Pumpkin Walnut Granola Bars

With school starting back up its nice to have some after school, or lunch box snacks on hand. These are a traditional oat based granola bar with the added flavor and nutrient kick of pureed pumpkin. This more of a "fall" style recipe but this cooler weather today has me wishing it was already that time of the year. Enjoy!

Wet Ingredients:

-1/2 cup unsweetened almond butter

-Heaping 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin

-1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

-1/4 cup maple syrup

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon if you prefer)

-3/4 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients together. 

Add in:

-2 cups old fashioned rolled oats (you could probably use quick cooking oats, but I haven't experimented with that in this recipe to confirm)

-3/4 cup chopped walnuts

-1/2 cup raisins

Once combined press "batter" into a sprayed 8x8x2 pan (brownie-ish sized pan). Bake at 350 for 18 minutes. Once cooled cut into granola bar size pieces or whatever shape your kids prefer. You could even cut out cookie cutter style granola bars. I like to wrap them in parchment sheets and store in the freezer to put into lunches. This recipe doubles well!