Vegan Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

Sometimes there are things in life that don’t last nearly as long as the should.

Any ice cream cone.

A really great movie. Lord of the Rings, for example. Yes, I have seen the Hobbit. And no, it wasn’t nearly as terrific.

A gorgeous sunset on the beach. Or perhaps a meteor shower.

When you’re favorite song comes on at a club or bar.

The first snowfall.

A really amazing concert. Dave Matthews. Needtobreathe. Dave Matthews. The Lumineers. Did I mention Dave Matthews?

Ryan Gosling on-screen time in movies.

And sometimes there are things in life that last longer than they should.

Your first kiss. Yes, mine was particularly awful.

Hulu commercials.

Airport security lines.

Any Ke$sha song.

Mosquito bites.

Or really good vegan pumpkin spice granola bars.

Yup, you totally read that right. With the help of pumpkin, coconut milk, and brown sugar, I’ve totally just done you the biggest favor. Wahoo.

This is a chewy bar filled with oat-pumpkin flavor. Oat-pumpkin. Oampkin. Does that make sense? It takes my love for eating to a whole other dimension.

The pumpkin keeps the bars moist and adds a pinch of nutrition while the coconut milk makes these bars vegan… Because we could all use a little extra nutrition in the pre-bikini season.

So picture it: you’re just waking up. It’s freezing outside and you need something to lift your spirits. You’ll break off a square of one of these bars and pop it in your mouth, tasting the perfect blend of pumpkin and spice to get you through the day.

Just try not to get crumbs on your cufflink. Careful.

Vegan Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars

Ingredients:

For granola bars:

3 cups rolled oats

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or allspice

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup So Delicious pumpkin spice coconut milk (or regular coconut milk)

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 tsp vanilla

For the streusel topping:

1/2 cup rolled oats

2 tbsp whole wheat flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, unpacked

2 tbsp earth balance butter (or regular for non-vegans)

pinch of cinnamon

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray an 8×8-inch baking pan and set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the oats, spices, and salt. Set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together the pumpkin, coconut milk, brown sugar and vanilla until combined and smooth. Pour the mixture over the oats and use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix until all of the oats are covered.

Evenly press the mixture into the prepared pan.

Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/2 cup oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in small bowl. Cut the butter and use your fingers until the mixture is crumbly. Spread on top of granola bars in pan.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars and serve or store in an air-tight container.

Happy noming.

Nutritional information: 175 calories, 3.5g fat (1 mono, 1 poly), 33g carbs, 3g protein, 3g fiber