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Maple-Frosted Pumpkin Spice Bars
These healthy pumpkin bars are darn easy to make, yet look quite special with the maple frosting drizzle!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp rounded cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg or more to taste
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 cup dried apricots unsulphured
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup brown rice crispy cereal I like Erewhon brand, can also substitute organic, unsweetened corn flakes
Drizzle:
- 1/3 cup coconut butter not oil (see note)
- 1 1/2 tbsp nondairy milk
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- couple pinches sea salt
Instructions
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In a food processor, first process the oats with the pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and salt and spices. Puree until crumbly and fine. Then, add the apricots, dates, and vanilla and process until the mixture becomes uniform and sticky. Depending on how moist your dates (and especially apricots) are, this may take a few minutes. Just as it is getting very sticky, add the brown rice crisp cereal process through. The mixture should still be sticky, and forming some balls or clumps in the processor bowl. Transfer mixture to an 8” x 8” pan lined with parchment paper (not much larger, but could use a smaller, deeper dish). Press mixture into pan evenly. In a small saucepan over very low heat, combine the ingredients for the drizzle, whisking through through until it melts down and becomes a liquid enough to pour. Avoid heating the mixture over too high a heat as it can scorch. Once thinned out, pour over the bars in a drizzle pattern. Refrigerate until completely cool, then cut into squares. Makes about 16-20 bars.
Recipe Notes
Chocolate option: Add 3-4 tbsp cocoa powder with the oats and seeds, etc. You can also add a couple of tablespoons of chocolate chips at the end when adding the crisp rice cereal.
Coconut option: If nuts are okay for you to use, try raw cashew butter in place of the coconut butter. You can omit the milk if using cashew butter as it isn't as thick as coconut butter.