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Healthy Pumpkin Oat Breakfast Bars: Easy Make-Ahead Recipe

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These healthy pumpkin oat breakfast bars are soft, chewy, and naturally sweetened. Perfect for make-ahead brunches or a quick breakfast, they’re gluten-free and packed with wholesome ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (200g) rolled oats
  • 1 cup (245g) pumpkin puree
  • 2 medium ripe bananas (about 200g mashed)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) coconut oil, melted
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides.
  2. Place 1½ cups of the rolled oats in a food processor or blender. Pulse 10-12 times until coarse flour forms with some oat pieces. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add the remaining ½ cup whole oats to the bowl and stir.
  4. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth but slightly lumpy.
  5. Add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, egg, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk until smooth.
  6. Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the oat mixture. Add pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt. Stir until just combined (about 15 strokes). Fold in optional mix-ins if using.
  7. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
  8. Bake for 25-28 minutes, until edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Cool completely in the pan (30 minutes at room temperature, then 30 minutes in the refrigerator) before slicing.
  10. Lift bars out using parchment overhang, slice into 9 or 12 squares, and serve.

Notes

Don’t skip the chilling step—it helps the bars set for clean slices. Grind oats to a coarse flour for best texture. Use room temperature ingredients for even mixing. Line the pan with parchment for easy removal. Test doneness with a toothpick in the center.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin oat bars, healthy breakfast bars, gluten-free breakfast, make-ahead breakfast, pumpkin recipes

Find it online: https://juliamadeit.com/healthy-pumpkin-oat-breakfast-bars-easy-make-ahead-recipe/