Champion Nutrition Recipe of the Week - Pumpkin Protein Bars

Can you say, "Frosting"?  ;-)  These gems might look small, but small is mighty! They're dense, packed full of moist flavor, chocolate chips, and... Frosting. And they're training friendly. Each one has only 77 calories, 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber. Oh, and only 2 grams of sugar. They're my new favorite fall treat, and I hope you'll enjoy them, too!

Chelle's Pumpkin Protein Bars
makes 18 small bars

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup oat flour (can grind oatmeal in a coffee grinder if you don't have the flour on hand)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup protein powder (I used Champion Nutrition's Pure Whey Vanilla)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just pumpkin)
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

For the frosting: 

• 2 oz fat-free cream cheese
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. With spray oil, coat an 8x8 glass pan.
3. In large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips.
4. In smaller bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, then add to the large bowl, mixing well.
5. Gently mix in the chocolate chips.
6. Press into bottom of pan (it'll be thick, like cookie dough).
7. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to wire rack and allow to cool.
8. Pull cream cheese out of fridge and allow to come to nearly room temperature.
9. Cut into 18 pieces.
10. In small bowl, mix the protein powder and almond milk until smooth. Add cream cheese, mixing until smooth.
11. Frost bars.
12. Store in refrigerator

NUTRITION
per bar: 77 calories; 6 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams sugar, 85 mg sodium.

Can you say, "Frosting"?  ;-)  These gems might look small, but small is mighty! They're dense, packed full of moist flavor, chocolate chips, and... Frosting. And they're training friendly. Each one has only 77 calories, 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber. Oh, and only 2 grams of sugar. They're my new favorite fall treat, and I hope you'll enjoy them, too!

Chelle's Pumpkin Protein Bars
makes 18 small bars

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup oat flour (can grind oatmeal in a coffee grinder if you don't have the flour on hand)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup protein powder (I used Champion Nutrition's Pure Whey Vanilla)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just pumpkin)
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

For the frosting: 

• 2 oz fat-free cream cheese
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. With spray oil, coat an 8x8 glass pan.
3. In large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips.
4. In smaller bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, then add to the large bowl, mixing well.
5. Gently mix in the chocolate chips.
6. Press into bottom of pan (it'll be thick, like cookie dough).
7. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to wire rack and allow to cool.
8. Pull cream cheese out of fridge and allow to come to nearly room temperature.
9. Cut into 18 pieces.
10. In small bowl, mix the protein powder and almond milk until smooth. Add cream cheese, mixing until smooth.
11. Frost bars.
12. Store in refrigerator

NUTRITION
per bar: 77 calories; 6 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams sugar, 85 mg sodium.

Can you say, "Frosting"?  ;-)  These gems might look small, but small is mighty! They're dense, packed full of moist flavor, chocolate chips, and... Frosting. And they're training friendly. Each one has only 77 calories, 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber. Oh, and only 2 grams of sugar. They're my new favorite fall treat, and I hope you'll enjoy them, too!

Chelle's Pumpkin Protein Bars
makes 18 small bars

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup oat flour (can grind oatmeal in a coffee grinder if you don't have the flour on hand)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup protein powder (I used Champion Nutrition's Pure Whey Vanilla)
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix, just pumpkin)
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

For the frosting: 

• 2 oz fat-free cream cheese
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. With spray oil, coat an 8x8 glass pan.
3. In large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips.
4. In smaller bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, then add to the large bowl, mixing well.
5. Gently mix in the chocolate chips.
6. Press into bottom of pan (it'll be thick, like cookie dough).
7. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove to wire rack and allow to cool.
8. Pull cream cheese out of fridge and allow to come to nearly room temperature.
9. Cut into 18 pieces.
10. In small bowl, mix the protein powder and almond milk until smooth. Add cream cheese, mixing until smooth.
11. Frost bars.
12. Store in refrigerator

NUTRITION
per bar: 77 calories; 6 grams protein, 6 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fat, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams sugar, 85 mg sodium.