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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Cookies and Bars

    Pumpkin Pie Squares

    Published: Jan 29, 2014 · Updated: Mar 4, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    These easy-to-make squares are perfect as a dessert or snack. When served soon after baking, the texture resembles freshly baked pumpkin pie, but after cooling (especially overnight), they firm up considerably and can be eaten with your fingers. Recipe and photos contributed by Cathy Fisher at Straight Up Food.

    Makes: 12 to 16 squares

    • 12 medjool dates, pitted and diced (about 1-¼ cups or 8 ounces)
    • 1 cup plain or vanilla nondairy milk (almond, etc.)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1-¼ cups rolled oats, ground into flour
    • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
    • 1 can (15 ounces) pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie “mix”),
      preferably organic
    • ½ cup pecan halves, chopped (optional)

    Place the pitted, chopped dates into a blender with the non-dairy milk and vanilla, and set aside for at least 30 minutes so that the dates may soften.

    Combine the flour and spices in a mixing bowl.

    After soaking, blend the dates, non-dairy milk and vanilla until smooth (1 to 2 minutes). Pour this mixture, along with the pumpkin, into the bowl of flour and spices. Mix until smooth with an electric beater, tossing in the nuts last. (The batter will be thick.)

    Scrape into an 8 by 8-inch baking pan lined with parchment paper (or use a silicone baking pan). Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes before slicing the squares and serving. The longer they cool, the firmer they will become. Optional: add Nutty Frosting below just before serving.

    Nutty Frosting
    This simple nut-based frosting adds a little extra richness and sweetness to special-occasion cakes and bars. Spread on with a butter knife or use a cake decorating kit for a more decorative touch.

    Makes: About 1 ½ cups

    • ¾ cup raw, unsalted cashews (about 4 ounces)
    • 7 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped (about 5 ounces)
    • 1 cup water
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Place all ingredients into a blender jar and let sit for at least 30 minutes, so the nuts and dates can soften.

    After soaking, blend all ingredients until smooth. Use immediately or chill for a couple hours or overnight to thicken.

    PumpkinSquares Cathy Fisher

    NOTES

    Using fresh pumpkin: I use canned pumpkin because it’s convenient and easy, and I know the texture will be consistent. If using fresh pumpkin interests you, search “fresh pumpkin vs. canned pumpkin in baking” online.

    Pumpkin pie spice substitution: If you do not have pumpkin pie spice, you may substitute: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and a pinch of ground clove.

    Oat flour: You can easily grind rolled oats into flour by using any blender; high-speed blenders produce the finest flour, but any blender will do. (A food processor is least effective.) If you are using pre-ground flour, the measurement is the same.

    Pans: I use an 8×8-inch Pyrex pan here, but you can also use a lined pie or cake pan, and then cut the pieces to look like pumpkin pie slices.

    • Explore more of VegKitchen’s Vegan Cookies and Bars. 
    « Chocolate, Orange, and Almond Olive Oil Cake
    VegKitchen's Vegan Chili Recipe Round-Up »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ella Smith says

      January 30, 2014 at 2:56 am

      This recipe interests me greatly, and I cannot wait to prepare it!

    2. Globella says

      January 30, 2014 at 2:43 pm

      Do you have the calorie count for your yummy recipes? I am trying to lose weight and am conscious of the amt of calories in all my foods.

    3. Nava says

      January 30, 2014 at 3:40 pm

      Hi Giobella, it would be prohibitive for me to get analyses done on the recipes, but once VegKitchen is redesigned, I plan to install a widget that will allow readers to easily analyze each recipe, depending on servings. Hopefully within a month or so!

    4. Pamela Bitar says

      February 02, 2014 at 8:49 pm

      This was not so great... It needs a frosting otherwise it was very bland. Having to rely on frosting to make something taste good... I'd skip this.

    5. Sarah says

      October 17, 2015 at 1:10 am

      I really wish I wasn't allergic to dates. What do you think I could use instead?

    6. Lynda Doerner says

      October 18, 2015 at 6:49 pm

      So glad to have found this website! I have enjoyed the recipes from my favorite cookbook, Vegetarian Express, and look forward to even more wholesome cooking!

    7. Nava says

      October 19, 2015 at 10:43 am

      Thanks so much, Lynda! Vegetarian Express is 20 years old this year, so you've stuck with it for a long time. Glad you found us on the web, as well.

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