This is the best easy gluten-free pumpkin protein bars recipe I've ever tried. The drizzled white chocolate on top of these bars is the perfect added touch.
You may think it's hard to find a healthy protein bars recipe but I have a great one for you today. I don't know many people who don't love a good treat! A few of the most popular "temptations" are definitely bread and pastries! Which is why this "treat" (you can actually consider this one of your smaller meals or snacks, yay!) is one of the FAVORITES in my house!
I actually bag them up in pairs and keep them in my fridge all the time! I usually make a batch every single week, in fact! I send them with my husband for snacks at work and always have them for when I need a quick meal or on the go treat! My daughter even loves them! You can freeze them too if you want to make a few batches at a time.
WARNING: You will LOVE these pumpkin bars! (and if you say you are not a fan of pumpkin, try em anyways!! OR I have also made them with mashed ripened bananas and made banana walnut bread!)
Okay, here we go, your life is about to be changed:
"My no guilt & actually really good for me" treat!
These DO need to be refrigerated to stay fresh! You can eat them cold or warm them up for 15-20 seconds too!
ANOTHER TIP
Whenever I first TRY a new recipe, I always have a hard time purchasing all those new spices! Let's be honest, those babies are expensive when it comes to "trying" a new recipe! So what I always do is go to the health food store near me (SPROUTS Market) and they actually have a spice counter!
Yes, a SPICE counter!!! So I can scoop out my own spices and then I can get as much or as little as I need or want! I never pay more than 50 cents for each spice! Check out your local health food store and see if they offer this!! And if they don't, well, these Pumpkin Bars are worth the additions to your spice rack!!
Recipe
Easy, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Protein Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Gluten-Free
Description
These bars are almost like a cross between a pumpkin cake and pumpkin pie. They are so moist and flavorful….lots of spice! I added a drizzle of melted white chocolate atop the bars for a little sweetness…they’re really not overly sweet bars at all. That could be totally optional, though. I just knew it would make them pop in the pictures and the flavors go well together. Melted dark chocolate * would work well too.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Oat Flour *
- 1 ½ scoops Vanilla Protein Powder
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Real Salt *
- 2 tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Allspice
- ¼ tsp Ground Ginger
- â…“ Cup Brown Sugar (packed)
- 3 Eggs
- 1 Cup Pumpkin Puree (Fresh or Canned)
- ½ Tbl Vanilla
- ½ Cup Pecans or Walnuts (chopped, optional)
- ½ Cup White or Dark Chocolate Chips * (melted, optional)
Instructions
- Grease an 8x8 glass baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, protein powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and brown sugar.
- In another mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, pumpkin puree and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth.
- Sprinkle the chopped nuts over the top of the batter evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 23-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the dish for at least 20 minutes before slicing into squares.
- Drizzle melted white chocolate over the bars, if desired.
- Store in the refrigerator.
Keywords: best, easy, frosted
Denise
So easy to make and delicious. I used walnuts and dark chocolate.
★★★★★
Heather Voultos
easy and yummy
★★★★★
Megan H
We used white flour instead of oat flour, and it still tasted great. If you’re looking for more flavor, try adding extra cinnamon. So so so good!
★★★★★
jill
I am allergic to oats so will coconut flour work?
Rebecca
Unfortunately, coconut flour is so different from oat flour, I really don't think it would work. What flours can you eat and what kind of recipes are you looking for? Maybe I can suggest something you would be able to eat.
Angela
Could u use garbanzo bean flour in this?
Rebecca
I haven't tried, but it may turn out ok since the pumpkin and spices will overpower any strong taste from the garbanzo bean flour. Please let me know if you try it, because I'm sure others would like to know.
Haley
Could I substitute the oat flour for coconut flour?
Rebecca
No. I wouldn't try. Those are very different flours.
Amy@Europe's Calling
I was pleasantly surprised with how good these taste. I worried they might not taste very good because of the healthy part, but they are delicious!! This is a keeper recipe!
Juvita DaRosa
What is the nutritional information for these bars? Fat calories, how many grams of sugar, and how many grams of protein per serving. Thank you!
Jen
Fantastic and easy! I doubled the recipe and baked in 9x13. Drizzled maple syrup on top instead of chocolate. Making it again right now!
Ari
Would subbing in egg whites for eggs work?
Rebecca
I don't think it would work for this recipe. Sorry but you are welcome to try it.
Cynthia
I made these today but instead of the eggs I substituted unsweetened apple sauce to cut down on the fats. I also added a small handful of dried cranberries and it turned out delicious! One egg can be substituted with 1/4 cup of applesauce. Make sure you add additional baking powder since this is being made by scratch. One tsp of baking powder per 1/4 C of applesauce. Gluten-free, low-fat and high protein bars! Can't go wrong there!
Rebecca
Thank you for your suggestions and adaptions. We are glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Jen Bo-Pete
MMmmmmm looks d'lish!
Elise
Hi there! I have celiac and just wanted to mention that oat flour is not gluten free. Most oats have been cross contaminated during the growing process. So, unless you buy truly gluten free oats to make your flour, you might have some problems if sensitive to gluten and in some cases, (like me) many people with celiac still have trouble digesting oats, GF or not. There are many other GF flours to choose from, though and I'm sure they would do fine with this recipe! It sounds great. Thanks!
Rebecca
You're right. The only place I've found to buy gluten-free oats is from Bob's Red Mill. When I was allergic to wheat, I was also allergic to oats. It's all in the grain family. Not all celiacs are allergic to oats though. It's one of those individual things . . .
Bragan
These look so delicious!
Linda Hall
My favorite things to make are with pumpkin. Have to try this.
Faye
We're always on the lookout for gluten free recipes. This will make a nice addition to our stash. Thank you
cheryla lister
I've been thinking about trying a gluten-free diet. These sound yummy, and thanks for the tip on making oat flour. Can you use oat and wheat flour interchangeably?
Rebecca
I just did a quick Google search and found several articles saying that you can replace wheat flour with oat flour with a 1:1 ratio but you may not want to do it for everything. Here is an article with more details: http://selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com/2010/02/baking-with-oat-flour.html
Stacie
Hi, I'm just starting this GF thing for my husband. I have GF flour so it's NOT oat flour. With this flour work? Thanks!
Rebecca
gluten-free flour and oat flour are quite different, but oat flour is easy to make by blending oats in your blender.
Courtney Tucker
This sounds wonderful, will try it, thank you.
Paula V
yummy - pumpkin - there is no such thing as too much pumpkin!
Helga
That IS easy - and so spicy, i would love this.
Lindsey m
Love pumpkin recipes. Would love to try these!
terri tillman
being a vegetarian i am all for a snack that provides a decent amount of protein.
md kennedy
How yummy - and you're not kidding about healthy! Can't wait to make these.
★★★★
One Southern Girl
That looks yummy. Would it be possible to swap Nunaturals Stevia for the Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend or regular brown sugar?
Rebecca
You could but you wouldn't get that yummy brown sugar richness. Maybe you could do half and half. Or I think natural maple syrup would be yummy and I always think the more natural, the better.
Andrea
Have to put the protein vanilla in there oat flour I have all purpose flour
★★★★★
Cali W.
Thanks for sharing and i like that it is gluten free.
★★★★★
RANDY FULGHAM
THESE BARS SOUND LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD DIFFENTLY TRY...!!!
★★★★★