Name: Pumpkin Pie Spice Crunchy Granola Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 cups gluten-free rolled oats order here; 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds; 1/2 cup slivered almonds; 1/2 cup melted coconut oil order here; 1 cup maple syrup order here; 1/2 cup smooth almond butter order here; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice order here; 1/4 teaspoon salt

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

These Pumpkin Pie Spice Crunchy Granola Bars have all the flavors of fall in a delicious, nutritious, portable snack!!

The heat in Nashville is still pretty unbearable, but I already have all the fall feels! Fall is my favorite time of the year. I just feel like everything is better. Lattes taste better, I can go on my walks without having heatstroke, and bring on all the sweaters and boots! It’s also my favorite time of year for cooking, and I make my pumpkin spice crunchy granola bars on the regular!

When it comes to cooking, I don’t have the same obsession for pumpkin it seems everyone else does, but I do love pumpkin pie spice, which is just a combination of spices and zero pumpkin. There’s no actual pumpkin in these – for two reasons. I don’t LOVE it, and it would make the recipe not work.

Granola bars are a staple in our house. They’re easy, healthy, and you can pack a lot of nutrition into one little bar. Honestly, I think they’re perfect for busy moms, especially when you make them yourself. You know exactly what went into them and can feel good feeding them to your family. And if you make a large batch at once, they’ll last a while and be a huge time saver later.

I’ve have been a loyal Kroger shopper for years, and I’ve been loving Simple Truth® products for quite some time. One of the things I hear a lot is that organic food is too expensive, and it can be! I’m guilty of spending a small fortune at some of the popular health food stores, which is why I love that Kroger is offering Simple Truth products at such reasonable prices.

Eating healthy is easier and more affordable than you think!

For me, eating healthy is much easier when I’m at home and can make something, and I always make sure we’ve eaten before we leave. That said, sometimes getting hungry when you’re away from home is unavoidable, so I try my best to keep healthy snacks with me at all times. Things like nuts and jerky are perfect because they’re high in protein and will keep you satisfied longer. Jerky is one of my all-time favorite snacks, but it can be super expensive. Simple Truth jerky is not only affordable, but it’s made with good ingredients. We love it! A few other of our favorite products are the Simple Truth popcorn, applesauce, and all the nuts.

Most Simple Truth products can be found in the natural food section, but they’re also tucked in with like products all around the store. After I grabbed everything I needed for my granola bars (and a few other snacks), I grabbed a few bottles of Honest Tea®. I rarely buy bottled drinks, and I’m very picky about them when I do. Honest Tea stands for honesty and transparency. It’s made with good ingredients and comes in a variety of flavors. Plus, we’ll need something to wash down those granola bars! 🙂

These crunchy granola bars are the perfect grab-and-go snack because they’re portable, satisfying, and delicious!

First, grind one cup of the oats to a powder. A small blender cup like this is perfect for the job. To a large bowl, add the oats, nuts, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Stir well.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, almond butter, vanilla, and maple syrup.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Use a strong spoon and really get in there to make sure the ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper with some hanging out over the sides. Pour the mixture onto the pan, and spread it out evenly. I use wet hands to do this. It makes it much easier.

The key to any successful granola bar is pressing them ingredients down. So, cover the top of the granola with another sheet of parchment paper, and use a similar size baking sheet to press the mixture down. Make sure you go all the way to the sides and really press it.

Gently peel off the top piece of parchment paper, and place the pan on the middle rack of the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, rotating the pan a few times for even browning.

Remove the pan from the oven, place it in the freezer, and let it cool for 10 minutes.

Using the parchment that you left hanging over the sides, carefully lift out the bars, and place them on the counter.

Working quickly, cut into bars going straight down. Don’t saw back and forth as you will surely break up the bars. You’ll lose a few little pieces – that’s ok.

Line a large baking sheet with another piece of parchment and carefully place the bars back onto the baking sheet. This is important. Some of the edges will be a little brown from the first round of cooking. You want those edges pointing towards the inside of the pan this time, so the lighter brown part is now on the edge of than pan. Place the brownest pieces in the center.

Return the bars to the oven for another 12 minutes, and rotate the pan after 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, munch on the crumbs… 🙂

After the last round of cooking, remove from the oven and completely cool. Do not touch them for at least an hour! They will get very crunchy as they cool. If you mess with them before they’re thoroughly cooled, you’ll break them up.

Once they are cooled and crunchy, you can wrap them up individually to make them more portable or store them in a covered container at room temperature. Wrap them loosely, so the crumbs can fall right down into the bag.

If you don’t like pumpkin pie spice, you can leave that out or replace it with cinnamon. Chocolate chips, dried fruit, and any kind of nuts and seeds are all great ways to change it up!

Serve this with:

Did you try this recipe?

Leave us a comment or rating below!
Tag and hashtag us on Instagram @nashvillemade #nashvillemadefood
Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook
Sign up here to receive our weekly roundup in your inbox.