Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars with Quinoa

These chocolate chip pumpkin bars pack an extra nutritional punch thanks to the addition of quinoa! Kid-friendly and easy to make, they’ll quickly become a favorite Fall recipe!

Hi friends!

This is another Fall recipe I shared last year over on Instagram and as I made my first batch this year, I realized they should live here as well.

Easy Pumpkin recipes

I am a huge proponent of using pumpkin all year round. Some of my favorite recipes include:

• Easy Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Pie Bars
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins
• Pumpkin Energy Balls

You can find all my recipes using pumpkin here. Or check out this post with 30 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes or 20+ Pumpkin Desserts (that are not pumpkin pie).

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Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Bars

I wanted to make these bars a little healthier than traditional dessert pumpkin bars. Here are the ingredients you need:

• Quinoa – cooked and cooled. Doesn’t change the taste but adds some protein and fiber
• Pumpkin – packed with nutrients. Look for canned 100% pure pumpkin
• Egg – for structure
• Maple syrup – I like to use maple syrup in pumpkin recipes to amplify the Fall flavors
• Oil – I use a neutral oil like avocado oil
• Vanilla extract – for flavor!
• Flour– I use white whole wheat flour but have also made them with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF flour
• Baking soda and cinnamon
• Chocolate chips– I consider these non-optional 🙂 But you could leave them out or swap in some raisins if you wanted to.

Pumpkin Bars Recipe

The most time-consuming part of this recipe is making the quinoa. Rinse and cook your quinoa according to package directions, then let it cool for a bit before baking.

Once that’s done, just mix all the wet ingredients in a bowl, add the dry ingredients and spoon into an 8×8 pan to bake.

Pumpkin Bars Cream Cheese Icing

If you’re looking for a sweeter treat, these would be great with some cream cheese icing but I most frequently make them without icing.

If you’re looking specifically for a recipe with frosting, try these Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.

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Recipe for Pumpkin Bars

Here’s the exact recipe:

Print

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Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars FAQs

What about oatmeal pumpkin bars?

If you’re looking for an oat-based bar, these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars use oat flour. You might also like these Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bars.

Are these gluten-free pumpkin bars?

You can easily make these gluten-free by using a 1:1 GF flour blend. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure (aff link). Or try this Gluten Free Pumpkin Bean Bread.

Do you have more pumpkin bars recipes?

Looking for other pumpkin bars to try? Here are a few:

• Pumpkin Bars
• Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bars
• Pumpkin Bars with Brown Sugar Frosting

Can you make these protein pumpkin bars?

You could easily add a scoop of protein to these bars and the quinoa adds some extra protein but they’re not specifically made to be protein bars. Try these Healthy Pumpkin Protein Bars or these Copycat Pumpkin Perfect Bars.

How do I store Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars to keep them fresh?

Once cooled, these can be stored in a Ziploc bag or airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. Then they should be transferred to the fridge to prevent molding.

Can I freeze these pumpkin bars for later?

Yes! Let them cool completely, cut into bars and store in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. To thaw, just pull them out and put them on the counter.

What can I substitute for eggs in this recipe? Are there vegan-friendly options for this recipe?

You should be able to substitute a flax egg for the egg in this recipe, which would make the bars vegan.

Can I make these pumpkin bars without oil?

You could try substituting mashed banana or peanut butter for some or all of the oil.

How can I make these chocolate chip pumpkin bars less sweet without losing flavor?

These bars are fairly low in added sugar already, but you could try substituting applesauce or mashed banana for some or all of the sugar.

Are there any alternatives to maple syrup I can use in these Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars?

You could substitute white sugar or honey for maple syrup in these bars.

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Enjoy!
–Lindsay–