Description
A fudgy, protein-boosted pumpkin brownie that plays nice with workouts and snack prep — rich mouthfeel, sneaky nutrients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1¼ cups pumpkin purée
- 2/3 cup almond butter (or any allergy-friendly nut/seed butter)
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (swap for a low-carb sweetener for keto-friendly bars)
- 3 tbsp chocolate protein powder (or add extra cocoa if you skip protein)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Set your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
- Loosen the almond butter by gently warming it (a few seconds in the microwave) so it mixes smoothly.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin purée, warmed almond butter, cocoa, sugar, chocolate protein powder, vanilla, salt, and pumpkin spice. Stir until the batter looks completely uniform and glossy.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and level the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 20–25 minutes. For the fudgiest texture, pull them at about 20 minutes — they’ll still seem soft in the middle.
- Let the pan cool on a rack. Once cooled a bit, cover loosely with a paper towel and place in the refrigerator overnight. Chilling firms the bars while keeping a gooey interior and improves sweetness.
- Slice, frost if you like, and enjoy.
Notes
- Notes & Swaps
- For a nut-free version, use sunflower seed butter or pumpkin-seed butter.
- You can use regular unsweetened cocoa or mix with Dutch-process cocoa — both work.
- These bars taste better after chilling; the texture and flavor deepen after a night in the fridge.
- If you plan to transport them, chill until firm so they hold their shape.
- Storage
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2–3 days.
- Freeze portions wrapped tightly for up to 1 month; eat straight from the freezer if you want a chilled treat.
- Quick tip: If the batter feels too thick, stir in a teaspoon or two of water or milk to reach a spreadable consistency.
Nutrition
- Calories: 107
- Sugar: 4.7g
- Sodium: 67mg
- Fat: 7.1g
- Carbohydrates: 8.9g
- Fiber: 2.3g
- Protein: 4.6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg