If you’ve tried my vanilla almond snack bars or my cherry chocolate almond snack bars, then you must know a pumpkin spiced version will be just as tasty! These snack bars are my version of a KIND bar, but homemade. Filled with ingredients you can see and absolutely no surprises. Being that pumpkin pie inspired treats rule my kitchen in the fall, I had to whip up today’s version. (Have you tried these pumpkin snickerdoodles yet?) These gluten free bars are made with nuts, dried fruit, and not much else. One ingredient you may not recognize is almond meal. This ingredient is used in my spiced pumpkin seed cranberry snack bars to hold the ingredients together. Like grains would do in another granola bar. For anyone not familiar with almond meal, don’t be nervous. It is just ground almonds—ground almonds before reaching the stage of almond butter. You can buy almond meal, but I find it’s much more convenient to make it at home. Simply pulse almonds until they reach a gritty and rough flour-like consistency. Also in these pumpkin bars? Some roughly chopped almonds for crunch, pepitas, dried cranberries, vanilla extract, and almond butter to bind. And don’t forget plenty of pumpkin pie spice for all that incredible spice flavor. You’re going to love these. Honey is used for sweetening and binding, just like in these quinoa snack bars. Like I’ve mentioned in my previous snack bar recipes, I do not recommend thinner liquid sweeteners like maple syrup or agave. You want a thick liquid sweetener. Brown rice syrup works too. Bake the snack bars—only about 20 minutes or so. Just until they are relatively set and the ingredients bind together properly. Then, chill them in the refrigerator to fully set before slicing and enjoying. If you love pumpkin spice treats and are looking for something healthier, you’ll love this pumpkin granola, my baked pumpkin oatmeal cups, and these pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal bars, too. While they’re not pumpkin flavored, I’d be remiss not to mention these berry vanilla cashew snack bars, too—one of my favorites!
