Name: Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Blondies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ cup 128g creamy almond butter, or other smooth nut butter of choice; ¼ cup 50g coconut oil, melted, use refined for no coconut flavor; ⅔ cup 126g coconut sugar; ⅓ cup 81g pumpkin puree; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; ¾ cup 72g almond flour; 3 tablespoons 24g coconut flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 4 ozunces dark chocolate chunks

These Gluten-Free & Vegan Pumpkin Blondies have a super chewy, fudgy texture with the warmth of pumpkin spices and gooey, melted chocolate chunks. You’re going to love these healthier pumpkin bars!

These Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Blondies have a super chewy, fudgy texture with the warmth of pumpkin spices and gooey, melted chocolate chunks. You're going to love these gluten-free, paleo and vegan pumpkin blondies.

I’ve been going pumpkin crazy…especially now that it’s officially autumn. Every year I’m shocked by how quickly it comes, and how quickly pumpkin season is upon us!

You know that I love my healthier pumpkin recipes and am adding new ones to the site every autumn. Ummm, this baked pumpkin cheesecake? Absolutely delicious pumpkin pancakes to start the day? All the PSLs with this pumpkin spice syrup? Can’t be beat.

So far this year, we’ve already got these Pumpkin Pie Crumb Bars (omg so ridiculously good) and this No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake (soooo creamy, and that caramel sauce 😍). And the next recipe, the Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Blondies you’ve been laying your eyes on, fits in wonderfully with the deliciousness we’ve got so far. In fact, these three recipes are SO GOOD I could probably just share these and you’d all be happily pumpkin-ed. But, you know I won’t just stop at these 😉

Before we get ahead of ourselves, we must discuss these easy and delicious pumpkin bars. They’re gluten free and vegan. The pumpkin serves as a perfect egg replacement here, adding moisture and chew to the blondies. These are a treat you could serve to anyone and they wouldn’t guess they’re healthier than the average treat.

Ingredients for gluten-free vegan pumpkin bars & substitution suggestions:

Almond Butter: gives these pumpkin blondies such a rich texture and flavor! Any nut or seed butter works here, but I’d avoid peanut butter since its flavor would come through strongly.
Coconut Oil: make sure it’s melted! Use refined for no coconut flavor.
Coconut Sugar: you can substitute with any other granulated sweetener, but don’t replace with a liquid sweetener.
Pumpkin Puree: the star!! I used canned, make sure it isn’t too water-y or it will make your bars too soggy.
Vanilla Extract: for flavor, measure with your heart :)
Almond Flour: use oat flour instead to make these nut-free!
Coconut Flour: don’t replace this – it helps absorb any extra liquid from the pumpkin.
Baking Soda & Salt: for texture & flavor.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg: you can sub with an equal amount of pumpkin pie spice if preferred.
Dark Chocolate: I like using freshly chopped chocolate chunks, but chips work too!

Is your pumpkin liquid-y? Cook it down over the stovetop until it’s nice and thick – it will give these pumpkin bars a much better texture and prevent them from getting soggy.

To prepare gluten-free pumpkin bars:

They’re easy to make in just 30 minutes!

Combine the almond butter, coconut oil, coconut sugar, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
Stir in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Fold in the chocolate chips or chunks.
Spread the batter into a greased and lined pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Let cool completely and then slice into 16 squares.

I hope you will give these gluten-free & vegan pumpkin blondies a try – they’re one of my newest fall favorites! It’s seriously hard to beat the chew on these. I’d be embarrassed to tell you how quickly they disappeared from my apartment 🙈 enjoy!