Pumpkin-Spice Energy Bars

Dairy-Free

Gluten-Free

Vegan

Vegetarian

Pumpkin purée, hazelnuts, dried cranberries, dates, and warming spices are just some of the ingredients in these DIY energy bars.

By Kaelyn Riley | Experience Life

MakesApproximately 12 bars
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25–30 minutes

Ingredients
Directions

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup hazelnuts
1/3 cup hazelnut flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup dates
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup pumpkin purée
1 tbs. vanilla extract
1 tbs. molasses

Directions

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

STEP 2

Place oats and hazelnuts in the bowl of a food processor and pulse several times until chopped into pebble-size pieces. Scrape mixture into a bowl.

STEP 3

Add hazelnut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and sea salt to nut mixture and stir until combined.

STEP 4

Place dates in the bowl of food processor and process until they form a paste.

STEP 5

Add cranberries, pumpkin purée, vanilla extract, and molasses to dates and process until combined.

STEP 6

Add half of the nut mixture to the food processor and process until combined. Add remaining nut mixture and process again.

STEP 7

Scrape mixture into prepared dish. Use a second sheet of parchment paper and press down firmly until the mixture forms one tightly packed layer.

STEP 8

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges.

STEP 9

Let dish cool for 10 minutes, then use the parchment-paper edges to lift the uncut bars out of the dish. Place on a wire rack and cool completely before slicing into bars.

STEP 10

Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for one week or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Freeze for up to three months and thaw before enjoying.

Nutritional information

Photography by: John Mowers

This recipe originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Experience Life, Life Time’s whole-life health and fitness magazine.

By Kaelyn Riley

Kaelyn Riley is Experience Life’s editorial director of food and nutrition.

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