Pumpkin spice granola bars are a chewy and satisfying snack bar recipe that features toasted quinoa, pecans, oats, and more. These bars are held together by an almond butter and maple syrup mixture for extra heft and flavor!
Preheat oven to 350°F. Add oats, pecans, and dry, uncooked quinoa to an ungreased, large rimmed baking sheet and toast for 12-15 minutes, stirring everything up now and again, until the oats are lightly golden and becoming fragrant. Remove and add oats/pecans/quinoa to a large mixing bowl.
Add toasted rice cereal and dried cranberries to the mixing bowl as well and stir.
Line an 8"x8" baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring that enough parchment paper sticks out along two opposite sides of the dish so that you can easily lift out the bars later on for slicing.
Add almond butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, oil, pumpkin pie spice, and salt to a small saucepan set over medium heat. Stir/whisk to combine and cook for a few minutes, until mixture is smooth and just beginning to bubble.
Remove saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pour almond butter/maple syrup mixture into the bowl with the oats, etc. Stir so that everything is evenly combined.
Pour out mixture into the prepared 8"x8" dish and press firmly into an even layer. Pay close attention to the sides of the mixture to ensure the edges are packed in as densely as they can be. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or longer so the bars firm up well.
Remove from the refrigerator and slice into bars. Store bars in the refrigerator to help them hold their shape, removing a few minutes before eating so that they're not as cold.
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.