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 CaramelPumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie, or Chocolate Pumpkin Sunbutter Treats or one of the many other pumpkin inspired recipes I have on my site!

PaleOMG Pumpkin Magic Bars

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 SanflippoCassy 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!

practical-paleo-tour-1

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!

PaleOMG Pumpkin Magic Bars

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Pumpkin Magic Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 9 reviews

  • Yield: 16 squares 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the pumpkin cream layer

For the crust

For the toppings

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Once cool, drizzle on some caramel sauce, if you like, and cut into squares and eat up!

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PaleOMG Pumpkin Magic Bars

In Partnership With:

Pacific Foods

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It’s Pumpkin Season!

PaleOMG Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

PaleOMG Pumpkin Cream Donut Sandwiches
Pumpkin Cream Donut Sandwiches

______________

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61 Comments

  1. Amanda says:

    HAHA!! I just got your “sweetie butt” email! Totally made my morning. Can’t wait to try these, looks freakin’ delish!

  2. Cassie says:

    Ahahaha, I’m all about that pumpkin! If anything, I’d fight for MORE pumpkin recipes during the year! <3 Anyways, these bars do look like magic! I cannot wait to take a bite (or two)!

  3. Melissa Bell says:

    Do these need to be refrigerated or can I pop then into the mail to my college kiddo? They look AMAZING. Love your cookbook – I’ve suggested it to a lot of my clients.

    1. juli says:

      they need to be refrigerated, i wouldn’t recommend shipping them

  4. CentralCaliGuy says:

    I don’t want to speculate that I am one of those 4 awesome male followers, but I am just going to go with it and believe I am. haha

    Been awhile since I’ve commented. Not because of lack of interest. Just been a crazy busy summer.

    These pumpkin bars will go great with the load of pumpkin spice coffee I just ordered. So, if you see a pumpkin head guy walking around with a Paleomg tee shirt, that will be moi.

    Keep up the great work, sweetie bu…
    ummm Julie!






  5. Marta says:

    These are delicious! The one change I’d make is in the amount of arrowroot in the pumpkin layer. It was beautiful & silky (almost caramel-like) throughout cooking, but then got kind of weird & gloopy after adding the Tbsp of arrowroot (which is what it does when used as a thickener with liquids, I get it). I’d greatly reduce it if I made these again (may 1 tsp?) or omit it altogether. The flavors are fantastic, though! Thanks for the pumpkin fix!

  6. Kirstin Slevin says:

    Long time listener, first time commenter 🙂 Not sure you take requests but would love to see your take on a pumpkin spice latte.. like the ones from Starbucks but not so bad for you!

    1. juli says:

      i’ll keep that in mind!! thanks for the recommendation!

  7. Amy Neighbors says:

    The Original Chop Shop in Scottsdale is AMAZING! I was in PHX for 3 days at end of May and I think I ate every meal there! Have a fun safe trip trip, Julie!

  8. Rebekah says:

    I am so sad to have missed you this past week in Phoenix, but I couldn’t make it due to work! I was able to reserve and pick up one of the signed copies left at the bookstore, so thanks for that!!!!!!!!

    1. juli says:

      awesome!! glad you were still able to grab one!

  9. Lyndell Segade says:

    This sounds delicious. I do have one question though. I’m on the Dave Kaufmans phase one diet and there is no sugar wheat or corn and and of course no real maple syrup either. Once in a while perhaps on the phase two. Could I use Xylitol instead of maple syrup? Or do you have another suggestion for me. I don’t want to use coconut sugar either. Just not good for you at all. But the rest of the recipe works great with phase one except for the sugar ingredients. Have a good trip enjoy, but if you eat in all those restaurants that are suggested, you’re going to be as big as a house. Love the pictures of you walking upside down on your hands.
    I’ve lost a sweet 50 pounds in less than a year on The Phase 1 diet. I love being small again. God bless you dear heart and keep up the good work.
    Mrs Lyndell Segade
    p.s…..I turned 82 on September 5th.






    1. juli says:

      i have no clue what Dave Kaufmans phase is, so I can’t really speak about that. if you aren’t suppose to have sugar, than maybe just stay away from the sweets all together. i’ve never use xylitol in recipes so have no idea if you could substitute it for the maple syrup. congrats on your weight loss, hope you’re feeling amazing!!

  10. Damon C says:

    These…so amazing. Not I have to double this stupid recipe to take to work because they heard about it. Me and my stupid mouth…:)