You can think of pumpkin bars recipes like little fall desserts that have a cake like texture, soft when bitten into, and sturdy enough to not need a fork. These recipes are quite easy to make and don’t take much time at all to prep (even if you have kiddos). If you’re a pumpkin lover like myself, but also like to not indulge too much, this traditional protein pumpkin spice bars recipe won’t break the calorie bank, but surely will light up your pallet with delight.

What Is Pumpkin

Scientifically speaking, pumpkin is a fruit because of its seed content, but often referred to as a vegetable. Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, pumpkin is a type of winter squash that is native to North America. It was brought to popularity during the Fall and early winter months, October and November, thanks to its seasonality and bright color. Pumpkin is quite nutritious though and often compare to vegetables because of this.

Pumpkin Health Benefits

One cup of pumpkin comes out to about 245 grams of this winter squash. The nutrient profile is quite impressive, with some additional benefits from beta carotene which converts into Vitamin A, the most prevalent vitamin in this food item.

Pumpkin Health Benefits:

• 49 Calories (94% water)
• Carbohydrates - 12 grams
• Fat - 0.2 grams
• Protein -2 grams
• Fiber - 3 grams
• Vitamin A - 245%
• Vitamin B2: 11%
• Vitamin C - 19%
• Copper - 11%
• Vitamin E - 10%
• Icon - 8%
• Manganese - 11%

Other pumpkin health benefits are the antioxidant benefits, immune boosting properties to help fight off infections (especially during the colder seasons), eyesight benefits from vitamin A, Leutein, and Zeaxanthin, and even benefits for heart health thanks to the fiber content.

What Are Pumpkin Bars Recipes

Pumpkin bars are similar to cake, but instead of that real light and fluffy texture, they have a bit more of sturdy texture, making them soft and indulgent, but stable enough to add a layer of frosting or icing without crumbling. They have a big pumpkin flavor with spicy compliments from nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. You can pick them up and eat them or leave them on the plate and have with a fork. Did we mention you can also dress them up with festive sprinkles? Whether you have them in the fall or as a winter celebration treat, these pumpkin bars recipes packed with protein are sure to delight your friends, family, and even you.

How To Make Pumpkin Bars Recipes

Unlike other recipes, this pumpkin bars recipe made with Swolverine protein powder is pretty simple and straightforward. Being an easy recipe, it’s also fun to make with kids and doesn’t require much finesse. First, you’ll want to start off by mixing the dry ingredients together. Then you’ll mix the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. After you have two bowls, then you combine the dry and wet ingredients and bake.

Pumpkin Bars - Toppings

Garnishing and topping pumpkin bars comes down to personal preference. If you’re like my mom, you’re going to opt out of frosting because it makes the cake too sweet. If you’re like me, you’re going to take all the sweet that you can get, especially by adding a little cream cheese frosting with a touch of cinnamon and of course, festive sprinkles (who doesn’t love sprinkles?).

Pumpkin Bars Recipes With Protein

Pumpkin Bar Recipe Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 can pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup Truvia Cane Sugar Blend
• 4 scoops Swolverine Collagen Protein
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp salt

Pumpkin Bar Recipe Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Grease a pyrex 9x13 baking pan with spray oil or rub it with butter (coconut oil also works)
3. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, Swolverine collagen protein, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt). Set aside
4. In a large bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (oil, Truvia, pumpkin puree, eggs) until well combined
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until well combined
6. Add the batter to the greased baking pan and smooth out until evenly spread
7. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean
8. Remove from oven and let cool completely before serving

Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese

For this recipe, you’ll want to use the same bar ingredients as previous, but you’ll want to also make this protein cream cheese frosting recipe so that you have something to put on top. Bonus - add sprinkles and get really festive with it! The frosting doesn’t have any added sugar, thanks to the sweetness of Swolverine’s Whey Protein Isolate. What’s even more impressive is that with reduced fat cream cheese and the specific protein powder, you’re not going to add unnecessary calories in the way of carbs and fat to this recipe, making it a healthy pumpkin dessert. Winning!

Pumpkin Bars With Cream Cheese Recipe

Pumpkin Bar Recipe Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 can pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup Truvia Cane Sugar Blend
• 4 scoops Swolverine Collagen Protein
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp salt

Protein Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 scoop (47g) Swolverine Vanilla Whey Protein Isolate
• 3 1/2 oz (98g) reduced fat cream cheese (room temp)
• 3 tbsp Milk or Nut Milk of choice

Pumpkin Bar Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Grease a pyrex 9x13 baking pan with spray oil or rub it with butter (coconut oil also works)
3. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, Swolverine collagen protein, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt). Set aside
4. In a large bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (oil, Truvia, pumpkin puree, eggs) until well combined
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until well combined
6. Add the batter to the greased baking pan and smooth out until evenly spread
7. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean
8. While baking, whip together the protein cream cheese frosting in a small bowl
9. Remove from oven and let cool completely before frosting

Protein Cream Cheese Frosting Directions:

1. Whisk or mix together all ingredients. If the frosting isn’t sweet enough, add a dash or two of Truvia Cane Sugar to bring up the sweetness level.

What Is Collagen Protein?

Collagen makes up approximately 30% of the total protein in the human body. Collagen is a structural protein that can be found in the joints, ligaments, and tendons. It’s also found in the connective tissues of the human body, which promotes firm, hydrated, and supple skin.

What’s unique to Collagen unlike other proteins, is that Collagen contains a high concentration of four distinct amino acids, that often lack in the modern-day diet; glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine, which help promote protein synthesis, joint health, bone health, and wound healing.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Complete Guide To Collagen

What Is Whey Protein?

Whey protein concentrate is known as the gold standard of protein powder. Whey is actually the liquid by-product of cheese manufacturing. When the casein and water are removed from this by-product, you are left with what’s better known as whey protein concentrate. Most whey protein concentrates are composed of 70-80% pure protein and contain over 50% lactose, with a higher content of fat and carbohydrates, as compared to whey protein isolate.  Several studies have shown that Whey protein has anabolic effects and can help improve post-workout recovery and performance.

RELATED ARTICLE: The Benefits Of Supplementing With Whey Protein Isolate

Pumpkin Bars Recipes: Takeaway

Regardless of which of these pumpkin spice bars recipes you roll with they are sure to be a hit any way you eat them and anywhere you take them. With the extra protein boost, especially in the protein bars recipe with cream cheese, you’re going to be able to get two different types of really beneficial protein into your body in the most delicious way possible. From our kitchen to yours, happy baking!

Looking For An Amazing Whey Protein To Help You Reach Your Goals?

SWOLVERINE IS AN ENDURANCE ATHLETE AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BRAND. MADE FOR THE ELITE ATHLETE, AND THE STRONG-WILLED OUR PRODUCTS WERE DESIGNED TO FUEL YOUR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE. WE PERFORM WHEN YOU PERFORM. 

We believe that everyone can optimize not only their athletic performance but their human potential. The way we believe we can optimize performance is through transparency, clinically effective doses, and clinically proven ingredients with evidence-based outcomes. We provide the nutrients you need to power your active lifestyle.