Baked oatmeal pumpkin bars are the perfect healthy breakfast, snack or after workout fuel. These bars are full of fall flavors and are perfect for recovery after a tough workout! These vegan pumpkin bars are easy to make, only use one bowl to mix them in and don't require any fancy equipment. The oatmeal bars are incredibly filling thanks to the protein and complex carbohydrates from the oats. Topped with almond butter or served plain, these baked oatmeal pumpkin bars are the perfect remedy for anytime hunger hits you!
When I first started my journey into healthy living, I would often buy the prepackaged trail mix bars, oat and fruit bars, or my favorite baked oatmeal squares from the store. Although I loved the crunchy bars, I absolutely fell in love with the soft and chewy oatmeal squares. I could eat them in class and not be heard in the back of the room, crunching away like you could with those crispy bars. They were also perfect for my on the go lifestyle, since I commuted to and from college everyday.
However, I never paid attention to the ingredients, nor did I really know what to look for and how different ingredients would affect the way I felt. I just heard they were healthy and would happily devour these bars, thinking I was doing a great thing for myself. Eventually I learned to read the labels and unfortunately some of my favorite breakfast bars were full of sugar and high fructose corn syrup. That ladies and gentlemen is not good eats, nor is it the way I want to start my day. But man did I miss those soft and chewy oatmeal bars.
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So over time, I have learned how to make a healthier version of this old favorite. As I always say, healthy doesn't mean boring or bland! These baked oatmeal pumpkin bars are better than anything I ever had packaged. Full of pumpkin, molasses, ginger and pumpkin pie spice these baked oatmeal bars are full of nutrition and packed with flavor. Don't let the healthy ingredients fool you though, kids will gobble these up too!
These baked oatmeal pumpkin bars are a great way to fuel an active kid before baseball, soccer, football or dance. Instead of handing them a bar full of sugar that will only give them temporary fuel, instead hand them a healthy nutritious bar that will provide them lasting energy throughout their game or practice! These baked oatmeal pumpkin bars are also great for after a tough workout. You may want to slather them in fig butter or drizzle some honey on top for some added simple sugars depending on how intense your workout was.
Baked Oatmeal Pumpkin Bars Spotlight
The ingredients in these oatmeal bars help with muscle recovery as well. Ginger, pumpkin seed and dried tart cherries are known for their anti-inflammatory abilities. Tart cherries have been studied for their ability to provide the body natural protection against muscle soreness and muscle damage. Pumpkin seeds are full of antioxidants as well as magnesium and manganese, copper, and zinc. Ginger has a very potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols which has been shown in studies to help people with muscular discomfort experience relief of pain and/or swelling after consuming ginger.
This recipe uses Coach's Oats, which give the bars a unique and flavorful twist. I actually prefer the texture of these steel cut oats in these baked oatmeal bars. The oats are a bit chewier than the traditional rolled oats. Coach's Oats go through a patented cracked n' toasted process and are unlike any steel cut oat I've ever tried. Coach's Oats are different than most steel cut oats on the market. I would not recommend making these baked oatmeal pumpkin bars with traditional steel cut oats, if you don't have Coach's, use rolled oats instead. Traditional steel cut oats wouldn't have enough time to soften in the oven and would be very hard even after baking.
Coach's Oats are produced in a way that makes them easy to use, even in baking. Their unique cracked n' toasted oats also produce a bowl of steel cut oats in only 5 minutes. That's right, steel cut oats ready in 5 minutes, and they are even microwavable. Trust me these oats are going to be a huge time saver for you! I can't wait until it's bit cooler in the morning, I'm already thinking of the ways I will enjoy these steel cut oats this winter!
Interested in trying Coach's Oats yourself? Well Coach's Oats was kind enough to provide 3 winners a 3 pound bag to try! Just enter below and cross your fingers :)
Baked Oatmeal Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients
- 3 tbs ground flax
- 9 tbs water
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 2 scoop sunwarrior - or other Protein Powder
- 2 tbs coconut flour
- 1/2 cup Coach's Oats or rolled oats
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tap fresh grated ginger
- 1 tbs molasses
- 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1-2 packet stevia
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbs chopped dried cherries
- 3 tbs pumpkin seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- In a large bowl add the ground flax seeds and water. Let sit for 3 minutes.
- Add the applesauce, pumpkin puree and stir.
- Add the protein powder, coconut flour, Coach's Oats, stevia and spices to the pumpkin mixture and stir.
- Add baking powder, chopped dried cherries and pumpkin seeds. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Using an 8X8 pan, line with parchment paper and lightly mist with non-stick spray. If you have a silicone pan like I do, juts lightly spray with non-stick spray to ensure nothing sticks.
- Add the pumpkin and oat mixture to the pan and press down until you have one even layer of oats.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Take out and allow to cool. Cut into 12 pieces.
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Nutrition Information
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What about you?
- How do you like to recover after a workout?
- Have you tried Coach's Oats before?
- What is your favorite oatmeal combination?
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Coach's Oats. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Cassie Tran
A nice, creamy protein smoothie–preferably chocolate–never gets old! I JUST bought pumpkin too!
Amy Lauren
I really like oatmeal raisin cookies.
Serena Powell
I’m a fan of oatmeal with a little bit of sugar, milk, and butter, served with toast.