Here’s a new take on pumpkin pie- high protein pumpkin bars. These bars are a great pick-me-up before your workout or as a healthy snack when you’re on the go.

Prep time:  10mins  Cooking time: 25 mins           

Here’s what you need:

Base

• Red Tractor protein oats               120g
• Whole wheat flour                        1 cup
• Brown sugar                               ½  cup                
• Butter (small cubes)                     ½  cup                

Filling

• Vanilla whey protein powder       5 scoops or 125g protein    
• Cinnamon                                 1 ½ tsp     
• Nutmeg                                    1 tsp
• Salt                                          ½ tsp
• Pumpkin puree (canned)            2 cups
• Whole eggs (beaten)                 3
• Stevia                                      as needed

(Servings: 8 small)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180°C. Combine oats, flour and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Add the cubed butter to the bowl and squeeze into the other ingredients using your hands until a coarse breadcrumb-like texture is achieved and everything is combined.

Transfer ingredients into a medium-sized baking pan and press down. Place in oven and bake for 12 minutes. In the meantime, bring milk to boil with the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. As soon as it boils, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Stir in the pumpkin first and then the protein powder and eggs. If necessary, sweeten mixture to taste with Stevia.

Once the base has finished baking, remove from the oven and pour the pumpkin filling on top. Place back in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the pumpkin filling has set. It should be a little firm to the touch. Cool, portion and store in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis (1 small serve): 375 calories, 15g Fat, 35g Carbs, and 25g Protein.