Pumpkin Oat Squares

Last week, a friend of mine shared with me that she recently made these delicious banana oatmeal chocolate chip squares and loved them.  I agree; they are a great snack and just sweet enough to be dessert. 

I wanted to make them, but needed to make them more fit for fall.  So, I subbed the banana out and replaced it with pumpkin.  Everything is better with pumpkin! These are my new favorite.  I hope they will be yours! 

Pumpkin Oat Squares – Adapted from Finding Joy in My Kitchen

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 C pumpkin puree (or sweet potato puree)
• 1/2 C unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 C molasses
• 1/8 C maple syrup or brown sugar
• 4 1/2 C old fashioned oats
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 C chocolate chips, divided

Directions

Begin by pulsing the 4 1/2 C of oats in a blender or food processor until finely ground.  Mix in 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. salt. 

Blend together the 2 1/2 C pumpkin, 1/2 C applesauce, 2 tsp. vanilla, 1/8 C molasses and 1/8 C brown sugar/maple syrup. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together.  Stir until moist.  The batter will be thick.  If it is really stiff, add in a 1/4 C more pumpkin or applesauce. 

Stir in 2/3 of the chocolate chips, reserving 1/3 of them for the top of the squares. 

Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish and top with the remaining chocolate chips. 

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes until the edges are lightly browned and the center is set.

Cool and slice into squares. 

Serve and enjoy!