This post is sponsored by iHerb. These tender low carb pumpkin bars have an oatmeal-like texture for a satisfying breakfast treat.
If you ask most people what their favourite season is, I’d wager that about 70% will say the fall. While all the other seasons have advantages too, everyone seems to look forward to fall, with its bright colours, cooler temperatures, and the emphasis on all around comfort. Cozy sweaters, fires in the fireplace, and hearty soups simmering on the stove. This is where we trade the tomatoes and zucchini of summer for the cauliflower and winter squash so prevalent in autumn. And I for one am very ready for that trade.
We think of summer produce as bountiful but fall has its own special bounty and many wonderful healthy choices. Think about all those deep greens and oranges, just full of vitamins and antioxidants. Some of my favourite fall produce: kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, delicate squash, spaghetti squash, cranberries, pumpkin…oh pumpkin! How I love that big orange gourd and all the autumnal coziness it brings with it. And it’s delicious in everything from soup to snacks to dessert. I spend much of the fall trying to fit it into as many recipes as I possibly can. And while I might tire of the tomatoes and zucchini of summer, I never ever tire of pumpkin.
And iHerb has almost everything you need to make your healthy pumpkin recipes this fall. Given that they have over 5000 products that can be shipped to 160 different countries, it’s a great place to stock up on low carb ingredients. They also offer customer support in 10 different languages
I already knew that iHerb carried many of my favourite low carb ingredients so when I decided I was going to make some sort of pumpkin breakfast bar, I stocked up. I wanted to get that oatmeal-like texture I’ve used in my “Oatmeal” Chocolate Chip Cookies and my low carb Carmelitas, so I ordered some Bob’s Red Mill flaked coconut and some Bergin Fruit and Nut Company sliced almonds. I wanted to play up the pumpkin theme so I also added some Now Foods pumpkin seeds and some pumpkin pie spice from Frontier.
Then I grabbed my standard supplies of Bob’s Red Mill almond flour, Swerve Sweetener, and a large jar of Nutiva coconut oil and I was ready to roll. Ordering was easy and it all arrived on my doorstep a few days later. I was impressed at how many of the ingredients I needed could be found easily on iHerb. And they don’t just carry food, they also have a wonderful selection of bath, beauty, home and pet products, along with supplements and vitamins.
Interested in trying iHerb for yourself? Customers can get $5 off their new order of $20 or more! Click HERE to find out more.
Now go grab your favourite sweater and enjoy all the delicious seasonal fruits and veggies that fall has to offer!
These tender low carb pumpkin bars have an oatmeal-like texture for a satisfying breakfast treat. With sugar-free chocolate chips too! Keto and grain-free.
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup Swerve Sweetener
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup sugar-free chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 325F and grease a 9x9 square baking pan.
- In a food processor, combine the coconut, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Pulse until the mixture resembles dry oats. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the almond flour, sweetener, baking powder, pie spice and salt and mix well. Stir in the pumpkin puree, eggs, oil and vanilla extract until well combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the top is firm to the touch. Remove and let cool.
sandi says
thanks for the great recipes, waiting for your cookbook to arrive next month.
Sheila Torres says
Is there supposed to be oatmeal in this recipe?
Carolyn says
Read the post! 🙂
Michelle says
So where’s the oatmeal?
Carolyn says
Read the post! 🙂
Erica says
I’m not a pumpkin spice fanatic, but for some reason this year I’m really looking forward to trying your new pumpkin recipes, Carolyn! Did you mean to refer to delicata (rather than delicate) squash in the second paragraph?
Carolyn says
Probably…darn autocorrect! I fixed it twice when I was typing but it must have reverted back.
gjeanieg says
Carolyn,
These are wonderful! I made them to go with tomorrow’s breakfast, and had to snitch a corner while they were still warm because they smelled so good! I ESPECIALLY love the “faux oatmeal”! I have missed oatmeal very much, and now I know what to use as a substitute. I couldn’t be more pleased. =) Your creativity is a gift from God and I am grateful for it!
gjeanieg says
AND, the last of our Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler is in the fridge for dessert tonight! =) Yum!
Carolyn says
Yay, so glad you like them!
Kim says
Looks delicious. I am going to bake them today. I have 4 questions:
1) How do you think these would freeze as individually wrapped bars?
2) Can I sub EVOO for the coconut oil?
3) Would you store these at room temp or fridge?
4). How many bars does this recipe yield as calculated in your nutritional info?
joan says
The recipe says it makes 16 bars. My own experience tells me that olive oil, which does not solidify at cool room temperature, might behave differently in a recipe than coconut oil, which does. I would expect the bars to be a bit more prone to crumble.
Anne says
So I didn’t have pumpkin and really wanted a oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip bar. I subbed peanut butter for the pumpkin and they tasted wonderful…super moist, but they are very crumbly. Any pointers on what to do next time or if I can salvage them? Can I take the crumbs and add another egg and rebake? Any luck with doing something like that? I probably should have cut back the coconut oil with adding peanut butter. I know not the way the recipe intended…and I can’t wait to try it with pumpkin…but just curious if anyone had any tips!
Carolyn says
Yes, it probably is the PB and could have benefited from another egg. But…crumble it up and eat it as cereal?
Karee Keyser says
What are your thoughts on using melted butter or ghee as a sub for the coconut oil?
Carolyn says
Absolutely fine.
Ann says
Thanks so much for this recipe!! It smells and tastes delicious, but it’s really crumbly. Did you melt your coconut oil first? Thinking I may have over baked 🙁 but will still eat them as they are awfully good anyway. Any tips for the next time would be appreciated!
Carolyn says
They do tend to be on the tender side but they shouldn’t crumble away on you. Did I not say melted coconut oil? I hope I did! Also…maybe try grinding the coconut/almonds/pumpkin seeds a bit more. That might help.
Denise says
These are yummy and easy to make. They’re now an official go-to favourite.
Thanks Carolyn!
Denise
Tori says
Thank you for this recipe. These bars are delicious! I can’t stop eating them. I even had one warmed up with sweetened whipped cream on top as a treat. These are very crumbly and fall apart but I don’t mind because they are delicious. Thank you for another great recipe! I’m enjoying your book as well!
Jane says
Definitely going to try this. I’ve never used pumpkin seeds in a recipe. I need to look up your “oatmeal” chocolate chip cookie recipe. Sounds fab. Thanks for all your hard work.
Marcia Little says
I already love this recipe and I haven’t made it yet, but I think because there are four of us that I will double it and possibly put a cream cheese frosting on it. That will make it more like the “normal” pumpkin bars I used to make, and the kids will never know. Love, love, love your recipes. You are a wonderful person Carolyn, and the bestest cook, so glad that you have this crazy sweet tooth!
Beth says
Is there a way to substitute coconut flour for the almond flour? I’m allergic to nuts. I’m planning to simply omit the almonds themselves. This sounds like such a tasty recipe!
Carolyn says
No but you can use sunflower seed flour in place of the almond.
Jen says
Should you have a half cup of coconut oil after melting or just melt 1/2 cup!
Susan says
I made this tonight…it was VERY nice! I used a combo of sugar free chocolate chips and cocoa nibs!
Marian says
What chocolate chip brand are you using?
Carolyn says
I buy Lilys. http://amzn.to/2zzaPU5
Jae says
These are now my ‘go to’ breakfast. Quick, easy and so tasty.
Because of the comments about the crumbles, I added 2 Tablespoons of ground psyillium husks and an extra egg. No crumbles and very most.
Debra Beard says
These have become a favorite! I do use a little Sukrin brown sugar substitute and use a little less swerve. It gives it even more flavor. Definitely a great and portable breakfast. It also freezes really well.
Janice says
These are a new favorite of my family. I was wondering if I could make these into muffins to make them more portable. Any thoughts? P.S. I love your new cookbook!
Carolyn says
Sure, I can’t see why that wouldn’t work!