Pumpkin Crumble Bars

These Pumpkin Crumble Bars are an easy, beloved fall dessert! A delicious oat crumble doubles as the crust and crumb topping, sandwiched around a sweet, creamy pumpkin filling. Nut-free and easily gluten-free, this makes a wonderful make-ahead dessert perfect for Thanksgiving!

Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Crumb Bars

These Pumpkin Crumb Bars are delicious and a fantastic addition to your Thanksgiving dessert table!

• Reminiscent of pumpkin pie – The creamy, sweet pumpkin filling is nearly identical to pumpkin pie filling! Perfect if you love pumpkin pie but are looking to change it up a bit.
• The crust doubles as the crumble – Cut your prep time down by mixing one crumble that doubles as both crust and crumble topping.
• Make ahead – These pumpkin crumb bars can easily be made ahead a day or two, helping you better manage your time for lower stress holiday meals.
• 100% whole grains – as long as you make the recipe as written with oats and oat flour (or sub 100% whole wheat flour) this is a 100% whole grains dessert!
• Gluten-free – Made with oats and oat flour, as long as you use certified gluten-free oats, this recipe is naturally gluten-free.
• Flexible – You can easily customize this recipe based on your on-hand ingredients and preferences. Try oat flour, whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, or almond flour. And adjust the brown sugar amounts to your preference, or swap with a non-nutritive sugar-free brown sugar substitute.
• Uses a full can of pumpkin – No leftover pumpkin odds and ends here! The filling uses the entire can.
• Not overly sweet – If you’re not a fan of desserts that are cloyingly sweet, this wholesome pumpkin crumble is for you. It’s sweet, but not overly so!
• Kid-friendly – If your kids are pumpkin fans, they’ll love these pumpkin crumble bars that easily fit in their little hands!

Featured Ingredients

• Oats – I recommend old fashioned oats. Quick oats work, too, but the texture is finer. I do not recommend steel cut oats.
• Oat flour – You can buy it at the store (or on Amazon), or grind your own in a food processor, some blenders, or a spice mill. Alternatively you can use whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, or almond flour.
• Brown sugar – If you need an alternative, Truvia Sweet Complete Brown Sweetener is an excellent option.
• Butter – Use your favorite dairy-free or plant-based butter substitute if you need it. I don’t recommend coconut oil, I it affects the texture and taste too much.
• Pumpkin – You need a full 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree (make sure it’s 100% pumpkin puree – not pumpkin pie filling!).
• Eggs – You’ll need 3 eggs. Unfortunately I don’t have any good substitute recommendations, as the egg is really important for the texture and stabilization of the bar filling.
• Pumpkin pie spice – Streamline your spices by just using pumpkin pie spice instead of several different seasonings.
• Vanilla – A little goes a long way! I love vanilla bean paste but you can use vanilla extract.

How to Make Pumpkin Crumble Bars

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine crumble ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter into the crumble mixture until it’s all roughly pea-sized pieces.
3. Use the butter wrapper (or any kind of nonstick spray) to lightly grease an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish.
4. Create the bottom crust by placing half the crumble mixture in the baking dish and firmly pat it down into an even layer. Reserve the other half of the mixture for topping.
5. Add the filling ingredients to a separate bowl and stir until combined.
6. Pour the pumpkin filling over the bottom crust and spread it into an even layer.
7. Generously sprinkle the remaining crumble over the pumpkin layer. Make an even layer, but don’t press or pat it down.
8. Place the crumble in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until crumble is lightly browned.
9. Let cool at least 1-2 hours before slicing and serving.

Recipe Tips

• Use the right pumpkin. You want 100% pure pumpkin puree, NOT canned pumpkin pie filling.
• Let cool completely. The bars can be refrigerated and served chilled, or they can be served at room temperature. They’re best not warm, as the flavor improves and the filling sets a bit as they cool.
• Make ahead. These pumpkin crumble bars can easily be made they day before or morning of, to help space out holiday meal preparations.
• Adjust cooking time with larger pans. If you’re using an 9×9 pan, you’ll likely remove your crumble from the oven on the earlier side of the cooking time range.
• Freeze leftovers. Have any leftovers? Or just like to make a treat and keep enjoying it later? These pumpkin crumble bars freeze great!

More Gluten-Free Desserts

Try these Nutrition to Fit healthy dessert recipes for nourishing sweet treats!

• The BEST Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Healthy Baked Pears
• Raspberry Caramel Chocolate Cups
• Almond Oat Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Gluten-Free Monster Cookies
• Chocolate Avocado Truffles

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This Pumpkin Crumble Bars recipe was originally published November 16, 2018 but the post was updated and republished November 2022.