Actually the best, most moist Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting made with protein powder instead of sugar! They’re low fat and sugar free and will get you hooked.
Jump to RecipeWhat better way to celebrate the cozy vibes of fall than with a delicious treat that captures the essence of the season but also aligns with your health-conscious choices?
These healthy protein pumpkin cream cheese bars are just what you need – a wholesome twist on a classic favorite that’s low in fat and completely sugar-free.
They’re moist and perfectly spiced and just so perfect you will want more and more!
Ingredients for Best Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting:
This recipe for high protein pumpkin bars is made with a few simple ingredients; It’s got whole wheat pastry flour, uses protein powder as a sweetener and no oil or butter!
- Whey-Casein Vanilla Protein Powder: For a pumpkin bar recipe with no sugar; I used Quest Nutrition Vanilla
- Pumpkin Puree – not pumpkin pie filling!
- Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor Almond Butter – I use the one from American Dream Nut Butter (code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount). It’s lower fat and higher protein than normal, and just amazing .
ADNB has other flavors that would work well here too - Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Almond Butter Powder from PB2 is the one I used. PB powder also would work.
- Zero Calorie Sugar Free Brown Sugar Replacement: I used Lakanto brown monk fruit sweetener (code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount here)
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Baking Soda
- Egg and Egg Whites
For the Cream Cheese Protein Frosting on these Protein Pumpkin Squares:
- Low Fat Cottage Cheese
- Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
- Vanilla Protein Powder for high protein frosting; I used Quest Nutrition Vanilla.
How to make The Best Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting using Protein Powder
This recipe makes the best moist pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting that are to die for! They use protein powder, but its super easy to make; Here’s the steps to get it right:
- Whisk all dry ingredients: protein powder, flour, coconut flour, almond butter powder, sweetener, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda.
Note: Use whey-casein protein powder since It works well with the ratio of ingredients in this healthy pumpkin bar dessert recipe.
Whey-casein absorbs more liquid, and whey absorbs less, so you need to adjust the liquid accordingly.
- Whisk all wet ingredients – pumpkin puree, milk, almond butter, egg, egg white.
- Add dry mix into wet and fold batter with spatula until combined.
Don’t over-mix the batter!
Pour the dry mix into the wet along with the milk and just gently fold them together. Don’t over-mix it or too much gluten will develop, which will make the bars gummy and dense. - Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I’d recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have sugar free pumpkin bar recipe.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes at 350F.
Don’t over-bake the cake bars will get tough; Remove when the tester/knife comes out just dry, but moist.
- Let cake cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt.
- Whisk cream cheese and yogurt until smooth.
Microwave cream cheese to soften for about 10 seconds if it is straight out of the fridge.
- Add protein powder and mix until smooth.
Use whey-casein protein powder since it mixes well with the yogurt.
Add milk if necessary; Mix the frosting well first, and then add milk if still too dry.
Taste to see if it needs additional sweetener. Add stevia if needed.
How to store Protein Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars?
This protein cream cheese pumpkin bars recipe keeps really well as a meal prep snack or dessert. Store pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting in an airtight container at room temperature for a few hours and for 4 or 5 days in the fridge.
To freeze, slice healthy cream cheese pumpkin bars, wrap in plastic wrap, and place the pieces in a freezer-safe zipper bag. You can even store the whole slab itself!
Thaw before eating.
Alternatives for Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting and No Sugar!
For the perfect healthy pumpkin bar recipe with no sugar, I used protein powder to replace the sugar. I really would recommend using the ingredients and brands listed, but here’s some healthy alternatives you can try.
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: Use All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour in the same amount by weight not cups.
- Coconut Flour: ⅓ cup more Flour or Oat Flour
- Almond Butter Powder: Use Peanut Butter Powder
- Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor Almond Butter: Regular Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Cashew Butter, Hazelnut Butter or even Tahini
- Almond Milk: Regular Low Fat Milk
- Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
- Low Fat Cream Cheese: Regular Cream Cheese
More Frosted Protein Bar Recipes to Try:
- Healthy Peanut Butter Bacon Bars
- Turtle Protein Bars
- Cosmic Blondie Protein Bars
- Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Protein Bars
More High Protein Pumpkin Recipes:
- Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Muffins
- Fat Free Protein Pumpkin Bread
- Pumpkin Protein French Toast Bake
- Protein Pumpkin Roll
- Pumpkin Protein Cake Pops
Best Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting – High Protein
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup Vanilla Protein Powder (Whey-casein), 60g
- ½ cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, see post for subs, 60g
- ¼ cup Almond Butter Powder, 24g
- 3 Tbsp Coconut Flour, 21g
- 2 Tbsp 0 Calorie Brown Sugar, 24g
- 1½ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 1½ tsp Baking Soda
- ¾ cup Pumpkin Puree, 180ml
- ¼ cup Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor Almond Butter
- 2 Tbsp Unsweetened Almond Milk, 30ml
- 1 Egg
- 2 Egg Whites, 60ml
Protein Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 3 oz Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 84g
- 3 oz Low-fat Cream Cheese, 84g
- ⅓ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 30g
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 8×8” baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk protein powder, flour, almond butter powder, coconut flour, sweetener, pumpkin spice and baking soda.
- In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, almond butter, milk, egg and egg whites.
- Add dry mix to wet, and gently fold until just combined.DO NOT OVER-MIX or protein powder will make the bars dense.
- Pour batter into pan, and bake for 22-25 minutes.
- A tester inserted into the center should come out clean and center springy to touch.
- Let cool in pan for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Frosting:
- Let cool completely first.
- If cream cheese is solid, place in a bowl and microwave for about 15 seconds to soften.
- Add yogurt and protein powder and whisk to combine.If too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time.
- Spread over base and cut into 16 pieces.
Notes
- Nutrition value is calculated using products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- PB2 Almond Butter Powder
- American Dream Nut Butter Almond Butter
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount off your order
- Servings: 16 pieces | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 93kcal
- Fat: 3.6g | Saturated fat: 1.1g
- Carbohydrates: 8.2g | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 1.7g
- Protein: 8.4g
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I made this and I agree with Kurt it came out moist and delicious doesn’t taste “healthy” and I can enjoy my cake for breakfast 🙂
Til the season for pumpkin!!
<3 I'm so so happy you loved it Tiffany! Definitely not the "healthy" taste, but all the classic pumpkin vibes!
Amazing recipe again! You would never know this is made with more nutritious and filling ingredients. It’s incredibly flavorful, moist, and has the perfect cake like texture. I can always count on you for the best recipes!
Thank you thank you thank you!! I’m so happy you loved this Nadine <3
Tried this for the first time and it turned out perfectly . The taste is so delicious I could eat the whole thing. The cake is nice a moist and does not taste a “healthy” food but since I know all the ingredients going in – it is definitely a very healthy alternative to a traditional cake and packed with protein. I would make this again any day!
This makes me so happy to hear Kurt! I definitely agree with the “healthy” taste part. We go for food that is heathy, but tastes just as normal. I can’t wait to see what you try next!