It's the most wonderful time of year... no, not Christmas. Pumpkin season! I don't know about you, but it gave me great joy to go shopping at Trader Joe's last week and see pumpkin everything lining the shelves. Did you know they even make pumpkin dog treats? I digress...

Yes, lots of those pumpkin items found in the stores are "treats" but pumpkin itself is actually good for you! Pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium. All of which are good for digestion, vision, immunity, and kidney function, respectively. 

We're all about using what's in season for two reasons - for nutritional variety AND cost-effectiveness. So we wouldn't let this season pass us by without a few recipes featuring this power squash! Try these Fall Harvest Oat Cups when you're looking for that next pumpkin fix. 

Harvest Oat Cups 

Makes about 16 cups 

Avocado or coconut oil spray 

1 cup pumpkin purée 

½ cup unsweetened applesauce 

2 eggs 

½ teaspoon vanilla extract 

½ cup pure maple syrup 

1 cup rolled oats 

½ cup almond flour 

2 Tablespoons flax meal 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 

½ teaspoon sea salt 

1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped 

2 Tablespoons pepitas 

½ cup chopped pecans 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a muffin tin or silicone baking cups with coconut or avocado oil spray. In a large bowl, mix together wet ingredients: pumpkin purée, applesauce, eggs, vanilla and maple syrup. In a separate bowl, mix together dry ingredients: oats, almond flour, flax meal, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Working slowly, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until fully combined (the batter will be a little lumpy). Do not over mix! Gently fold in the chopped apple, pepitas and pecans. Divide batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Our Fall Back to Health participants just finished week 2 - halfway through the challenge! And this recipe was just one of a few that snuck in some delicious pumpkin. It's not too late - sign up HERE to get access to 4 weeks of some amazing fall recipes!