Pumpkin Breakfast Bars with Maple Almond Glaze

Another pumpkin recipe coming at you today: pumpkin bars with maple almond glaze.  I wasn't planning on posting this recipe, but it was SUCH a hit that I couldn't not post it!  I got the inspiration for this one from my brother's girlfriend (thanks, Arielle!) who shared a chocolate-chip version of these bars with my family last weekend.  While the chocolate-chip version was delicious, I'm not the biggest fan of chocolate and pumpkin, and wanted to make these a little more breakfast-friendly (not saying you can't have chocolate for breakfast, but for me, chocolate in the morning is usually reserved for birthdays and special holidays).

Pumpkin Breakfast Bars with Maple Almond Glaze (vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free)

Dry:
2 1/2 cups oat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 scoop neutral or vanilla flavored protein powder (optional)

Wet:
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup almond butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Glaze:
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 TBSP almond butter
chopped walnuts for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease an 8 x 8 square pan with coconut oil (or nonstick method of choice).  Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  Mix wet ingredients in a separate, large bowl (or food processor).   Add the dry to the wet and stir until just combined.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 15-20 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.  While the bars are cooking, prepare the glaze by whisking together maple syrup and almond butter.  Remove bars from the oven and let cool slightly before pouring the glaze over the top of the bars.  Garnish with chopped walnuts, if desired.

Adapted from here. 


These bars are perfect for breakfast, but also great as an afternoon snack or healthy dessert.  They freeze well, so if you don't have a band of hungry co-workers, friends, or family members (or if you just want to keep them all to yourself, which is not a bad idea), slice the cooled bars then pop into a Ziploc bag.  You may want to leave off the glaze if you are planning on freezing, and simply slather the bars with almond butter, maple syrup, or topping of your choice once reheated.

Happy baking!

A Few Product Reviews

I don't normally buy a lot of pre-made snacks, but being on the go and without a kitchen has made me more reliant on packaged items.  Here are a few quick reviews on some products I have tried lately:

- Califia Farms Almond Milk - The packaging of this item caught my eye at Whole Foods.  I have tried both the Original and Vanilla Almond Milk flavors, as well as the Cafe Latte blend.  This is by far the best packaged almond milk I have purchased (and I have tried quite a few over the years).  It almost, just almost, tastes like homemade.  The Cafe Latte flavor tastes just like one of those bottled frappuccinos, but one servicing has only 90 calories and 12 grams of sugar versus 200 calories and 32 grams of sugar found in the Starbucks counterpart (approximately same serving size).  Bottom line? Try this almond milk! It's now a staple on my grocery list. 

- 22 Days Daily Mocha Mantra bar -  22 Days offers bars and protein powders that are all organic, vegetarian, gluten free, and soy free.  Previously, I've tried another bar flavor and one of their protein powders, and wasn't super impressed, but this bar was good!  The coffee flavor is very strong and packs a caffeine punch (at least it did for me).  Bottom line? Slightly pricey, but a good choice for a quick and healthier morning pick me up. 

- Nouri bars - I tried the Peanut Butter & Wild Cherry and the Chocolate & Creamy Cashew flavors, both of which were good.  The best thing about these bars is that they are made locally (Charlottesville, VA - the founder went to UVA!) and each one you purchase provides a meal for a child in need.  They are more expensive than some other bars, but when you consider what the purchase is going towards the cost seems more than reasonable.  I also liked that the ingredients were all things I knew.   Bottom line?  A solid snack that does good for your body and the world!

- Bell Plantation PB2 - PB2 is powdered peanut butter, lower in calories and fat than traditional PB.  I bought this because it was on sale and I was curious.  I've mixed it in baked goods and smoothies, and tried it plain (you mix the powder with water to get a PB like consistency).  It does taste like peanut butter, but there is also a strange aftertaste that I don't like.  Bottom line?  If I'm going to eat peanut butter, I'll take the calories and fat.  I would not buy again.


-Whole Foods Mock Chick'n Salad - Made with soy nuggets and Veganiase, this salad was super tasty.  The flavors reminded me so much of classic chicken salad, without being too close in texture to the real thing (I know this sounds weird, but I'm not into the whole fake meat thing and I get a bit freaked out when things taste too much like their non-vegan counterparts).  Bottom line?  If you have a craving for a good summer sandwich, this salad will do the trick.  I won't be buying this regularly, but definitely again for a random treat.

- Saffron Road Wasabi Crunchy Chickpeas - Those who know me know I am a wasabi fiend, so when I saw this in my last Vegan Cuts snack box, I was more than excited.  This protein packed snack did not disappoint.  The chickpeas were super crunchy with an intense wasabi flavor -  I was in love!  Bottom line?  Not for the faint of heart, but I will definitely buy again.

 That's all for now folks.  Always one for trying new things, I would love to hear some of your favorite on-the-go snacks!