Pumpkin Granola Bars

Since school is back I need breakfast foods that are quick, easy, and grab-and-go friendly. I usually buy a bunch of granola bars, but they never really fill me up and they're expensive. This semester I've been making my own breakfast cookies and granola bars. Their cheap, easy, and you can make big batches and freeze them. Now, with fall in the air, pumpkin is on my mind.

Here is a recipe that was inspired by a post from one of my favorite foodie blogs My Baking Addiction. If you've never been there check it out. Another woman by my own heart. These granola bars are a great freeze-and-grab option for busy mornings. They thaw out in under 15 minutes, so by the time I get to class they are ready to go.

Pumpkin Granola Breakfast Cookies

adapted from My Baking Addiction - Pumpkin Granola Bars

Ingredients:

3 cups old fashioned oats

2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (Can't find it? Don't want to pay for it? Make your own! Be the master of your granola bar destiny! MBA Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend) 

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg white

1/4 cup applesauce 

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon vanilla 

Add up to 2 cups total of your choice of nuts, candy, chocolate chips, dried fruit, whatever you have lying around. I used chocolate chips and walnuts.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Combine oats, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a medium bowl.
Mix brown sugar, pumpkin puree, egg white, applesauce, honey, and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer until smooth.
Slowly mix in dry ingredients. Mixture will be firm.
Spoon by heaping tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten into cookies (these wont really change shape during baking).
Bake 25-30 minutes.