Pumpkin Oatmeal Streusel Bars

Yields: 12 serving

Ingredients

For the crust and topping:

• 1 1/4 cups oat flour (grind oats in food processor to create oat flour)
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted (0r butter)
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans, almonds or mini chocolate chips (optional)

For the filling

• 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1/4 cup Real maple syrup
• 2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or a mix of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 or 7×11 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Mix all your crust/ topping ingredients together in a large bowl: oat flour, oats, coconut sugar, cinnamon, salt, and coconut oil.
3. Pour 2/3 of the mixture into the parchment lined baking dish and spread evenly across. Pat mixture with fingers to pack it down.
4. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
5. Remove crust from oven and let it cool for 10 minutes.
6. Make your filling while it cools by combining all filling ingredients in a large bowl: pumpkin puree, coconut milk, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract.
7. Pour the filling over the crust and smooth it our evenly with a spatula. Bake for 12 minutes.
8. Remove baking dish from oven and top with the rest of the streusel topping (you should have 1/3 of the crust/topping mixture left).
9. Sprinkle evenly across filling (now add nuts or chocolate chips if you’d like to add those), then put back in the oven to bake for 30 minutes.
10. Let the bars cool for at least an hour before slicing and serving!