Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Craving the flavors of fall?

Made with Cannellini beans, quick oats, and the option to substitute pumpkin for sweet potato, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars are a fun and festive vegan twist on traditional brownies.  

While they may put a healthy spin on Pumpkin Chocolate Chip bars, they are not lacking in flavor or texture!  

Adding white beans to a dessert may seem unconventional to some, but they offer an easy way to pack in nutrition and very mild in flavor. White beans are also a great source of iron, folate, magnesium,fiber, and plant-based protein, and they add a creamy gooeyness to these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars that really can’t be beaten. 

If you opt to use pureed sweet potato rather than pumpkin for these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars, they will come out a bit more dense, but sweet potato is one of the best alternatives to pumpkin. And did you know that sweet potatoes offer quite a few health benefits? Orange flesh sweet potatoes are a rich source of beta carotene and full of Vitamins A, C, and B6.  

Using almond flour rather than traditional wheat flour makes for a slightly sweeter flavor in these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars. Almond flour is also lower in carbohydrates and particularly rich in antioxidants. Magnesium is also found in almond flour which aids in blood sugar control and helps lower blood pressure as well.

Using hazelnut flour instead of almond flour in these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars is another alternative.Hazelnut flour provides a nuttier texture and flavor. Often referred to as hazelnut meal, it’s made up solely of whole hazelnuts that are finely ground. As a versatile alternative to wheat flour, it is light on starches and packed with healthy fats and nutrients. 

Enjoy the flavors of fall in these tasty Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars - my girls ask for them every year. I hope your kids love them as much as mine!  

If you make these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars, leave a comment and let me know what you think. Or, tag me on Instagram! Thank you to Dietitian Jess for featuring these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars in her recent blog post on how to use up leftover pumpkin puree.

If you liked this recipe, could you please rate it and share your thoughts? Your ratings help more people find my recipes and articles. Thank you!

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

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Yield: 9

Author: Malina Malkani

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 1 Hour

These nutrient-dense bars taste like dessert and are loaded with fiber and plant-based protein. Made with pureed pumpkin and white beans, they blend cozy fall flavors with semi-sweet chocolate, offering a fun, delicious, and healthy way to uplevel a traditional brownie recipe when you're in the mood for something different! This recipe contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase a product through a link, I will receive a small commission - but this in no way impacts the amount you pay. Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk (*).

Ingredients

• 1 (14-ounce) can cannellini or northern white beans (drained and rinsed)
• ½ cup pumpkin puree or mashed sweet potato (canned or cooked and pureed)
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup old fashioned or quick oats
• ¼ cup almond or hazelnut flour*
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• 1/3 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips OR 2 (3-ounce) bars of high-quality vegan dark chocolate broken into shards

Instructions

1. Grease a 9x9-inch brownie pan with a little coconut oil or butter.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Place all ingredients except for chocolate chips in a high-speed blender and process until smooth.
4. Add chocolate chips or chocolate pieces into the batter and stir, reserving a few pieces to sprinkle on the top.
5. Evenly spread the batter into the pan, arranging the remaining chocolate chips on top.
6. Bake for 50 minutes. Store extras in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

219

Fat

13

Sat. Fat

5

Carbs

25

Fiber

3

Net carbs

22

Sugar

19

Protein

2

Sodium

140

Cholesterol

1

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https://www.malinamalkani.com/recipes/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-bars

Pumpkin chocolate chip oat bars with oats, spices, and hazelnut, dessert, vegan, vegetarian

Dessert, snack, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free

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For more tips on feeding kids, grab my FREE guide to reducing picky eating, and if you are looking for help navigating picky eating behaviors in your toddlers, preschoolers and school age kiddos, check out my pediatrician-endorsed online course, Solve Picky Eating, a self-paced set of 12 modules that are delivered quickly in 5-15 minute videos.

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