Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites

Since pumpkin is all the rage during the month of October, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to create these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites! If pumpkin isn’t a staple in your house, you’re not alone. I don’t often cook or bake with canned pumpkin (although I love pumpkin pie) but I’m so glad I gave these a go.

As we make our way through the fall season there are so many opportunities for harvest recipes. Ingredients like apples, beets, brussels sprouts, pears, cauliflower and squash are at their best (at least here in British Columbia). And of course, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites are an excellent way to utilize some of the seasonal pumpkin!

One of the great things about this recipe is that it’s pretty versatile. Obviously, by the name, you can make them into bite-sized snacks by using a mini muffin tin. Alternatively, you can bake them into cookies and choose whether to make them chewy or on the crunchier side. For crunchy cookies, flatten the cookie mound prior to cooking and you may want to increase the bake time, depending on your texture preference. Finally, I actually created this recipe by modifying and adapting my Baked Oatmeal Casserole so this can be another way to utilize this recipe. Just be sure to increase the bake time to 30-40 minutes. There are a ton of options, so choose whatever your heart desires!

Canned or Homemade Purée?

For time and simplicity sake, I decided to use canned pumpkin in this recipe. Here is the kind I purchased and used. Alternatively, if you would like to go all Martha Stewart on us and make your own pumpkin purée at home, check out this how-to-guide for instructions! You can go even further and reduce food waste by roasting the pumpkin seeds for a savoury snack or crunchy topping on salads or soups. Check out a recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Seeds here!

Health Benefits of Pumpkin:

Not that everything we eat has to have major health benefits, but it’s cool to learn more about what nutrients pumpkin provides.

• Fibre – excellent for digestion and cholesterol reduction.
• Vitamin A – beneficial for eyesight and supporting the immune system. It is found in huge amounts in pumpkin!
• Iron – used to make hormones, energy and hemoglobin, which transports oxygen around our body.
• Smaller amounts of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and calcium.

 

Regardless of the nutrients in this snack, these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites are going to be your new favourite thing. I can’t wait for you to try them and make again and again!

You will also love these oat-based recipes:

• Peanut Butter and Banana Creamy Oatm-egg
• Oat and Almond Granola Bar
• Pear Almond Baked Oatmeal
• Carrot Cake Slow Cooker Oatmeal

 

If you make these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bites, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!