dang indulgent, so I figured a somewhat-healthier pumpkin treat was in order today.
Seriously, I don’t even know HOW anyone could call these bars healthy, just ’cause they’re soooo dang good…
No questions asked, though. Imma’ just shove ’em in my face as fast as humanely possible.
Pumpkin granola bars have been on my to-do list pretty much since last fall. Sadly, I never got around to making them at all last year, so you can bet it got bumped up to the tippy-top of the uber-important-fall-must-make list.
Seriously, that’s what I titled that notebook page.
And boy, should you be glad that I did give these bad boys a go—The BEST kind of granola bar is right here in front of your face, folks.
And IN my face at the moment. 🙂
The chewiness factor of these bars is mind-blowing—you wouldn’t BELIEVE what pumpkin does to granola bars. It multiplies the soft and chewy forces by like 1.9 billion.
Which then brings the “perfect” level of these bars up to about a 20 out of 10.
When I was deciding on the extra add-ins to throw into the mix along with the pumpkin I just could NOT decide between the vast array of ingredients I had to choose from: Pumpkin seeds or pecans? Raisins or chocolate chips?
SO. It only took me 0.99 seconds to figure out how to solve this terrible dilemma—I threw ’em ALL in.
And my already-perfect granola bars got even MORE perfect.
Only now they weren’t just granola bars. They were TRAIL-MIX granola bars, which is what happens when you go crazy-crazy with the add-ins.
Crazy is good. Also, pretty tasty.
These granola bars are SO versatile—they’re simple and healthy enough for a quickie grab-and-go breakfast, but they also make a kick-butt pre/post workout snack. Instantaneous energy boost in the tastiest way imaginable.
My family has even gone so far as to crumble these bars up and enjoy it with milk like cereal.
Rachel? She prefers to just chow down on these bars plain All. Day. Long.— And I’m not joking either.
Guys, I feel as though we must discuss the pure addicting-ness of these granola bars. As in, I reaaally need someone to volunteer to take all the extra ones I currently have sitting in my freezer before I end up eating them all.
I seriously think I’m gonna too. I’m munching on one as I’m typing and getting crumbs in between the keys…
And now I’m finishing it off and looking at these photos and reaaally thinking I need another one now….
But ya’ know what? I just realized something.—I TOTALLY can. These granola bars have OATS in them along with plenty of other nutritious stuff, so I can eat however many I fancy.
Do you get the feeling I’m just trying to convince myself?
In the end, I think my pumpkin-addicted side is always gonna win. 😀
Pumpkin Trail Mix Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon wheat germ
- 1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Line a 13x9 baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine oats, coconut, pumpkin seeds, pecans, raisins, chocolate, wheat germ, spice, salt, and sugar. In a medium bowl, whisk pumpkin, honey, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
- Combine liquid ingredients with dry, stirring until mixture is moistened.
- Pat mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake granola bars at 325F 35-40 minutes or until golden-brown and firm. Using the parchment paper, carefully lift granola bars out of the pan and onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before slicing into bars.
Notes
Recipe slightly adapted from Fork Knife Swoon.
Danielle says
I’ll take all of the extras that you have! These look delicious and give me another reason to eat pumpkin. Pinning!
Sarah says
Haha I will give you all my extras Danielle, just to get them outta the house and outta my reach! LOL. Thanks for the pin, friend!
Isadora says
These look so good, Sarah! I’ve been needing a good granola bar recipe because I’m a snackaholic and am always in need of new snacks to take to work with me! I can’t wait to taste these pumpkin bars 🙂
Sarah says
Ahh yes! Best snack EVER right here! You must try these bars, Izzy! 🙂
Malak says
What’s wheat germ, by any chance? These look FABULOUS.
Sarah says
Hi Malak! Wheat germ is one of the healthiest parts of the grain wheat. You can find it in the health food section at most grocery stores. 🙂