Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars

These pumpkin oatmeal bars are high in protein and low in sugar. Moist and packed with the flavors of fall, enjoy them as a delicious no fuss breakfast or snack! There’s also a secret ingredient to supercharge the nutrition.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars

Fall season is upon us and that means all things pumpkin!

There truly is no limit when it comes to using canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree! Here’s a collection of healthy pumpkin recipes that will make your life easier and more delicious.

These healthy pumpkin bars are not only soft, moist, and delicious, they are packed with nutrition – made with whole grain oats, packed with healthy fats from flaxseeds, sweetened by applesauce, and spiced with warm, cozy flavors.

But here’s the hidden gem, lentils that give these bars an extra boost of protein and iron.

All this to say, these bars make an ideal breakfast or snack for babies and toddlers, and they’re perfect for tucking into school lunchboxes or as an afternoon snack at school.

And if you’re looking for more pumpkin breakfast ideas, try this pumpkin pie oatmeal or pumpkin chia pudding!

Ingredients

• Rolled oats – While you can purchase oat flour, making it at home is so easy and much cheaper! You can also use quick oats.
• Pumpkin – you can use homemade or canned pumpkin puree. If using the latter, be sure it is NOT pumpkin pie filling which contains sugar.
• Ground flaxseeds – A great source of healthy fats, protein, iron, zinc, and fiber.
• Red lentils – One of the top foods to serve to babies as they’re a great source of iron, fiber, and protein. There’s no need to pre-soak.
• Milk – use whole fat cow’s milk as babies and toddlers need all the fat for proper brain development. You can substitute with non-dairy alternatives, like almond or coconut milk.
• Pumpkin spice – used to bring warm flavors to these bars. It’s easy to make homemade pumpkin pie pice at home or you can grab one from the store.
• Cinnamon – although it’s included in the pumpkin pie spice, I encourage you to add extra!
• Unsweetened applesauce – Use store-bought or homemade applesauce. You can also substitute with equal amounts of mashed banana. If you desire a sweeter treat, see suggestions below.
• Chocolate chips – Add a touch of indulgence and complement the hearty and slightly nutty taste of these pumpkin oatmeal bars. Leave out for babies under 2.
• Pecans – I just love the combination of pumpkin and pecans. Be sure to finely chop for babies. You can substitute with walnuts if you prefer, or leave out completely.

Step by Step Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine ground oats, spices, baking powder, and ground flaxseeds.
2. Add cooked lentils, pumpkin, milk, applesauce, and vanilla into a food processor/blender and process until smooth.
3. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold in pecans.
4. Pour batter into a 9 inch square pan (lined with parchment paper).
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Cool before slicing!

How to Make This Pumpkin Oatmeal Bar Recipe Sweeter

I highly suggest trying this recipe as is the first time around. My baby absolutely loves these and so does my toddler. You can always top with mashed or pureed fruit, date syrup, or drizzle some pure maple syrup (best to avoid added sugars until 2 years of age).

I will be honest and tell you, my husband not so much. But when I add extra sweeteners, he’s all in. Here are my suggestions if you want to sweeten these up. Add either:

• 4-5 medjool dates (be sure to soak in hot water to help soften before blending)
• 2-3 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey (NOT for babies under 1 yo)
• 1/3-1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Tips for Success

• I recommend cooking the lentils ahead of time so it’s one less thing to do the day of. You can also cook up a large batch and enjoy throughout the week! It keeps in the fridge for 5-7 days and freezes well, too.
• Also ground a large batch of flax seeds (I like to use this tool) and keep in the fridge/freezer to extend shelf-life.
• Bake ahead of time, if possible! These pumpkin oat bars actually taste better with time as the warm spices become more pronounced and all the flavors meld together. You can’t really taste all those yummy fall flavors right out of the oven. So if able, I suggest making this at least several hours prior to enjoying.

Serving Suggestions

These pumpkin oatmeal bars are so versatile! It really is a good base recipe that you can enjoy as is or top with your favorite toppings. Here are some suggestions:

• Yogurt
• Cream cheese frosting
• Mashed or pureed fruit – like banana, blueberries, and apples
• Peanut butter or almond butter
• Sunflower seed butter

Storage Suggestions

Transfer to an airtight container and keep in fridge for up to 5 days. The texture will become more dense so rather than eating straight from the fridge, I suggest bringing to room temperature or reheating briefly in the microwave (30 seconds or so) or the toaster oven.

You can also freeze for up to 3 months.I like to use the same method as for freezing muffins. That way, you can easily pull out however many you need.

Thaw in the fridge and bring to room temperature. If you want to reheat, again, do so briefly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Pumpkin Recipes to try

Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!