Description
Delicious and wholesome Peanut Butter Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars are easy to make and perfect for a nutritious snack or breakfast. Packed with rolled oats, creamy peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and warm cinnamon, these bars deliver a balanced blend of flavors and textures. With optional chocolate chips for a touch of sweetness, they are both satisfying and comforting. Baked to golden perfection, they offer a chewy yet soft bite, ideal for on-the-go energy or a healthy treat.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2½ cups rolled oats (or quick oats, not instant)
- ½ teaspoon salt (omit if using salted peanut butter)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips (optional; if omitted, increase sugar to ⅓ cup)
- Extra chocolate chips for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars after baking.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder. Stir these together and set aside to prepare your wet ingredients.
- Combine wet ingredients. In a separate medium bowl, mix the creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, unsweetened applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredient bowl. Stir thoroughly until everything is well combined, forming a thick batter.
- Add chocolate chips. Fold in ⅓ cup of chocolate chips evenly throughout the batter for added sweetness and texture.
- Prepare to bake. Transfer the batter into the lined baking pan, spreading it evenly. Optionally, sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top for a decorative and tasty finish.
- Bake the bars. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until the edges and top turn slightly golden brown, indicating the bars are cooked through.
- Cool and slice. Allow the bars to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, lift them out using the parchment paper and slice them into 9 bars to serve.
Notes
- Use rolled oats for better texture; quick oats are acceptable but not instant oats, which are too fine.
- If your peanut butter is already salted, you can omit the added salt to avoid over-seasoning.
- Chocolate chips are optional; if skipping them, increase brown sugar to ⅓ cup to maintain sweetness.
- The bars keep well stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature or longer in the refrigerator.
- These bars can be enjoyed as a quick breakfast or a healthy snack anytime.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American