Chocolaty Pumpkin Bars

from Kids Eat Right

I’m a HUGE fan of all things pumpkin and it’s such a great source of vitamins A & C.  It is also high in potassium, manganese, copper and one of the B vitamins, riboflavin.  So I was really excited to find a healthy recipe that involved pumpkin and chocolate.

by Janice Bissex, MS RD and Elizabeth Weiss, MS RD
If you're looking for a nutritious, kid-pleasing snack for after school or the lunch box, this is the recipe for you. Thanks to the pumpkin (which, by the way, blends right in), each serving has almost half a day's worth of immune-boosting vitamin A. As for the nuts, they add heart-healthy fat and protein to each delicious bite.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup pecans, very finely chopped
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 large eggs, beaten
One 15-ounce can 100% pure pumpkin
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup 1% low-fat milk
½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or coat a 15 x 10 x 1-inch rimmed baking or jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, pecans, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, pumpkin, oil, and milk until well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before slicing into thirty, 2 x 2½-inch bars.

CookingTip

For maximum freshness, store leftovers in a plastic container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator.

Servings: 30 (1 Bar Per Serving)
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 Bar
Amount per serving
Calories 140
Calories from Fat 70
Total Fat 8g
Saturated Fat 1g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 25mg
Sodium 95mg
Total Carbohydrate 16g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Calcium
Iron