Oh, friend, let me tell you about these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars! They’re more than just a treat; they’re a little slice of autumn happiness, baked right in my own kitchen. The first time I ever made them, my youngest was going through a very picky phase. I was trying to sneak in some extra nutrients, and I remembered my grandma used to make the most amazing oatmeal bars.

I thought, “Why not add pumpkin? It’s basically a vegetable, right?” Well, let’s just say the first batch was… an experience. They were gummy, and the pumpkin flavor was way too strong. My husband, bless his heart, tried to eat one with a smile, but the kids were not having it.

I almost gave up, but then I remembered a tip from my mom about balancing flavors. I tweaked the recipe, adding a bit more spice, cutting back on the pumpkin puree, and upping the chocolate chips. The next batch? Pure magic! The kids devoured them, and my husband actually went back for seconds. The warm, comforting scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and chocolate filled the house, and I knew I had stumbled upon a winner.

What I love most about these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars is that they’re surprisingly healthy and easy to make. They’re perfect for a quick breakfast on the go, a lunchbox treat, or an afternoon snack. And let me tell you, they are a lifesaver when I’m running late for soccer practice or need a little something to keep the hangries at bay. I’ve perfected the recipe over the years, and now, I can whip up a batch in no time!

The best part is how adaptable they are. Feeling nutty? Throw in some chopped pecans. Want a little extra sweetness? Drizzle some maple syrup on top. These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars really are a blank canvas for your baking creativity. I also love that they are perfect during the fall baking recipes season and I make them every year.

So, grab your apron, preheat that oven, and let’s bake some deliciousness together. I promise, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars will become a new family favorite. You can also get the kids involved! They love stirring the ingredients and, of course, taste-testing the chocolate chips. Ready to get started?

Ingredients for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

Here’s what you’ll need to create these delightful treats. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the readily available ingredients. Let’s gather everything and prepare for a baking adventure!

1 ½ cups rolled oats (not instant)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark, your preference!)
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

I always use old-fashioned rolled oats for my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars because they give the bars a nice chewy texture. I’ve tried using quick oats before, but they tend to make the bars a bit too soft. When making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars, you can find pumpkin puree in the baking aisle of most grocery stores, especially during the fall months. Make sure you are buying pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling! They are not the same and will affect the recipe.

Here’s a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars trick I learned from my mom: always melt the butter slowly in a saucepan over low heat. This helps prevent it from splattering and burning, and it also gives the butter a nice, nutty flavor. For busy families making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars, you can pre-mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl the night before. In the morning, simply add the wet ingredients and bake!

To save money on Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars ingredients, buy oats and flour in bulk. They’re pantry staples that you’ll use often, and buying in bulk is almost always cheaper than buying smaller quantities. I store leftover pumpkin puree in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or you can freeze it for longer storage. Don’t let it go to waste! And I highly recommend trying these lemon oatmeal crumble bars!

How to Make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars – Step-by-Step

Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of delicious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars. Each step is designed to ensure your bars come out perfectly every time. Let’s get baking!

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. I like to use cooking spray, but you can also grease it with butter or line it with parchment paper for easy removal of these chocolate chip pumpkin bars.
In a large bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. These are your dry ingredients for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars.
In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until smooth.
Stir in the pumpkin puree until everything is evenly combined. Don’t worry if your Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars batter looks a little lumpy at this stage; it will all come together in the end.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts (if using). I learned the hard way with Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars that overmixing makes them tough. Gently fold everything together until the chocolate chips are evenly distributed.
Press the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. In my kitchen, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars usually takes about 25-30 minutes to bake, but it can vary depending on your oven.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Your Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars should smell like warm spices and chocolate. While the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars is cooking, I usually tidy up the kitchen or start preparing dinner.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares. If you try to cut them while they’re still warm, they’ll be too crumbly. This is the hardest part! I usually find something else to do so I am not tempted to cut into them early.

Here is an extra tip, I got from Pumpkin Bars With Chocolate Chips and Oats | Nutritious Eats that has helped me. If you want a richer flavor add in some dark chocolate chips!

Here is a time-saver: Make this batter the night before, and cover it tightly in the fridge. This allows the oats to soften a bit and makes the bars even chewier! These healthy oatmeal bars will change your life!

Serving Suggestions

These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are incredibly versatile when it comes to serving. Here are a few ideas to enjoy them at any time of day.

The kids love our Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars when I pack them in their lunchboxes for school. They’re also great as an after-school snack with a glass of milk. My go-to side dish with these bars is a simple cup of yogurt or a handful of fresh berries. The tartness of the yogurt or berries complements the sweetness of the bars perfectly.

This Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars is perfect for fall gatherings, bake sales, or potlucks. They’re always a crowd-pleaser, and they’re so easy to transport. For a nice presentation, cut the bars into neat squares and arrange them on a pretty platter. You can also dust them with a little powdered sugar for an extra touch of elegance. If you have extra Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze them for longer storage.

For a seasonal Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars variation, try adding dried cranberries or chopped apples to the batter. These additions add a nice tartness and texture to the bars. My friends always ask for this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars recipe whenever I bring them to parties. They’re always a hit! I like to give the recipe to them, but also suggest this recipe for chocolate chip rice krispie cookies if they want something less healthy.

FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Got questions? We’ve got answers! Here are some frequently asked questions about making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars to help you bake with confidence.

Q: Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

A: While you can, I don’t recommend it for making these pumpkin oatmeal bars. Quick oats will make the bars a bit too soft and mushy. Rolled oats give the bars a much better texture and chewiness. I’ve tried it before, and the results just weren’t as good.

Q: Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead of pumpkin puree?

A: No, definitely not! Pumpkin pie filling has added sugar and spices, which will throw off the balance of the recipe and make your Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars way too sweet. I made that mistake once, and they were almost inedible.

Q: How do I know when the bars are done?

A: The bars are done when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Don’t overbake them, or they’ll be dry. You know what I do when my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are almost done? I keep a really close eye on them!

Q: Can I add other ingredients to the bars?

A: Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with different nuts, dried fruits, or spices. Walnuts, pecans, cranberries, and ginger are all great additions to these chocolate chip pumpkin bars.

Q: Can I freeze these bars?

A: Yes, you can! Wrap the bars tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. I like to freeze individual bars so I can grab one whenever I need a quick snack.

Q: What if my bars are too dry?

A: If your bars are too dry, try adding a tablespoon or two of milk or applesauce to the batter. Also, make sure you’re not overbaking them. I’ve had blog readers tell me that adding brown sugar also helps retain more moisture.

Q: Can I make these bars vegan?

A: Yes, you can! Substitute the butter with vegan butter, the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water), and use vegan chocolate chips. Check out this recipe Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars | Ambitious Kitchen if you want to go all out on the recipe. My family is not vegan, so I have not tried this modification.

Final Thoughts on Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

This Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars recipe holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of fall, family, and happy memories in the kitchen. It’s a recipe that I’ve made countless times, and it always brings a smile to my face. I also really like it because it is a healthy oatmeal bars recipe.

My Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars Pro Tips:

Don’t overmix the batter.
Use good-quality chocolate chips.
Let the bars cool completely before cutting.

Here are a few Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars variations I’ve tried with my family:

Apple Cinnamon: Add 1 cup of chopped apples and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter.
Cranberry Walnut: Add ½ cup of dried cranberries and ½ cup of chopped walnuts to the batter.
Gingerbread: Add 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, ½ teaspoon of ground cloves, and ¼ teaspoon of ground allspice to the batter. I also love adding molasses!

My husband loves the apple cinnamon version, while the kids are partial to the cranberry walnut. I personally love the gingerbread bars, especially around the holidays! Feel free to make this recipe your own and experiment with different flavors and ingredients. I hope you love these bars and that they become a new family favorite.

Remember what I said, you can add nuts if you want. I also like to drizzle a little bit of honey or maple syrup on top, this can bring out extra flavors! I hope you have a blast baking this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars. These bars also remind me of these chocolate smores cupcakes recipe!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars

Print Recipe

These Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars are the perfect fall treat! Chewy, delicious, and packed with pumpkin spice flavor, they’re a comforting and easy-to-make dessert.

Author: Zoubida
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 16 bars
Category: Dessert
Method: Baked
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 cup chocolate chips

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
In a separate bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and pumpkin puree.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

Notes

For extra flavor, add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter.