Raw Pumpkin Spice Bars
Last Friday at at work in the deli, one of my coworkers was making all sorts of fallish desserts. Maple pecan scones, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, spice cookies...but of course, the pumpkin sounded the best to me. After all, it is the time of the year when we all get the pumpkin bug.
I wasn't planning on making anything pumpkin this weekend, but all the pumpkin stuff at work just smelled so good that I started to consider it. I was going to make s'mores brownies, but then I thought maybe pumpkin bars would be better. But I wanted the public to decide so I took a poll on Facebook and the pumpkin bars won. Guess everyone else is craving pumpkin too. Maybe because we are deprived of it for half a year or more...and is is just so darn delicious!
At any rate, I went to work creating my raw pumpkin bars that I had been dreaming of at work. They needed to have plenty of spice, which included fresh ginger and be sweet but not overly so. They smelled wonderful while dehydrating! I couldn't wait to try them.
But first, they needed to have cream cheese frosting. So I created a raw coconut based cream cheese frosting that was quite addictive. It was a wonder there was enough left for the bars! I haven't had a pumpkin bar in years, but these were more delicious than the ones I remember from the past. Raw food has a way of doing that!
Raw Pumpkin Spice Bars
Makes 8 large bars
Cake:
1 1/4 cups walnuts, soaked and dried
1 3/4 cups dried shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 inch chunk fresh ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 Tbsp coconut nectar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
20 dates, pitted
2 cups finely grated organic squash*
Frosting:
1 1/2 cups raw cashew pieces (preferably soaked overnight)
1 cup coconut water
1 1/2 cups fresh young coconut meat* (or additional soaked cashews if not available)
1/3 cup coconut nectar
2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and seeds of a vanilla bean
2 tsp cider vinegar
1/2 cup coconut oil (warmed to liquid)
ground cinnamon for finishing
To make frosting, drain cashews and blend all ingredients until smooth in a food processor, and set in the freezer about 30 minutes until a frosting consistency. Place the frosting in a pastry bag and pipe over the bars (or simply spread it if you do not wish to pipe). Sprinkle a little cinnamon over and serve!*I use squash instead of pumpkin because it is sweeter, but you can use pumpkin if you like.
24 Comments
Yum. I love all your pictures for your recipes! :)
Thanks so much :)!
Just dscovered your site and love the recipes :) Especially this one, making it soon!
Glad to have you here :)! Thank you!
We love pumpkin and all pumpkin desserts. I can't wait to try out your bar recipe.
Me too! I have been patiently waiting for the pumpkin to return :)!
I just couldn't manage pumpkin in September. I was in fall denial! But my cinnamon has now traveled to the front of my spice shelf. Your irresistible Pumpkin Spice Bars are just the inspiration I need to dive into fall baking!
Thank you :)! I am going full force with the fall baking, love this time of year! Not that I won't miss summer desserts ;)!
This looks amazing!!!! Should you use Butternut squash in place of the pumpkin?
Thank you :)! You can use butternut squash, I used buttercup which is a little sweeter, but they will both work.
Amy, love the look of this recipe - especially as you're using fresh squash or pumpkin, which makes all the difference. That list of ingredients sounds magical. No wonder you run so well, imagining these dreamy sweet treats on your return!
Thanks Jill :)! It does! And I certainly do dream about desserts a lot when I am running, and it helps me run faster ;)!
Love your site! Your desserts always stand out because they are so beautiful, professional, and down-right mouth-watering!<br /><br />Have to ask though - is it really safe to eat raw pumpkin or winter squashes? I know it is safe to eat the yellow bottleneck summer squashes raw- is that what you mean when you say squash?<br />Is it because the heat of the dehydrator cooks it a bit over 6 hours?<br /><br />Thank you for answering questions!
Thank you so much for your kind words :)! Yes, it is safe to eat raw squash, even if it is not dehydrated. There is no rule that says you have to cook winter squash, it is healthy and filled with vitamin A and other nutrients which are diminished when you cook it. The dehydrator just makes the cake not so wet because the squash has a bit of water in it which makes it sticky. No problem :)!
Fabulous - posted it on Facebook for my vegan friends and I will be trying it. Don't have to be vegan to love vegan...
Thanks Claudia :)! Definately!
I don't have a food dehydrator, but want to get one! Any specific kind work best?<br />Also, I really want to see those s'more brownies/bars! More specifically, your version of them, since I've seen plenty of smore brownie recipes out there, but most have nasty ingredients.
Definately an Excalibur! They last forever! I am planning on making them this weekend, if I can get the ingredients I need, but they will definately be happening soon ;)!
Ooh! I totally have the pumpkin bug! Looks perfect for my craving!!
Me too :)! Glad you enjoy the recipe!
This comment has been removed by the author.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. My family and I have been trying to have as much raw food as possible and I have to admit I was rebelling inside at the thought of not getting my traditional pumpkin bars with the cream cheese frosting. It took me 4 days to make this with all the soaking, dehydrating and having to go to another town to get a coconut... but it was SO worth it. You have an amazing palate... thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed them :)! Thank you for letting me know how they turned out for you!