Oh, I am too excited for words!!  MY.FIRST.NEW.RECIPE.SINCE.JULY!!!!!  And it is for a #SundaySupper.  So happy to be rejoining that wonderful group, and returning to the blogosphere after an extended absence.  We will talk more about that in the days and weeks and months to come.  But for now – Christmas!!

I know I know I know.  I was actually just a little bit disturbed when, on November 1st, I saw that the Hallmark Channel had switched over to full-time Christmas movie programming.  It took a few more days before I saw all of the holiday merchandise on full display in the stores, because of a little thing called Hurricane Sandy, but let’s not go there.  (Side note: Holiday stuff comes out earlier and earlier every year, but now if you try to score some bargains the day after Christmas, all that is left is a few packages of that metallic garland that was so popular in, oh, 1986, and some broken ornaments.  Ugh!)

But really, it is never to early to start planning and prepping for the holidays (as long as you don’t forget that MY birthday falls in the midst of it all on November 27th, and no, I don’t want to just stick my candles in the pumpkin pie, thank you very much).  So that is why the #SundaySupper crew is bringing you Gifts from the Kitchen this week.

My contribution are these slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and oh so pumpkininny (I love that word) granola bars – they just taste like the holidays.  And while I love all the typical cookies and candies and cakes that most people like to give away as holiday gifts, I thought these would be a nice, healthy alternative.  You know, the perfect thing to send along with the family after they have stayed at your house for a week, gorging on sugary treats (not that I have any personal experience with this – LOVE YOU family).

And you don’t have to give them away – The Bug has been enjoying them, and I prefer to give these when he begs for his daddy’s Clif and Zone bars.

Please join on us on Twitter throughout the day during #SundaySupper on November 11.  In the evening we will meet at 7pm EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat.

All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag or you can follow us through TweetChat.  We’d also love to feature your own posts for Gifts From the Kitchen on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board to share them with all of our followers, too.

And make sure you check out about 50 more Gifts from the Kitchen at the bottom of this post.

Most years I make anywhere from six to twelve different varieties of cookies.  What do you like to make to give away as gifts for the holidays?  Links welcome.

5.0 from 2 reviews

Pumpkin Maple Spice Granola Bars

 

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Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips, adapted from Two Peas & Their Pod’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Recipe type: Snack, Breakfast, Bars

Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 3¼ c old-fashioned oats (*See Note)
• ¼ c ground flax seed (optional)
• ¼ t ground ginger
• 1 t cinamon
• ¼ t nutmeg
• ⅛ t ground cloves
• ½ t salt
• ¼ c brown sugar
• 1 c pumpkin puree
• ½ c maple syrup
• 1 t vanilla extract
• ½ c dried cranberries
• ½ c chopped walnuts or pecans (or a mixture)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Coat an 8×8 in. baking pan with cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the first 7 ingredients (oats through salt)
4. In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla until well combined.
5. Pour the liquid mixture over the oats mixture, and stir until evenly coated and the oats are moistened.
6. Stir in the cranberries and nuts.
7. Press the mixture firmly into the prepared pan.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown, and firm.
9. Cool in pan for about 5-10 minutes, cut into bars, and remove from pan to finish cooling completely.

Notes

*If you need these to be gluten-free, ensure that you are using oats that are certified gluten-free.

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Enjoy!

Check out this amazing selection of breads, drinks, condiments, snacks, and desserts from all of us to all of you.

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• Pumpkin Biscoff Bread – Dinners, Dishes, and Dessert
• All-in-One Beer Bread Kit – girlichef
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• Apple Butter – Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
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• Nutella Powder – I Run For Wine
• Apricot Pineapple Rum Sauce – Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Spiced Cranberry Apricot Almond Chutney – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Pumpkin Butter – Family Foodie

Soup and Snacks

• A Soup For You – Momma’s Meals
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• Sweet and Spicy Curried Nuts – Soni’s Food for Thought
• Roasted Spiced Nuts – Mrs Mama Hen 
• Sweet and Spicy Pecans – Supper For a Steal
• Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars – Cupcakes and Kale Chips
• Orange Spiced Chickpeas – Home Cooking Memories
• Turtle Pretzels – The Messy Baker

Sweets

• Rocky Road Candy – Magnolia Days
• Dairyfree Vegan Caramels – Galactosemia in PDX
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Drinks

• Applepie Moonshine - My Catholic Kitchen
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• Homemade Kahlua - That Skinny Chick Can Bake

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Tagged as: #SundaySupper, Breakfast, Gifts, Gluten-free, maple, Pumpkin, recipe, Snack, Vegan, Vegetarian