These easy, healthy No Bake Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars will have you ditching all your favorite store-bought brands. Filled with pumpkin spice mix, pepitas, almonds, cranberries and more, it’s fall in a breakfast bar!
Healthy Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Bars
Lately, I’ve been really into eating homemade granola bars in the morning. They’re super easy to make in advance, and there are tons of yummy things you can include in them. Now that fall is in full swing, I’ve been whipping up a batch of these no-bake pumpkin spice granola bars every week!
In addition to blessing you with the classic fall flavor of pumpkin spice, these crunchy breakfast bars are nice to look at. All the pops of orange, maroon, green and brown are perfectly festive! Plus, those colorful ingredients will fill you right up and give you all the energy you need for fun fall activities.
Between the peanut butter, the nuts and the dried fruits, these nutritious bars have got it all! And if you still think there’s something missing, you can simply add it in. Gotta love a customizeable recipe!
What You’ll Need
Let’s take a deeper dive into the ingredients needed for this recipe. You’re welcome to make whatever substitutions you see fit.
- Rolled Oats: Avoid using instant oats for these bars – you’ll get the best results with normal old-fashioned rolled oats.
- Almonds: Roughly chopped.
- Ground Flax Seed: This fiber-rich ingredient keeps your bars nice and chewy, removing the need for oil or shortening!
- Pepitas: Also known as pumpkin seeds.
- Dried Cranberries: For a burst of fall-spirited sweetness.
- Dried Apricots: Finely sliced.
- Sea Salt: To balance out and enhance all the flavors.
- Pumpkin Spice: You’ll need 1 teaspoon.
- Peanut Butter: Creamy.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Or another liquid sweetener of choice.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars
These satisfying breakfast bars are refreshingly easy to make. You simply combine the ingredients, then chill the bars in the fridge.
- Prep for Chilling: Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Leave some parchment paper hanging over the edges of the pan to lift the bars out later.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the oats, almonds, ground flax seed, pepitas, dried cranberries, dried apricots, sea salt and pumpkin spice to a large bowl. Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon.
- Combine Peanut Butter & Maple Syrup: Add the peanut butter and maple syrup to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave until the mixture is smooth and somewhat runny, about 1-1 1/2 minutes.
- Combine Mixtures: Add the peanut butter mixture to the combined dry ingredients. Mix together until everything is completely coated.
- Chill: Place the granola bar mixture into the parchment-lined baking dish and chill the bars in the refrigerator for 1 hour to solidify.
- Enjoy! Cut and serve the bars.
Tips for Success
There are a few things to take note of before you start making your pumpkin spice granola bars. Follow these tips and get ready for the ultimate grab-and-go breakfast!
- Leave a Parchment Paper Overhang: Make sure to leave enough paper above the edges of the baking dish so you can pull out the granola bars after they set. This way, you can remove them effortlessly!
- Microwave & Mix: When you’re melting the peanut butter into the maple syrup, don’t just set the microwave to 1 minute right away. Start with 30 seconds and mix, then re-evaluate. Since certain microwaves use more power than others, the cook time will vary.
- Press Granola Firmly Into Pan: There’s no need to be gentle when you’re transferring your granola mixture from the bowl to the baking dish. Press it down firmly so there are no air pockets.
- Don’t Skimp on the Chill Time: These pumpkin spice bars need to be refrigerated for at least an hour to set completely. If you try to cut and serve them too soon, they could fall apart.
- Use a Sharp Knife to Cut the Bars: Using a sharp kitchen knife will ensure clean cuts. You could even run the knife under hot water, then carefully dry it off, to help the blade glide through all that granola.
Add-Ins & Variations
Wondering how you can change up these bars in a way that still tastes amazing? I have some mouthwatering suggestions!
- Add Dark Chocolate Chips
- Use Another Creamy Nut Butter
- Add Shredded Coconut
- Add Chopped Pecans
- Sub Dried Cranberries for Raisins or Dried Cherries
- Dip Bars in Melted Chocolate
- Add Fresh Orange Zest
- Drizzle Bars with Raw Honey
How to Store Homemade Granola Bars
Don’t forget to keep your pumpkin spice bars refrigerated in an airtight container. If stored properly, they’ll last for up to 1 week.
Can I Freeze These?
Absolutely! Frozen granola bars last for up to 2 months! Just make sure they’re stored in a freezer-safe container. Let them thaw in the fridge or on the counter before enjoying.
PrintNo Bake Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
These easy, healthy No Bake Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars will have you ditching all your favorite store-bought brands. Filled with pumpkin spice mix, pepitas, almonds, cranberries and more, it’s fall in a breakfast bar!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup regular oats
- 1 cup whole almonds, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup ground flax seed
- 1/3 cup pepitas
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 10 dried apricots, finely sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Line the bottom and sides of an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper. Make sure to leave enough paper along the edges so you can pull the granola bars out after they set.
- In a large bowl add oats, almonds, ground flax seed, pepitas, dried cranberries, dried apricots, sea salt, and pumpkin spice. Mix ingredients with a wooden spoon.
- In a small microwave safe bowl add peanut butter and maple syrup. Microwave until the mixture is smooth and somewhat runny, about 1- 1 1/2 minutes.
- Add peanut butter mixture to dry ingredients. Mix everything together until everything is completely coated. Place mixture in parchment paper lined baking dish.
- Put granola bars in refrigerator for 1 hours to solidify. Cut and serve!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 303
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 155 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 11 g
More Make-Ahead Breakfasts to Try
Who wants to fuss over breakfast on a busy morning? Not me! These make-ahead recipes are a lifesaver.
- Prosciutto Baked Egg Cups
- Banana Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips
- Overnight Breakfast Enchiladas
- Strawberry Muffins
18 comments on “No Bake Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars”
I wish I were Type A….I’m like type E, or F….completely disorganized and struggle to keep things together. Anyway, these bars look amazing and I would definitely eat the whole pan.
haha… whatever girl! You are organized.. at least thats the impression I got when I met you! 🙂 Definitely got it together girl and taught me a few things too. hehe
LOVE this! As a fellow Type A, I also have to remind myself to just go with the flow sometimes….a work in progress that’s for sure. Also, those bars look so yummy, perfect fall snack. 🙂
It’s baby steps for sure! But each step is a step towards letting go. 🙂
Glad you liked the bars too Sarah, I’m officially addicted to these! #givemeallthebars
You always have such wise words to share, Krista – thank you! And these bars are just gorgeous! Since I’m going on week 4 without an operational oven, these would be a perfect treat. I have no doubt my 7yo would love to help make them.
What! Week 4!!! That’s just crazy talk right there, especially for a food blogger! You deserve a brownie or wine.. or something!
And thank you, that means a lot!
Seriously…all of my favorite things in one bar. You’re my favorite.
haha.. you’re my favorite too! 🙂 Hugs!
My kids would devour these little granola bars! The perfect fall snack.
I know they would… I DID! 🙂
Oh, these “quick grab bites” look amazing! I love recipes like this one that are satisfying and easy to make! Glad you’ve taken some time for YOU! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks so much Patricia hope you enjoy! Now make them and go take some time to yourself too! 🙂 hehe
What a yummy fall snack! My girl would love one of these packed in her lunchbox! It can be hard sometimes to be still…but we really need to just rest and listen to what God is trying to tell us 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Exactly!!! You are so right Steph! Hope you have a great week too sweet lady!
Oh girl, I feel you! I definitely needed this post today. First off, congrats again to your brother on their little one…heard he has a pretty great birthday 😉
And second, I am trying to relax more and enjoy my time with my little guy but it’s hard to turn that type a personality off and not doing any blog work. It’s hard to ignore it! But I am glad you listened and took some time away to revive yourself!
Definitely a pretty great birthday! 🙂
Glad this post encouraged you today. You can’t get those hours or special moments with your little one back, soak up every moment with them!
I think most of us would do good to slow down and rest a bit. I’m not type A but I definitely love to cross things off my list. Sometimes I catch myself working until it’s almost bed time with zero opportunity to just sit back and relax. Although I think if I had these granola bars I would sit back, relax and eat the tray…haha.
Right! I do the same thing.
PUT DOWN THE COMPUTER! I literally have to tell myself that sometimes. And in the late night hours its usually not good productive work anyways! I think we all just need to sit back and eat this bars. Don’t you!? hehe