These easy gluten-free pumpkin bars are the best way to welcome in the fall. Enjoy the flavors of earthy almond flour, fresh pumpkin puree, sweet Medjool dates, and seasonal spices. The whole family will love these sweet snack bars. Gluten and refined sugar free!
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This post is sponsored by iHerb. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.
Craving a sweet autumnal treat to celebrate the change in seasons? These flavored-packed pumpkin bars are the ultimate solution to your fall cravings. If you are in the mood for delicious pumpkin flavors and warm seasonal spices, then I am sure you will love these gluten free bars.
Perfect for any occasion, these vegan pumpkin bars are what you seek! They are easy to make, full of flavor, kid-approved, and healthy (and hearty) enough for breakfast. Best of all, you can get nearly all of the ingredients at iHerb. That means high quality foods delivered right to your front door!
So what are you waiting for? Let us welcome this new season with the delicious smells and tastes of pumpkin.
Recommended Equipment & Ingredients
I found nearly all the ingredients for this recipe at iHerb.com, an online store filled with over 30,000 natural and organic top quality products. The remaining ingredients are easily found at any well-stocked grocery store.
Here is everything you need.
Ingredient Notes
- Oats: For this recipe, I used Bob's Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. These are the best oats you can find and the only oats I recommend. For a gluten free bar, make sure to pick up Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free variety.
- Maple Syrup - This recipe is sweetened with maple syrup for the best blend of autumnal flavors. I recommend Now Foods Organic Maple Syrup.
- Almond Flour - This adds additional nutty flavor while keeping these bars gluten-free. Look for Now Foods Raw Almond Flour for best flavor.
- Pumpkin: Make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
- Dates: Make sure to use Medjool dates for this recipe. Medjool dates are sweeter and juicier. My go-to brand is Bergin Organic Medjool Dates.
- Coconut Oil - I use Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil for a healthier option.
- Spices - For this recipe, you will need ground nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. I use Simply Organic spices, all which can be found at iHerb.
What is iHerb?
iHerb is an online store filled with over 30,000 natural and organic products ranging from home, beauty, food, pets, supplements, personal care, and more.
iHerb carries top-quality brands – ones that you probably recognize – and ships from climate-controlled distribution centers to ensure quality products to over 180 countries around the world!
Not only do they have everything I want, but also their shipping is fast and their prices are great. iHerb is convenient, affordable, and I am certain to get top-quality ingredients.
How iHerb Works
Picking out items at iHerb is super easy. Because they only carry the best brands, you don’t have to look through a lot of products to find the good ones. Simply type in what you’re looking for in the search bar and review your selections.
Once you fill up your cart, review it, select shipping and payment methods, and you’re good to go. iHerb offers customer service 5 days a week in 10 different languages, making it an easy and convenient online shopping experience.
Mini Grocery Haul
One of the best features of iHerb is the Vegan Grocery Section which is filled with over 1000 vegan groceries. I love to shop for many of my non-perishable foods here. By shopping in the vegan grocery section of iHerb, I can grab my favorite snacks and staples without having to spend time reading all the ingredients. And from the comfort of my own home. It’s a win-win!
This past mini grocery haul included some of my favorite items such as:
- Simple Mills Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Now Roasted Pistachios
- Bob's Red Mill Nutritional Yeast
- Peanut Butter & Co Smooth Peanut Butter
- Bear Naked Almond Coconut Granola
I highly recommend trying iHerb for yourself. New AND returning customers will get a discount off their iHerb order with no minimum purchase.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One – Soak the Dates
Pit the dates and place them in a liquid measuring cup along with 2 cups of water. Soak them for 30 minutes to allow them to rehydrate and soften.
Don't skip this step. It's important to let the dates soften enough so they blend completely with your pumpkin filling.
Step Two – Make the Filling
Drain and rinse the dates. Place them in a food processor along with the pumpkin, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, ground cloves, and orange zest. Blend together, scraping down the sides of the food processor as needed. Blend until the filling is completely smooth.
Taste and adjust spices if needed.
Step Three – Prepare the Oat Crumble
Combine the oats, almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil and maple syrup. Add the maple syrup mixture to the oats and mix to combine.
The oat crumble should hold together when pressed between your fingers. If it is falling apart, add a little more oil to the mixture.
Step Four – Assemble and Bake
Pour half of the oat crumble on the bottom of the prepared baking sheet and press down evenly. Top with the pumpkin filling, smoothing even with an offset spatula, and finish by sprinkling the remaining oat crumble over the top.
Bake the bars for 25-30 minutes until the crumb is golden brown. Remove the oats from the oven and allow them to cool completely prior to cutting into squares.
Pro Tip: Do not try to cut into these bars while they are still warm or they will fall apart.
Serving and Storing
Serving – Once cool, slice and serve the bars. Serve with vegan whipped cream, ice cream, or a drizzle of peanut or almond butter.
Storing – Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to five days. Freeze the bars for up to three months by placing them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Let them thaw at room temperature for several hours before enjoying.
Tips and Tricks
- For best results, chill the cooled pumpkin bars in the refrigerator for an hour before cutting and serving. This helps hold the bars together.
- For a gluten free bar, make sure to pick up gluten free oats.
- Make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. They are often sold next to each other at the grocery store. Don't like pumpkin? Try this recipe with sweet potato puree instead.
- Looking for variation? Add some dairy-free chocolate chips or your favorite chopped nut for some additional flavor and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
These pumpkin bars are refined sugar free, gluten free, and full of plant-based fiber and protein. If you're looking for a nutritious snack, I recommend this recipe!
For sure! Use your favorite nut flour of choice. I have also tried this recipe with coconut flour and hazelnut flour with great results.
If your crumble is falling apart, first try adding more liquid to the crumble. It should stick when pressed between your fingers. Also, make sure to firmly press the crumble into the prepared pan and let it cool thoroughly before cutting into bars.
More iHerb Recipes
Loving iHerb and wanna find more inspired recipes?
- 20-Minute Kung Pao Tofu
- Vegan Cherry Pie Cups
- Chipotle Butternut Squash Chili
- Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients
Pumpkin Date Filling
- 1 cup packed Medjool dates, pitted and soaked for 30 minutes
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- zest of 1 large orange, about 2 teaspoons
Oat Crumble
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 cup almond meal
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut oil
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the dates and place them in a food processor along with the remaining pumpkin filling ingredients. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. This may take up to 5 minutes. Set aside.
- For the oat crumble combine oats, almond meal, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium sized bowl. In a smaller bowl whisk together the melted coconut oil and maple syrup. Add the coconut oil/syrup mixture to the oats and stir to combine. Note: The oat crumble should hold together when pressed between your fingers. If it is falling apart, add a little more oil to the mixture.
- Pour half of the oat crumble on the bottom of the prepared baking sheet and press down. Top with the pumpkin filling, smoothing even with an offset spatula. Finish by sprinkling the remaining oat crumble evenly over the top and press down lightly.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crumb is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely. For best results, let the bars cool down to room temperature and then chill them in the refrigerator for an additional hour so that the bars set completely. Once chilled, cut into 9 even pieces.
Notes
- For best results, chill the cooled pumpkin bars in the refrigerator for an hour before cutting and serving. This helps hold the bars together.
- For a gluten free bar, make sure to pick up gluten free oats.
- Make sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. They are often sold next to each other at the grocery store.
Hi, we’re Shayne and Kristina! I’m the chef and editor here at My Darling Vegan, and Kristina is the photographer and writer. Together we’re carrying on this space with the same focus on easy, flavorful vegan recipes that anyone can enjoy at home. Check out our
Metta says
These are some of the most delicious treats I have ever had! A bit too sweet for me personally (I don’t eat a lot of sweets) but I can fix that next time around. Thank you for the recipe- I will use it as base for cranberry apple, strawberry, blueberry and peach versions based on season and desire!
So good!
Vickie says
I made these the other day and they are delicious! I had to stop myself from overeating. Will definitely be making these again. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Margo says
What can I replace the coconut oil with? Trying to cut out oils and fats.