Pumpkin Oat Bars

Recipe provided by: Itsy Bitsy Foodies

A cross between a bar cookie and a muffin, these pumpkin oat bars make a simple and quick breakfast, after-school snack or dessert and they are an easy way to ensure that your family gets protein, omega 3′s, and whole grains that will give them enough energy for school, play or trick or treating.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or wheat germ
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 ounce (2 Tbsp) peanut butter
• 7 ounces low-fat plain Greek yogurt or plain yogurt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups oats
• 2 Tbsp flax seeds
• 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting, Optional

• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1) Beat the peanut butter, yogurt, sugars, eggs, pumpkin and vanilla in a mixing bowl.
2) Gradually add the flour and the baking soda.
3) Stir in the flax seed, oats and then the chocolate chips and nuts.
4) Pour the batter into a foil-lined 9 x 13-inch pan and a foil-lined 8 x8-inch pan.
5) Cook the bars for 7-8 minutes at 375 degrees or until the top of the bars starts to turn light golden brown and springs back to the touch but being careful not to overbake them to ensure that they stay moist in the center.
6) Let the bars cool in the pan for ten minutes and then cut them into bars or use a cookie cutter to cut them into shapes.

Cream Cheese Frosting, Optional
1) Beat the ingredients to form a creamy frosting.
2) Ice the bars with cream cheese frosting if desired.
3) Refrigerate leftover frosting in a sealed container.