Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark – Easy Trader Joes Dupe
This pumpkin spice granola bark is a healthier and homemade version of the Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark that comes out in the Fall. I use natural sugars for this recipe and it can be whipped up with less than 10 minutes of hands-on time.
Related: chocolate-covered graham crackers
Related: peanut butter bliss ball recipe
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If you’re looking for more Christmas treats, I have tons of sweet treat recipes that I’ve shared – some with a healthier spin, and some that are meant to be a true treat.
Holidays, parties, whatever the occasion, my chocolate-covered graham crackers, and pecan meltaways are a total hit! But, my famous maple chocolate chip cookies are an all-time favorite.
- ingredients for pumpkin spice granola bark
- how to make pumpkin spice granola bark
- storing pumpkin spice granola bark
- pumpkin spice granola bark tips
- pumpkin spice granola bark alterations
- why you'll love pumpkin spice granola bark
- shop pumpkin spice granola bark
- more Sweet recipes
- Granola Bark faq
- Pin it for later – pumpkin spice granola bark
- print pumpkin spice granola bark recipe
- Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark
- storing pumpkin spice granola bark
- pumpkin spice granola bark tips
- about me
ingredients for pumpkin spice granola bark
A tasty snack, after-dinner treat, or the perfect dessert to bring to a party – everyone will love this pumpkin spice granola bark.
pumpkin spice granola ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped pecans – whatever nuts you have on hand are just fine. Walnuts or almonds would be great too.
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1/2 quinoa – this gives such a fun texture to the granola portion of the bark!
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar – this is what makes this healthier than the pumpkin spice granola bark from Trader joe’s. They use refined sugars, we use natural sugars!
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp pumpkin spice seasoning
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup organic pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract – or I’m a big fan of pecan extract!
bark Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips (I get mine from Azure standard in bulk and they’re vegan/allergen free)
- 1 tbs coconut oil
- Pepitas
- Flake sea salt – the Maldon’s flake salt is the best!
how to make pumpkin spice granola bark
Ready for the easiest pumpkin spice granola bark recipe ever? Here you go…
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
- In a large bowl, mix your dry granola ingredients.
- In a medium bowl combine melted coconut oil, pumpkin puree and maple syrup, stir until combined.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures.
- On a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet, spread the granola in an even, compact layer.
- Bake for 15 minutes, rotate pan in oven (or cook on convection if you have that option), and bake for another 5 – 10 (depending on oven). It should look golden brown on top.
- Remove granola from oven and let cool completely (this will take about 30 minutes).
- Meanwhile, during the last few minutes of cooling your granola, make your chocolate topping by melting the coconut oil and chocolate together in glass bowl in microwave or double broiler.
- Once cool, spread with melted chocolate mixture, sprinkle some pumpkin seeds and flake salt, and set in the freezer (while on baking sheet).
- Remove from freezer and slice into bark!
storing pumpkin spice granola bark
room temperature (preferred)
Simply place your pumpkin spice granola bark in an air-tight container after you’ve broken it apart and enjoy it within 7 days.
Refrigerator
You can store pumpkin spice granola bark in the refrigerator with one caveat – don’t put the sea salt on top of the chocolate. There’s a chemical reaction that happens to salt in the refrigerator that melts it and melted salt on top of bark isn’t tasty.
Freezer
You can store your pumpkin spice granola bark in the freezer if you want to save it for later. Simply wrap in plastic wrap then in a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
Reheating from freezer
Do not heat up granola bark or it will melt! All you need to do is remove your bark from the freezer and let thaw for an hour or two then enjoy.
pumpkin spice granola bark tips
- Make sure to compact the bark down with your wooden spoon so it forms more compact bark once it’s baked and set.
- It’s not super necessary to let the bark cool completely after taking it out of the oven and prior to pouring your chocolate, but
- if you’re planning on letting the bark set in the freezer (like I did) then you’ll want to let it cool a bit so you don’t bring the temp in your freezer too low.
- Let your bark cool and set completely prior to breaking it apart! Seriously, you’ll have a mess if you don’t.
- Granola is crumbly – it’s just the way it is! This treat is a little messy but mostly delicious. 😉
- Store on the counter in a sealed container.
- If you want to make this a little more like a treat, then you’ll want to add 1/2 cup more chocolate chips and 1/2 tbs more coconut oil.
Related: How to Season and Preserve Wooden Spoons
pumpkin spice granola bark alterations
Add or substitute
- Dried fruit like cherries, blueberries, cranberries
- Coconut flakes
- Storebought granola instead of homemade
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Pistachios
- Flax seeds
- Cinnamon
Related: Savory Trail Mix Recipe
why you’ll love pumpkin spice granola bark
- The seasonality of this recipe is so perfect for Fall. The pumpkin seeds, the pumpkin spice, pumpkin puree – it’s irresistible!
- There’s almost no hands-on time! It’s so easy to toss everything in a bowl, stir it up, bake and set. All the work is done in the oven and freezer.
- The flake salt on top with the chocolate is simply divine.
- The pumpkin seeds and quinoa add the perfect little crunch.
- I love that I can opt-out of the bark portion and just use the pumpkin spice granola recipe for breakfast if I want!
Related: Try my spiced pumpkin & chorizo chili
shop pumpkin spice granola bark
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more Sweet recipes
Pumpkin Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
Lemon and Lavender Sourdough Discard Muffins
Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates Recipe
Healthy 4 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies
Granola Bark faq
Bark candy is traditionally made from almond bark – vanilla flavoring and vegetable fats. But, you can make bark candy out of any sort of chips like chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, etc.
You only need to cook chocolate bark until it has melted – typically in a double broiler. Usually about 5 minutes.
Chocolate bark will last 5 days at room temp in an air-tight container. It will last a couple of weeks if stored in the fridge.
You can use any sort of candy chips such as butterscotch, peanut butter, white chocolate, etc.
When it’s not dumped with sugar and poor-quality oils, dark chocolate can actually be quite healthy. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and the minerals iron, zinc, and magnesium.
Pin it for later – pumpkin spice granola bark
Related: Small charcuterie board tutorial
Related: chocolate-covered graham crackers
print pumpkin spice granola bark recipe
Pumpkin Spice Granola Bark
Equipment
- baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Glass bowl
- wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Granola
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp pumpkin spice seasoning
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Bark Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips I use vegan and "allergen free" from Azure Standard
- 1 tbs coconut oil
- sprinkle pepitas
- sprinkle flake sea salt I use Maldrons
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
- In a large bowl, mix all the granola dry ingredients.
- In a medium bowl whisk melted coconut oil, pumpkin puree and maple syrup, stir until combined.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures.
- On a parchment or silicone mat-lined baking sheet, spread the granola in an even, compact layer.
- Bake for 15 minutes, rotate pan in oven (or cook on convection if you have that option), and bake for another 5 – 10 (depending on oven). It should look golden brown on top.
- Remove granola from oven and let cool completely (this will take about 30 minutes).
- Meanwhile, during the last few minutes of cooling your granola, make your bark topping by melting the coconut oil and chocolate together in glass bowl in microwave or double broiler.
- Once cool, spread with melted chocolate mixture, sprinkle some pumpkin seeds and flake salt, and set in the freezer until it has set (about 30 minutes).
- Remove from freezer and break apart into bark!
Video
Notes
storing pumpkin spice granola bark
room temperature (preferred)
Simply place your pumpkin spice granola bark in an air-tight container after you’ve broken it apart and enjoy it within 7 days.Refrigerator
You can store pumpkin spice granola bark in the refrigerator with one caveat – don’t put the sea salt on top of the chocolate. There’s a chemical reaction that happens to salt in the refrigerator that melts it and melted salt on top of bark isn’t tasty.Freezer
You can store your pumpkin spice granola bark in the freezer if you want to save it for later. Simply wrap in plastic wrap then in a freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.Reheating from freezer
Do not heat up granola bark or it will melt! All you need to do is remove your bark from the freezer and let thaw for an hour or two then enjoy.pumpkin spice granola bark tips
- Make sure to compact the bark down with your wooden spoon so it forms more compact bark once it’s baked and set.
- It’s not super necessary to let the bark cool completely after taking it out of the oven and prior to pouring your chocolate, but
- if you’re planning on letting the bark set in the freezer (like I did) then you’ll want to let it cool a bit so you don’t bring the temp in your freezer too low.
- Let your bark cool and set completely prior to breaking it apart! Seriosuly, you’ll have a mess if you dont.
- Granola is crumbly – it’s just the way it is! This treat is a little messy but mostly delicious. 😉
- Store on the counter in a sealed container.
- If you want to make this a little more like a treat, then you’ll want to add 1/2 cup more chocoloate chips and 1/2 tbs more coconut oil.
Have to be nut free, considering sunflower seeds instead of pecans. Any other suggestions?
Hi Gwen, I would go with either pepitas, or even pretzels would be great and would provide the crunch we are looking for 🙂
Please let me know your questions and how you like this recipe!