These No-Bake Pumpkin Bars are healthy 5-ingredient bars that make you love the fall season. They are gluten-free, rich in pumpkin flavors and really easy to whip up.
I love makin no-bake desserts and when the fall season starts, there’s nothing better than a pumpkin version of my No-Bake Oatmeal Bars. I don’t know if you’ll agree, but for me adding pumpkin and pumpkin spices to any recipe always makes it better.
So if like me you like pumpkinized versions of classic recipes, try my Pumpkin Donut Holes, Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes, or Pumpkin Energy Balls.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Pumpkin Puree – Use canned pumpkin puree or homemade puree. Ensure it’s pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Peanut Butter – Choose a natural, smooth peanut butter. Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter can be used as alternatives.
- Maple Syrup – Use pure maple syrup. Agave syrup, coconut nectar, or sugar-free liquid sweeteners can be substituted.
- Pumpkin Spices – Use a pre-made pumpkin spice mix or create your own with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Oat Flour – Make your own by blending rolled oats into a fine powder. This cannot be substituted with almond flour.
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
How to Make No-Bake Pumpkin Bars
This is a simple recipe to make with my recipe card further down, but I’ve included below a few pictures of key steps.
Pour all the no-bake pumpkin bars in a large mixing bowl.
Stir it with a silicone spatula until it forms a sticky batter.
Press the batter in a loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
If you want the chocolate shell, melt the dark chocolate chips with coconut oil and pour it on the bars. Freeze the bars to set.
Expert Tips
- Ensure your peanut butter is well-stirred and at room temperature for easier mixing.
- If the mixture seems too wet, add more oat flour one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- For a firmer texture, refrigerate the bars for at least an hour before adding the chocolate layer.
- Use a warm knife to cut the bars for cleaner edges, wiping the blade between each cut.
- Experiment with different toppings like chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, or a sprinkle of sea salt on the chocolate layer.
- For a protein boost, add a scoop of your favorite vanilla or pumpkin spice protein powder to the mixture.
- These bars freeze well. Wrap individual portions in parchment paper and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- For a more intense pumpkin flavor, try roasting your pumpkin puree in the oven before using it in the recipe.
More Fall Bar Recipes
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No-Bake Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Pumpkin Puree - (note 1)
- ½ cup Peanut Butter - (note 2)
- ¼ cup Maple Syrup - (note 3)
- 2 teaspoons Pumpkin Spices - (note 4)
- 1 cup Oat Flour - (note 5)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract - optional
- ½ cup Dark Chocolate Chips - optional
- 1 teaspoon Coconut Oil - optional
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch x 6-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Slightly oil the pan. Set it aside.
- In a mixing bowl, stir peanut butter, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Stir in oat flour and pumpkin spices until a sticky, consistent batter forms.
- Press the dough in a even layer, into the prepared pan. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, add chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each until fully melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate on top of the bar, freeze for 15 minutes until the chocolate layer is hard, and set.
- Use a long sharp knife to slice the bar into 8 squares.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Made these last night! So delicious and my kids devour them. The only thing I did differently was I made date paste with about 3/4 cup softened dates and used that instead of maple syrup. It made them stick together very well and still added sweetness of course. I also used maple syrup cacao powder and coconut oil melted together for the chocolate topping. I love all of your recipes!! Great job!
Great taste, simple recipe, easy to make
I’d really love to try this recipe but I’m a bit vague on the pumpkin spices. Could you give more detail instructions on how to make the pumpkin spices? Measurements of Ingredients would be great?
Pumpkin spice is typically made with: