Protein Pumpkin Bars

Thanks Stephanie for sharing this recipe that you found with those of us who want to have something to enjoy for dessert around the holidays.

Ingredients:

• ½ Cup Xylitol Brown Sugar Blend (I bought mine from Amazon)
• 1 four ounce jar baby food applesauce (I don’t see why unsweetened applesauce wouldn’t work)
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• OR substitute the 3 spices above with 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 fifteen ounce can raw pumpkin
• 2 cups oat flour
• 2 scoops vanilla protein powder (pure whey isolate)
• ½ cup almond milk
• ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 Pyrex dish with non stick spray
3. Combine the first 11 ingredients and mix well(from top of list up to and including the pumpkin)
4. Add the oat flour, protein powder, almond milk, and walnuts (if you are using walnuts) and mix until incorporated.
5. Spread batter into pre-sprayed Pyrex dish
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
7. Cool
8. Cut into 24 squares

Nutrition:  24 servings -

Without walnuts:

• 47 calories and
• 3.7 grams protein

With walnuts:

• 63 calories and
• 4 grams protein