Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars {vegan and gluten free} For the healthy kid’s competition, I am using sugar-free chocolate chips and stevia (instead of sugar)
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
20 mins
Total time
30 mins
A healthy pumpkin chocolate chip bar made with oat flour and no butter! Vegan and gluten free!
Serves: 16
Ingredients
3 cups gluten free oats
2 teaspoons aluminum free baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of ground cloves
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling on top
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8×11 or 9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Make oat flour: Place oatmeal into blender or food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes until oatmeal resembles flour. You may need to stop blender and stir oats a couple of times to ensure that all oats have been blended.
Measure out just 2 1/2 cups of the oat flour and place in a medium bowl. Whisk in baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices; set aside.
In a separate large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, brown sugar, vanilla extract, oil, and applesauce for 1-2 minutes until the consistency is smooth and creamy. Slowly add in oat flour mixture and mix until just combined.
Gently fold in 1/3 cup of chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top. Bake for 15-25 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Timing will depend on what size pan you use, but definitely check around 15 minutes. Once finished baking, cool 10 minutes on wire rack. Cut into 16 slices.
Notes
Bars can be frozen. Simply bake, cool, cut; store in ziploc bag. Reheat individually for 30 seconds in microwave.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bar Calories: 128 Fat: 4.3g Carbohydrates: 21.6g Sugar: 9.2g Fiber: 2.5g Protein: 2.6g