Pumpkin Protein Brownies – Unique Swirl and Flavor

Perfect Pumpkin Protein Brownies with a protein pumpkin cheesecake swirl! These healthy pumpkin protein powder brownies are rich in chocolate and pumpkin spice flavor, but low calorie and sugar free!

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Okay I absolutely loved the flavor of these pumpkin protein brownies – theres the rich chocolate flavor with some pumpkin spice in there that was just beautiful! I really can’t even describe it.

And that swirl? Started off with just an aesthetic for a healthy pumpkin swirl brownie, but that flavor was also so good and so needed!

Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Protein Brownies

Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Protein Brownies

These pumpkin protein brownies are made with a few healthy ingredients, and are sugar free and gluten free too.

• Pure Pumpkin Puree either from the can like libbys, or homemade. Make sure its not pumpkin pie filling though

• Whey-casein Chocolate Protein Powder needed for high protein brownie; I used the one from Quest Nutrition.
• Whey Chocolate Protein Powder;I recommend Isopure here.
• Unflavored Protein Powder – Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose here. It replaces some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb higher protein Oreo brownie
• Gluten Free (All Purpose) Baking Flour – or a regular all purpose flour
• Non-fat Greek Yogurt
• Almond Milk or regular milk
• Creamy Peanut Butter (or Almond or Cashew Butter) – I recommend high protein nut butter from American Dream Nut Butter; Its lower fat and higher protein. Use my code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount.
• Pumpkin pie spice – feel free to make  your own using a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves
• Stevia Sweetener
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder

And for the Protein Pumpkin Swirl in these Healthy Brownies:

• Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, which might also be called Neufchâtel, for a low fat and low calorie recipe
• Vanilla Protein Powder; This is the source of sweetness in the protein powder pumpkin swirl since there’s no added sugar in this recipe. Quest again here.
• More Pumpkin Puree
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• An Egg White
• A bit of Flour

And for the Protein Pumpkin Swirl in these Healthy Brownies:

• Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, which might also be called Neufchâtel, for a low fat and low calorie recipe
• Nonfat Greek Yogurt 
• Vanilla Protein Powder I used Quest again here.
• More Pumpkin Puree
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• An Egg White
• A bit of Flour

How to make Pumpkin Swirl Brownies with Protein Powder?

This recipe for protein powder pumpkin swirl brownies is extremely easy to make. Just mix the batter, make the swirl, assemble in layer and bake the brownies.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking pan (about 8”) with parchment paper.

2. Whisk the wet ingredients in a large bowl – pumpkin puree, yogurt, milk, peanut/almond butter and vanilla.

3. Whisk all the dry ingredients in bowl – cocoa powder, chocolate protein powders, unflavored protein powder, flour, stevia, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder.

4. Add the wet mix to the dry and gently fold to combine.
   Don’t over-mix the batter. The protein powder will make it too dense. You should have a thick batter.
   Taste batter and add stevia powder if you want it sweeter.

Make the Pumpkin Swirl

5. Beat the cream cheese at low speed using hand mixer.
6. Add in yogurt, pumpkin puree and egg and mix.
7. Add protein powder and flour and mix.

Assemble the Oreo Stuffed Halloween Brownies

8. Transfer the ½ brownie batter into pan, spread.
9. Add most pumpkin mix and spread over batter.
10. Pour reaminging ½ batter on top. Spead evenly.
11. Add spoonfuls of pumpkin mix and form swirl patterns with knife.
12. Bake for about 27-30 minutes.
    Tester (toothpick or thin sharp knife) comes out mostly dry.

Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies

These pumpkin cheesecake brownies are rich and tasty and actually very easy to make!

• Use room temperature milk, yogurt and pumpkin puree;
  This is so the wet ingredients and dry ingredients of the brownie batter can mix well.

• Also room temperature or softened cream cheese and pumpkin puree for the pumpkin cheesecake swirl.

• Use Creamy Peanut Butter also so that it mixes well into the batter

• Don’t over-mix the batter!
  Make sure you gently fold the dry mix into the wet to combine them.
  If you over-mix it, the protein powder will make the fudgy brownies tough, dense and gummy.

• Taste the batter and swirl 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 and healthy fudgy brownies.

• Don’t over-bake the brownies or they might get tough; Remove when the tester/knife comes out mostly dry.
  Underbaking a little is okay.

How to store Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Brownies?

This high protein low calorie pumkin cheesecake swirl brownie recipe keeps well for a meal prep dessert or post workout snack and is freezer friendly too!

Store protein powder pumpkin cheesecake brownies at room temperature in an airtight container for 1-2 days or in the fridge for a week.

To freeze healthy pumpkin swirl brownies, individually wrap in plastic wrap and place in freezer-safe zipper bags or air tight container; They should keep for 2-3 months.

Alternatives for Healthy Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

For the perfect healthy low calorie pumpkin swirl brownies, I used protein powder and cocoa powder – no chocolate – and I would highly suggest using the ingredients recommended.

I do have some alternatives you can try. I haven’t testing them all, so I can’t say how the recipe might turn out.

• 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour: All purpose flour or Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, in the same amount by weight not cups.
• Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
• Almond Milk: Any other milk 
• Stevia Sweetener – Monkfruit or coconut sugar or even regular sugar
• Peanut Butter: Almond Butter, Cashew Butter or any nut or seed butter.

Options for the Pumpkin Swirl:

• Reduced Fat Cream Cheese: Dairy Free cream cheese
• Greek Yogurt:  Use coconut yogurt instead!
• Egg Whites: 2 tablespoon aquafaba (chickpea liquid). I haven’t given this a try yet though.

More Pumpkin Protein Powder Recipes

• Pumpkin Protein Cinnamon Rolls
• Chocolate Lava Pumpkin Protein Cookie for One
• Fat Free Pumpkin Protein Bread
• Baked Pumpkin Chai Protein Donuts (Sugar Free)
• Healthy Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

More Healthy Protein Brownie Recipes:

Banana Pudding Protein Brownie

Birthday Cake Protein Brownies