In these posts, Grandma is committed to finding and reporting ways to cook and bake with a lot of wholesome ingredients and, as of today, with less sugar. So, here’s a fall-inspired recipe that's an example of how to make healthier bake goods. It’s lower in sugar and in fats than traditional recipes and is a great use for all that good pumpkin pulp that comes out when you carve a jack-o-lantern. This recipe makes some tasty bars that give you that seasonal pumpkin taste you’re looking for but are made with less processed sugar. You'll find that this treat is more nutritious and less rich than traditional pumpkin pie.
PUMPKIN OATMEAL BARS
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Use a lightly greased or parchment paper-lined, deep baking dish, measuring 13 x 9 inches.
In a bowl, mix together:
4 cups oatmeal
2 cups of unsweetened, stewed pumpkin (baked and mashed sweet potato is a good substitute if you don’t happen to have pumpkin.)
2 TBS pumpkin pie spice
A pinch of table salt
3 TBS softened real butter or coconut butter.
1 cup stewed apples or natural applesauce (no HFCS, please)
1 cup regular table sugar or honey
½ cup unsalted, finely chopped nuts (I like walnuts, but you can use whatever you have on hand, including sunflower seeds.)
If necessary, add enough buttermilk, natural yogurt, or soymilk to form a slightly soft mixture.
Press the mixture into the baking pan and bake for about 30 minutes or until set. Let it cool a bit and then cut it into bars. Makes about 12 generous bars.
PUMPKIN OATMEAL BARS
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Use a lightly greased or parchment paper-lined, deep baking dish, measuring 13 x 9 inches.
In a bowl, mix together:
4 cups oatmeal
2 cups of unsweetened, stewed pumpkin (baked and mashed sweet potato is a good substitute if you don’t happen to have pumpkin.)
2 TBS pumpkin pie spice
A pinch of table salt
3 TBS softened real butter or coconut butter.
1 cup stewed apples or natural applesauce (no HFCS, please)
1 cup regular table sugar or honey
½ cup unsalted, finely chopped nuts (I like walnuts, but you can use whatever you have on hand, including sunflower seeds.)
If necessary, add enough buttermilk, natural yogurt, or soymilk to form a slightly soft mixture.
Press the mixture into the baking pan and bake for about 30 minutes or until set. Let it cool a bit and then cut it into bars. Makes about 12 generous bars.
1 comment:
I tried it!! It is great.
Also, Jim's favorite is oatmeal cookies. He may like this better.
This is perfect when you have a 'not so favorable' dinner. If they get a treat after, it's not too hard to get them to eat. I don't care how old men get, they are still little kids.
It's easy and everyone really likes it.
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