These easy homemade Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars are a healthy snack, a grab and go breakfast, or even dessert, just add ice cream!

I love autumn, the colors, the flavors, the weather. (Okay, well, since we live in sunny Southern California we don't get a lot of the weather, but we do get some of it.) With a good imagination it is easy to slip into the feelings of fall while enjoying all things pumpkin.

And you know I love to bake! So, I wanted to bake something pumpkin-y, but not a pie, because, well, I will eat a pumpkin pie in one sitting! It needed to be semi-healthy but also yummy, so I decided to make Pumpkin Granola Bars.

Why should I make Pumpkin Granola Bars?

These bars are Gr8 because they can be a breakfast on the go, a healthy after-school snack, or top them with a scoop of ice cream for dessert! (Then they're not quite as healthy! insert winking emoji here.)

Make a double batch and freeze some for later, or send them to school with your kids, or take them as a hostess gift.

Other Pumpkin Recipes

Do you love all the pumpkin recipes? Here are some of our favorites:

• Pumpkin Cookies with Maple Glaze
• Roasted Pumpkin Olive Oil Quick Bread
• Spicy Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Pie Crunch Dessert
• Perfectly Perfect Pumpkin Pie

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Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars

These Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars are perfect for a healthy snack, breakfast on the go, or even dessert!

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Cooling Time1 hr

Total Time40 mins

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Autumn, Dairy Free, Fall Food, gluten free donuts, Halloween, Pumpkin Granola Bars

Servings: 12 bars

Author: Anna

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned oats, make sure they are gluten free if you have a sensitivity
• 3 Tablespoons finely chopped pecans, toasted
• 2 Tablespoons sunflower seeds, toasted
• 2 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup canned pumpkin, or fresh pumpkin pulp if you have it!
• 4 Tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 lightly beaten egg
• ½ cup chocolate chips, optional, the chocolate makes the bars a little gooey, yummy, but gooey! If you are dairy free, make sure you have dairy free chocolate chips.

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Line an 8"x8" pan with parchment paper so the edges overhang the sides. Alternatively, butter the pan.
• Mix together the oats, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl.
• In a large bowl blend the pumpkin, honey, vanilla and egg until completely incorporated.
• Add the oat mixture to the pumpkin mixture and mix well.
• If using, add the chocolate chips and stir until evenly combined.
• Press this mixture into your prepared pan.
• Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until the edges start to brown.
• Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 30 minutes.
• Grabbing the edges of the parchment, carefully lift and set onto the cooling rack.
• Cool for another 30 minutes and carefully cut into 12 bars.

Notes

Gr8 Do Ahead Tips:

Bars can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Then just grab and go! Or, bars can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Tried this recipe?Mention @Great8Friends or tag #gr8food!

sm 10/18/18