Stop trying to fight it. It’s pumpkin season. And whether you like it or not, pumpkin season begins earlier and earlier every year nowadays. Because it’s freaking delicious!! Stop trying to push back, there is really no use. Just give in to the fact that anything pumpkin related should be put in your mouth at some point this season. Unless it’s sh*tty ingredients from a sh*tty store. Don’t waste the calories. It’s not worth it!
What definitely is worth it are these little squares of joy. I make these bars using a shortbread crust that I’ve used in other recipes such as my Chocolate “Peanut Butter” Cookie Bars and Holiday Raspberry Caramel Tart. And this crust goes perfectly with the creamy pumpkin center using Pacific Foods 100% USDA Organic, non-GMO pumpkin. I don’t know about you, but MANY times I’ve gone into the store trying to get simply pumpkin puree and I’ve walked out with the crappy pumpkin pie filling, which is loaded with lots of sketchy things. But not here, Pacific Foods uses only creamy pumpkin puree and that’s it! Nothing else! So all you have to do is add delicious spices and other ingredients in it to make it your own! Try their pumpkin puree in my Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins with Apple Cider Caramel, Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie, or Chocolate Pumpkin Sunbutter Treats or one of the many other pumpkin inspired recipes I have on my site!
Ok, I’m heading back on a plane once again. I just got back from Omaha on Sunday morning after heading out to Wayne, Nebraska to watch my brother-in-law play college football. He’s the best. If you follow me on snapchat, you probably noticed that I was annoying AF from my alcohol consumption on a party bus. And yep, that’s exactly what happened. We did the same thing last year, renting a party bus to take all of my husband’s friends and I to Wayne then watch the game then head back to Omaha. Wayne is about 2 hours outside of Omaha which means A LOT of drinking can happen in that amount of time. And A LOT of bathroom breaks when 7 females are on the bus. I remember peeing in a corn field last year. Keep it classy, Juli. But this year I kept it together a little better. Sure, I had probably 4-5 green apple jell-o shots that were honestly delicious and sure, I had 3-4 vodka/coconut waters, BUT I bought waters on the gas stations we stopped at and I packed plenty of snacks. But that didn’t make our early flight back to Denver any easier on Sunday. Everyone was truly worthless all day Sunday. Stupid alcohol, you ruin life.
But I’m feeling back to normal after a grueling workout yesterday and healthy eating choices! Which is perfect timing because today I’m hopping on a plane to Phoenix then Kansas City then back to Denver, all for some book signings! I’m meeting up with Diane Sanflippo, Cassy Joy and Liz Wolfe to sign books, talk paleo, and celebrate Diane’s new book Practical Paleo 2nd Edition and Cassy’s new book Fed & Fit! So if want to talk food, fitness and hopefully some other girly ass sh*t like fashion, then definitely come out! Click here for all the details of the events, times and venues!
And if you have any paleo/gluten free restaurants you recommend for Phoenix or Kansas City, I’d love to hear them so hopefully we can eat somewhere delicious on the road! I’ll be doing a little research tonight but your recommendations are always the best! Hope to see some of you guys at the events!
Pumpkin Magic Bars
- Yield: 16 squares 1x
Ingredients
For the pumpkin cream layer
- 1 cup of canned full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup of Pacific Foods Organic Pumpkin Puree
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
For the crust
- 1½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 4 tablespoons ghee
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the toppings
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- optional: Vanilla Bean Caramel Sauce from Juli Bauer’s Paleo Cookbook (on page 250), for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Place all pumpkin cream ingredients in a saucepan, except for the arrowroot powder, and whisk. Let come to boil and reduce for about 20 minutes. It should reduce by almost half. Once reduced, whisk in arrowroot powder until completely combine. Set aside.
- Grease an 8×8 glass baking dish and line with parchment paper and grease once more. Add all ingredients for the crust into a food processor and pulse until completely combine. The dough should combine into a slight ball once combine. Put dough in the greased dish and use your fingers to press dough around evenly throughout the dish, pressing the dough higher on the sides. Use a fork to poke about 10-12 holes in to keep the crust from rising as it bakes. Bake crust for 15 minutes. Turn oven temperature up to 400 degrees.
- Once baked, remove from oven and place chopped pecans on top. Then pour the pumpkin layer on top and spread out evenly. Next the chocolate chips and then shredded coconut.
- Place in oven to bake for 8-10 minutes, until coconut has browned. Remove from oven and let cool completely then place in the fridge to set for about 1-2 hours. You really want it to cool completely because the pumpkin will be very runny if it hasn’t cooled.
- Once cool, drizzle on some caramel sauce, if you like, and cut into squares and eat up!
In Partnership With:
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It’s Pumpkin Season!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pumpkin Cream Donut Sandwiches
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Gram and Dunn in KC on the plaza…holy cow amazing. Also enjoyed scones at mud pie bakery and food at The Farmhouse was decent but not life changing. Gram and Dunn is life changing. Can’t wait to see where you eat!
These bars look incredible!
As far as food in Kansas City, I’d have to recommend Lulu’s Noodles for Thai food, Waldo Pizza for gluten free pizza, and The Farmhouse is also really good for locally sourced food.
If you go to Lulu’s try the Bee Keep cocktail…it has house infused gin with lemongrass and honey. It goes so well with the curry!
Hopefully I can make the KC book signing!!!
Hands down, Jewels Bakery and Cafe is the place to eat in Phoenix. They are 100% GF, and everything is delicious. They just started serving dinner in addition to their breakfast/lunch fare a few months ago and their menu is amazing.
Yumm! About to make these and not sure if you meant 1 cup or 1 can of full fat coconut milk. Thanks Juli!
sorry about that 1 cup of canned full fat coconut milk! changed that in the recipe!
Yay Phoenix! Luci’s and Phoenix Public Market have tons of great Paleo options, and they’re locally owned so that’s always good. POSH is the greatest place I’ve ever eaten in my life, but it will cost you your firstborn child. I mean not that I’m pressuring you to have kids. Woops, made it weird.
For the pumpkin cream layer can I substitute the 1tbsp arrowroot powder for tapioca flour?
Thanks Julie! 🙂
yes ma’am! it should be fine that way!
i am thinking about a big bowl of just the pumpkin cream layer for breakfast??
Hey Juli!!! I see you’re in KC today, but if you happen to check your blog this AM and don’t have your whole day already planned with awesome stuff, then I’m glad I could help.
Your book signing is in Westport, which is one of the coolest neighborhoods in town. (in my opinion). There are a few really fun places in and around Westport that offer awesome food and vibes:
-Charbar for BBQ-Q39 was also mentioned and I love it, but it gets super busy. Charbar might be a less busy alternative, and they have the coolest outdoor space with yard games and a fire pit.
-Bluestem was mentioned above, and it is so fantastic. If you’re looking for a less fancy option there, they have a lounge that opens at 5pm that is more reasonably priced but still has the cozy, unique vibe of the main restaurant. Here’s a link to their menus: http://www.bluestemkc.com/menus/
-Port Fonda is also in Westport and amazing. http://www.portfonda.com/
-If you need a little caffeine perk up, The Filling Station is in the parking lot of the bookstore, but I don’t know if they’ll have your amazing coconut banana Starbucks concoction. 😉
Anyway, if this is too late advice, you’ll just have to come back again soon to our awesome city! Hope you have tons of fun!!
You’re gonna make me buy another cookbook just for that caramel sauce recipe, huh?
🙂 #worthit #iwontmind
love it, taylor! love it!
Can I just use the almond & coconut flour and not the tapioca flour?.
no, you need the tapioca flour in there, that’s why i put it in there haha!