It only seems right to tweak the fan favorite Almond Butter Cookie Bars into a pumpkin fall favorite. If you’ve fallen in love with the original version and you love everything pumpkin, these are next on your list!
All the goodness of the original, almond butter, whole grains, and just the right amount of sweetness – these guys will make you ready to conquer Fall. <whatever that means>
Pumpkin can be tricky to add to baked goods as it is very dense and moist. So, we added more flour to these plus increased the baking time. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
The pumpkin makes the dough a little stickier so they were a messy, hands on job to get them into the baking dish. But what’s baking without a little <re: a lot around here> mess!
If you’re having trouble finding canned pumpkin, hold tight. Rumor has it there was actually a great harvest of pumpkins this year, but the harvest is a little later than usual. Plus, all this covid action has us all baking in the kitchen a little earlier this year than last. And, please…. don’t make canned pumpkin the next toilet paper. Buy want you need and leave some of the next pumpkin lover!
Enjoy all by yourself or share with others. These also freeze great. It’s possible I have 4 different pumpkin baked goods stashed in the freezer currently! Can you ever have too many?!
Pumpkin Almond Butter Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix almond butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Add this to the almond butter bowl. Mix well.
- Save 1/2 cup of dough for the topping. Press the remaining dough into the prepared 8×8 pan. Spread evenly – this is a messy step – just do your best!
- Top with chocolate chips.
- Drop remaining dough over the top.
- Bake for 20 – 22 minutes, or until center looks cooked and/or toothpick inserted into the middle of the bars comes out clean.
Notes
- These can be made vegan with a flax egg.
- Make them gluten free by subbing a gluten free all purpose flour.
- Store them on the counter for 3 – 4 days, in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, or in the freezer for 2 months.
Saving this recipe right now. I am so making these! Thanks for sharing.