Pretty perfect Pumpkin Protein Brownies with a protein pumpkin swirl! These healthy pumpkin protein powder brownies are rich in chocolate and pumpkin spice flavor, use cocoa powder and no chocolate for a low calorie recipe!
Jump to RecipeOkay 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
These chocolate pumpkin protein brownies are made with a few healthy ingredients, and have no eggs, no oil, no sugar and gluten free too; The perfect chocolate protein powder recipe!
- Pure Pumpkin Puree either from the can like libbys, or homemade. Make sure its not pumpkin pie filling though
- Chocolate Protein Powder needed for high protein pumpkin brownies and also replaces most of the ‘sugar’. I used the Chocolate Milkshake protein powder from Quest Nutrition for this recipe (it’s a whey-caesin blend and bakes really well).
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, or Raw Cacao Powder
- Gluten Free (All Purpose) Baking Flour – or a regular all purpose flour
- 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Substitute – I use Lakanto, to keep this recipe sugar free; (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here too)
- Non-fat Greek Yogurt contributes to the oil-free part of these high protein brownies since it adds the moisture, and also extra protein
- Almond Milk or regular milk
- powder pumpkin bread since there’s no added sugar in this recipe. Quest again here.
- Pumpkin pie spice – feel free to make your own using a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves
- Baking Soda
- Creamy Almond Butter (no butter or oil to keep this recipe low fat)
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
Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Protein Powder Brownies
These pumpkin protein powder 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 Low Calorie Pumpkin Swirl Brownies?
This high protein low calorie pumkin brownie recipe keeps well for a meal prep dessert or post workout snack and is freezer friendly too!
Store protein powder pumpkin swirl 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 Brownies with Cocoa Powder and No Chocolate
For the perfect healthy low calorie pumpkin 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
- 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar or coconut sugar (this won’t be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)
- 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
- Egg Whites: 2 Tbsp 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
- White Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Blondies
- Fat Free Pumpkin Protein Bread
- Baked Pumpkin Chai Protein Donuts (Sugar Free)
- Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Protein Icing(Diet-friendly)
More Healthy Protein Brownie Recipes:
- Flourless Black Bean Protein Brownies (Low-fat)
- Half Baked Fudge Protein Brownie for One
- Low Calorie Protein Brownies
- Fudgy Protein Brownies
- Oatmeal Protein Brownies
- Single Serve Protein Brownie
Pumpkin Protein Brownies
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Pumpkin Puree, not pumpkin pie filling 80g
- ½ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 120ml
- ¼ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, 85g
- ¼ cup Creamy Peanut Butter, 64g, see post for subs
- ½ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, 45g, about 1½ scoops
- ½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, or Cacao Powder, 40g
- ½ cup 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, 60g, see post for subs
- ¼ cup Zero Calorie 1:1 Sugar Replacement, 48g
- 2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- ½ tsp Baking Soda
Pumpkin Swirl:
- ¼ cup Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, Softened, 56g
- ½ scoop Vanilla Protein Powder, 15g
- ⅓ cup Pumpkin Puree, not pumpkin pie filling 80g
- 1 Egg White, 31ml
- 1 Tbsp Gluten Free Baking Flour, 7g, or all purpose
- ¾ tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8” x 8” brownie pan or baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together Pumpkin Puree, Greek yogurt and almond milk.
- In another bowl, whisk chocolate protein powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, flour, zero calorie sugar replacement and baking soda.
- Add dry mix to wet, and gently fold until just combined.DO NOT OVER-MIX or protein powder will make the brownie dense.
- Add in peanut butter and fold.Batter should be thick.
Pumpkin Swirl:
- In a bowl, stir softened cream cheese and protein powder.
- Add in pumpkin puree, egg white, flour and pumpkin spice and mix.
Assemble and Bake:
- Transfer ⅔ brownie batter into pan, smoothen with a spatula or back of spoon.Add ⅔ pumpkin filling mixture and spread.Add tablespoons worth of brownie batter and pumpkin filling in swirl pattern.
- Bake for 27-30 minutes.Toothpick inserted into the center should come out mostly dry.
- Remove from oven and let cool completely.Cut into slices and enjoy!
Notes
- Nutrition details are calculated using products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- Quest Nutrition Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
- Lakanto 1:1 Sugar Substitute
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake Protein Powder
- Servings: 16 2” pieces | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 76kcal
- Fat: 3.3g | Saturated fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 10.5g | Fiber: 1.8g | Sugar: 0.8g
- Protein: 5.5g
If you contemplating making these brownies, PLEASE DO! I have made many low cal brownies recipes and these are by far the best in my opinion. I don’t think they will last more than 2 days with my brownie addiction!
Best comment I’ve read in a while! The pumpkin and chocolate combination really is indescribable.
Hope you get to share some next time 😉