Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars (V + GF)

It’s pumpkin pieeeeee tiiiiiimme.

Only this version is naturally sweetened, has a no-fuss almond-oat crust, requires just 10 ingredients, and is made entirely in the blender.

Yeah, I’m bringin’ the heat (is that still something the kids say?).

While I do love a traditional pumpkin pie, this one may be slightly better because of the no-fuss crust! Just blend oats and almond flour and press into a baking dish instead of mixing with a pastry cutter, rolling and then transferring the crust to a pie pan.

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

NEWS! I have an update for my go-to almond oat crust: Almond flour in place of whole almonds/meal.

Almond flour is made of blanched almonds instead of raw almonds and creates a lighter texture and less harsh almond flavor in baked goods. It’s an easy swap that makes the crust even more perfect and undetectably gluten-free!

I’ve found almond flour to be generally more expensive than almond meal, but I’ve found it’s worth it for the better texture and flavor. Plus, I’ve been ordering a 2-lb. bag of WellBee’s from Amazon for a better price than store-bought and had great success with it! I did a little research and found out that not all almond flours are made equal, so I’d highly recommend trying this brand first!

I plan to use almond flour a little more around here, especially in gluten-free baking as it seems to be superior (to almond meal) in gluten-free baked goods.

OK, onto the filling! It’s super creamy with lots of flavor from pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie spice, naturally sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar, and thickened with cornstarch. No eggs needed yet it has a classic, custard-like texture!

I hope you all love these bars! They’re:

Creamy
Pumpkin-y
Subtly spiced
Perfectly sweet
Wholesome
Naturally sweetened
& Incredibly delicious

These bars would make the perfect dessert to bring along to holiday gatherings. They’re so much easier to make than a traditional pie, yet deliver the same satisfying results!

If you’re really into pumpkin pie (like, for real), check out my other adaptations: Pumpkin Pie Parfaits, Mini Pumpkin Pies, Pumpkin Pie Oats, Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake, Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream, 1-Bowl Pumpkin Pie, and No-Bake Pumpkin Pie.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see. Happy baking, friends!

Creamy Pumpkin Pie Bars (V + GF)

Incredibly delicious Pumpkin Pie Bars made entirely in the blender with 10 ingredients! Plus, naturally sweetened and a no-fuss crust. The perfect plant-based, gluten-free dessert for fall!

Author Minimalist Baker

Print SAVE SAVED

4.73 from 98 votes

Prep Time 4 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings 9 (bars)

Course Dessert

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan

Freezer Friendly 1 month

Does it keep? 3 Days

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

CRUST

• 1 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free as needed)
• 1 ½ cups almond flour* (not meal // or 1 cup raw almonds*)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 Tbsp coconut sugar
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup
• 4-5 Tbsp melted coconut oil

FILLING

• 2 ¾ cups pumpkin purée (DIY here)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
• 2 ½ Tbsp cornstarch*
• 1 ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or sub mix of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg & cloves)
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

FOR SERVING optional

• Coconut Whipped Cream

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper (adjust number/size of dish if altering batch size).
• Make crust by adding oats to a blender (or food processor) and blending/mixing until you reach the consistency of oat flour (if using raw almonds, blend them with the oats at this time).
• Add almond flour (not meal*), sea salt, coconut sugar and mix once more. Then add maple syrup and melted coconut oil and mix/pulse to combine. Depending on device, you may need to use a spoon to scrape around the edges to ensure the crust is completely mixed. If it appears or feels too dry, add more coconut oil.
• Add crust to the parchment-lined baking dish and shake to evenly disperse, then lay down parchment paper on top and use a flat-bottomed object (such as a liquid measuring cup or drinking glass) and press down to pack the crust into place, making an even, firmly packed layer.
• Bake for 20 minutes, then set aside to cool.
• In the meantime, add all filling ingredients to the blender (or food processor) and blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more maple syrup or coconut sugar for sweetness, or pumpkin pie spice for flavor. I also added a pinch of ground cinnamon. Set aside.
• Once the crust is baked, pour the filling into the crust and tap on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake for 50 minutes – 1 hour. The filling will still be just a bit jiggly, dark orange in color, and have some cracks on the top – this is normal.
• Remove from oven and let cool completely before loosely covering with plastic wrap or foil and transferring to the refrigerator to fully set for 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.
• Once cooled, gently lift bars out of dish and slice into 9 bars (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). I also sliced the edges off mine for appearance, but this is optional.
• Serve with coconut whipped cream and an additional sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or pumpkin pie spice (optional). Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days, though best when fresh.

Notes

*I’ve found almond flour to be generally more expensive than almond meal, but I’ve found it’s worth it for the better texture and flavor. Plus, if you order a 2-lb. bag of WellBee’s from Amazon you get a better price. I prefer almond flour in this recipe for lighter texture and flavor, but you can also just sub 1 cup whole almonds or 1 ½ cups almond meal (amounts as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
*Cornstarch is best in this recipe as arrowroot can give a gummy texture. Stick with cornstarch if at all possible, or try another thickener of choice.
*Crust adapted from my go-to Almond Oat Crust.
*Filling adapted from my Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without coconut whipped cream.

Nutrition (1 of 9 servings)

Serving: 1 bar Calories: 284 Carbohydrates: 28.7 g Protein: 5.9 g Fat: 18 g Saturated Fat: 7.6 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 60 mg Fiber: 4.9 g Sugar: 15.6 g