Pumpkin Granola Bars

Soft and chewy pumpkin granola bars are a great fall snack. They have all the wonderful warm flavours of fall with a dark chocolate treat. They are fast and easy to make and are low in sugar! These treats are under 150 calories so you can enjoy them guilt free! You will eat the whole pan quickly so I recommend making a double or triple batch and throwing them into the freezer for a snack on the go! 

This past week I came to the conclusion that fall baking is just the kick off to Christmas baking. As I think of delicious fall favourites my mind always travels to what I want to make for the holidays. With the cool weather it is hard not to think of things that will make my house smell warm and inviting, and nothing is better then the smell of fresh baking on a crisp day. This fall has been chilly outside and I am really enjoying foods with warm flavours like cinnamon and nutmeg. Fall baking is a warm feeling I dream of all summer when it is too hot to run the oven, especially since I do not have an air conditioner.

What is your favourite fall snack? I do not have a favourite snack because I really just love all food all the time. Since being diagnosed with celiac disease I can say that I have missed having a granola bar when I am feeling hungry in between meals. Gluten free granola bars can be hard to find and tend to cost more then I am willing to spend, plus they never taste as good as the unhealthy chocolate covered bars. Since I am riding the pumpkin train like every other basic I decided to create some healthy pumpkin bars! I have been following Fit Girls Guide since February (I will be launching another post about this choice and journey in the future) and dark chocolate is allowed EVERYDAY! I took my love for pumpkin and my daily chocolate allotment to create some soft granola bars! They taste like dessert, but are filling and satisfying.  The flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg always taste amazing with pumpkin, but I am so happy with how everything complimented the dark chocolate! Even better, they are under 150 calories and are low in sugar! I will definitely be making these again!

Pumpkin Granola Bars

(Printable Recipe Here)

1 Cup Gluten Free Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup Gluten Free Cheerios 

2 Tbsp Gluten Free Flour

2 Ripe Bananas

1/4 Cup Brown S

ugar (Or Brown Sugar Substitute like Splenda)

1/3 Cup Pumpkin Puree

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/3 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

1/4 Cup Dark Chocolate Squares (To drizzle on top)

- Mash up Bananas and combine with Brown sugar and Pumpkin Puree

- Add remaining ingredients and mix well

- Place in a parchment lined 8x8 pan and press down with either hands or the back of a spoon.

- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. 

- Melt Dark Chocolate squares in the microwave and drizzle over the square.

- Let cool in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight before cutting.

- Cut into 8 squares and enjoy :)

Pumpkin Apple Crisp and the Balance of Autumn

Gluten Free Pumpkin Apple Crisp is the perfect fall treat. It is sweet and crispy and has all the warm flavours of fall. The apples and pumpkin balance out to create a smooth and crunchy dessert that can be enjoyed warm or cold with ice cream or fresh whipped cream. 

Autumn; the season between summer and winter when temperatures begin to drop, the trees begin to change colour and lose their leaves for the winter, and the animals finish gathering food for their long winter hibernation. The Autumn Equinox is a time when the length of day and night are equal. There is balance between light and dark. I spend my life searching for balance; between sickness and health, work and fun, and various other aspects of my life. Autumn marks a time of transition where everything is in harmony. This can be a time of reflection and change for many people as they think about the upcoming holidays or develop new routines. I love fall. It gives me a deep feeling of joy and happiness. The bold colours make me feel reflective of the past and present, the cool weather makes me feel refreshed as the breeze grazes my cheeks, and the promise of a restful winter is rejuvenating as I look forward to the start of a new year. It is the perfect time to let the past go and think about the future. The season of Autumn feels inspiring and hopeful. The trees drop all their hard summer work onto the ground for us to enjoy, we get to enjoy fresh vegetables and fruit from the garden after a summer of hard work, and the animals get to enjoy the benefits of their summer gatherings. There are many other amazing things that come with the Autumn season. Warm sweaters, tall boots, blanket scarves, and pumpkin have all become staples of fall.

Pumpkin has become one of my favourite things. I have never met one that I haven't eaten or wanted to take home to decorate my house with. I will occasionally indulge in a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, however I prefer pumpkin in everything I bake! When mixed with the warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg it offers a comforting and warm taste that is almost the same as sleeping in on a Sunday with a cloud bed and a heated blanket. October in British Columbia is often marked with bags of apples and crates of pumpkins at every fruit stand. You can go to the orchards to pick apples, and find your perfect pumpkin at any local pumpkin patch. This Pumpkin Apple Crisp filled all my Autumn food dreams, and it came out of the oven as everything I thought it would be! It was crispy and sweet, combined all the warm flavours of fall and was perfect warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Pumpkin Apple Crumble

(Printable Recipe Here)

Crumble

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar

1 1/2 Cups GF Oats

1 Cup Margarine

1 Cup GF Flour

2 Tsp Cinnamon

2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Tsp Nutmeg

Apple Layer

3 Apples

1 Tbsp Margarine

1 Tsp Honey

1 Tbsp Brown Sugar

Pumpkin Filling

1 Cup Pumpkin

1/3 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/4 Cup Milk

1 Egg

1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

-Peel and slice apples and place in a frying pan with Margarine, Honey, and Brown Sugar. Cook until soft and slightly caramelized.

-While apples are cooling prepare Crumble and Pumpkin Filling.

- Combine all Crumble ingredients in a bowl - mix with hands until everything is evenly combined. It will be crumbly. Place half of the mixture at the bottom of a greased 9-inch round pan.

- To prepare the Pumpkin Filling simply mix all the ingredients together.

-Place the cooled apples over the bottom layer of crumble, then cover apples with pumpkin filling. Cover with the remaining crumble.

- Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown.