Anyone for Dessert?

 Good Morning!

A quick Thursday morning post just to say I made a new dessert yesterday and it was good!  So I thought I would share it with you.

I found the recipe on a vegan site on IG that I sometimes look at.  I only copied out the ingredients and instructions, but no name.  I'm calling them Oatmeal-Pumpkin-Peanut Butter Bars.  Here's the deal:

Mix together:

• 2 Cups rolled oats
• 1/2 Cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 Cup milk
• 1/4 Cup peanut or almond butter (I used peanut butter)
• 1/4 Cup honey or maple syrup (I used maple syrup)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Mix all of the above together and press it firmly into a baking dish.  I just lined an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Let it cool.

Once cool, melt 1/3 Cup of chocolate chips with 1 tsp coconut oil.  (Just melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals till melted and smooth.). Spread this over the cooled bars.  Chill in the fridge for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate sets.  Cut into bars.

Some notes:  

• I tasted more peanut butter than pumpkin - I may try increasing the pumpkin puree and decreasing the peanut butter next time.
• I don't keep pumpkin pie spice on hand, so since the recipe already calls for cinnamon, I just sprinkled in some nutmeg and some ginger.
• I would increase the melted chocolate.  I had a difficult time covering the entire pan with the melted chocolate.  And honestly, there is nothing wrong with more chocolate!  LOL
• Fletch and I both thought they would be a little firmer or crunchy, but they are moist and still very tasty.

I hope you enjoy if you make them.  They were quick and easy to make, that's for sure.