Hi Friends!
I was gonna save this recipe for Monday. But since it’s Friday….and Thanksgiving is coming up…and because I love you, I decided to share it with you today.
So here’s the deal. If you know me at all, you know I’m my own harshest critic. I can almost always find something wrong with whatever I happened to make on a given day…and I’m here to tell you that these are PHENOMENAL. So take that for what it’s worth.
This recipe was loosely inspired by Jamie’s recipe for Pumpkin Blondies. And when I say loosely, I do mean loosely. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure those blondies are absolutely delicious. But I was in the mood for something a little healthier. So, I reduced the butter by 1.5 sticks, cut the sugar from 1.5 c to 2/3 c, added some oats and fun mix-ins, made a few other quantity adjustments and hoped for the best!
Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Keywords: bake breakfast dessert snack healthy vegetarian oats pumpkin cranberry bars fall
Ingredients (24 bars)
- 1 1/4 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 c oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 c pumpkin
- ½ c dark chocolate chips
- ½ c butterscotch chips
- ½ c Craisins
Instructions
1. Cream butter and sugars in a medium bowl until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg, vanilla and pumpkin and mix well.
3. Mix in the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt and mix well.
4. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and Craisins and mix until evenly distributed
5. Grease a 9×13 pan and spread mixture evenly in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
6. Cool completely in pan. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares.
Notes
You may reduce the sugar to 1/4 c of each for a slightly less sweet bar that would be good for breakfast.
Grease the pan well, these are sticky!
Annnnnnd, since I was feeling super lazy when I made these, I didn’t even bust out the camera to photograph them. Instead I just snapped a few pictures on my phone and then played around with all my photo apps. So that’ll just have to do for now 
Hands down best thing I’ve made in a while.
Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!
–Lindsay–
Ohhh, I like that yours have craisins in them! And butterscotch chips, too. I’d maybe add some cinnamon chips, just because I’m pretty sure they’ve never hurt anyone
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) recently posted..Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars & Pumpkin Spice Cool Whip
cinnamon chips would be awesome! i’ve never actually baked with those believe it or not!
yum! have a good weekend lady!
sarah (sarah learns) recently posted..the little things: 11.17.11
Oh. My. God. You are not helping me stick to my “no baked goods” goal!
These bars looks so darn good I wish I could reach through my screen and grab one! I love the additional of oats to the recipe – I bet they are super moist and chewy! 
bahaha…i healthified the recipe for you….so you should probably make them
Yum! These look super good!
Alicia at AliGirl Cooks recently posted..Pumpkin Black Bean Soup
thank you! it’s nice to have a success every once and a while
Yummy!! These look fantastic!!
Katie @ Healthy Heddleston recently posted..Weight: It’s Just a Number.
thanks lady
I’ve been waiting for these! Definitely going to try to make some vegan subs and give them a try.
Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFiles recently posted..Fun Friday Facts
yes!!! let me know how it goes
You had me at pumpkin. Yum-o!
Carolina @ Peas in a Blog recently posted..Vampires Are Not Vegetarians.
haha….i’m the same way. LOVE pumpkin
Yuuummm! I’ve been meaning to use up some pumpkin I have ;D
this would be the perfect recipe!!
I have a huge can of Libbys that was just waiting for some new recipes. I love the sound of all the different mix ins. Craisins are delicious in any baked good!
Lindsay @ biking beforebed recently posted..Thanks for Sam’s Club and Glee
aren’t they delicious? i buy the huge bag at costco and put them in everything!
Ooh, these sound GOOD! I love that there’s butterscotch chips in there along with the chocolate ones.
Amber Shea @Almost Vegan recently posted..Phantom’s Feaste 2011: Zombie Prom
thank you! the butterscotch chips are the best part in my opinion…definitely take them to the next level!
I didn’t think it was possible, but I think these look even better than how you had described them earlier!
and they taste even better!!
These sound good and I don’t eve like pumpkin!
Matt @ The Athlete’s Plate recently posted..Friday Favorite: Five Foods I’m Loving
haha well thank you! these might convert you!
These look sinfully delicious! I feel like those chocolate chunks are challenging me to a staring contest!
Diana @ VeggieNextDoor recently posted..Date Night: Tank Noodle & Feist
they’re saying EAT ME!!
This looks extraordinary!
Liz recently posted..…seven somethings on sundays…
thanks girl!
Oh my gosh! These sound SO GOOD!
Abby @ Abz ‘n’ Oats recently posted..Live Fit Trainer Week 2
they’re my new fav
These look amazing Lindsay
I hope you had a wonderful weekend xo
thank you!!!! definitely fulfilled my pumpkin craving
Yeahhhhh I Want this like NOW! I’m so glad I have some extra pumpkin in my cabinet. This sounds so fantastic!
P.S. I’ll be in Columbus late tomorrow night until Sunday morning soooo if you want to meet up over the weekend, let me know!
Liz @ IHeartVegetables recently posted..Happy One-Year-Anneversary…to Me!