The BEST No-Bake Protein Pumpkin Bars
My mom always makes pumpkin bars in the fall and if you are craving a pumpkin bar that is keto, no bake and packed with protein, I have the perfect recipe for you!
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST NO-BAKE PROTEIN PUMPKIN BARS
To make my protein pumpkin bars, all you have to do is toss everything into a bowl and blend it until it is smooth.
The secret ingredient in my protein pumpkin bars is Equip Prime Protein! It not only makes my pumpkin bars the BEST keto pumpkin bars ever, it also packs the pumpkin bars with protein to help build bones! Yes, the sheath of your bones is made up of protein!
WHEY PROTEIN VS BEEF PROTEIN
You will never see my recipes using whey protein. I do not use nor recommend whey protein for a few reasons.
- Whey protein is dairy which most of my clients (especially with any autoimmune issue) should stay away from dairy to help autoimmune issues go into remission.
- All protein sources have different rates of absorption. Whey protein is the quickest and absorbs so quickly into the bloodstream, it increases blood sugar; which works well if you are a bodybuilder but most of my clients want to lose weight. Beef protein has a moderate rate of absorption which is the best for maintain muscle while you lose weight without a blood sugar spike.
- Beef protein which is what Equip is made from, contains a higher concentration of four distinct amino acids, glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. These amino acids are extremely helpful and rare in the modern-day diet. Studies demonstrate that these specific amino acids have many health benefits which help improve skin health, joint health, and bone health.
Equip is so generous, they are offering 15% off when you use code MARIA!
Click HERE to stock up on Equip Prime Protein!
The BEST No-Bake Protein Pumpkin Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 6 ounces cream cheese softened (or kite hill cream cheese)
- 1 1/4 cup Vanilla Equip Protein Powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon stevia glycerite
- 1/4 teaspoon Redmond Real salt
Instructions
- Line a bread loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place all the ingredients into a large bowl. Use a hand mixer to combine well. Taste and adjust sweetness to your liking.
- Place the mixture into the bread pan and place in the fridge for 6 hours before slicing and serving.
- Store extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Video
Nutrition
TESTIMONY OF THE DAY
“Hi Maria! I have to share how you helped saved James!James journey with Crohn’s began in May of 2001. He was put on all the usual suspects of medications. He would see little if any improvement and would spiral into horrible flare-ups. That’s when we were introduced to steroids. That seemed to be a constant from his gastro doctor.Over the next year, he was hospitalized on and off for flare-ups and attempts with new medications, even a chemo pill. These were temporary improvements, basically a band-aid on a serious illness.One day, I rushed him to the ER, and he had a fever of 105.2 and was having seizures. They put him in an ice bath immediately and heavy meds. His WBC was 33,000, and a normal WBC 1 4,500 to 11,000. He was admitted, and each day, his WBC 35,000 to 60, 000.November 2002, still in the hospital, his WBC reached catastrophic levels. They found nodules inside the small intestines. It was sent to the MAYO clinic, and 5 days later, we had a devastating diagnosis… non Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the small intestines. Worse yet, he was too sick to receive chemo.Finally, in ICU, he was removed from life support for the 13th time. I was about to leave for a desperate shower, and he coded. There was a blood clot in his lung. 22 minutes after coming off life support, he went right back on it. Now, he was in a 24-hour fight for life. He pulled through. More surgeries, more blood, and now he developed a fungal infection. Halt chemo, treat fungus, very slow moving to heal, back on chemo. After 2 weeks back off life support.February 2003, we are still in ICU. The night before his release, he developed crippling pain in the bowel. His nurse refused to call the on call doctor. Something was wrong. 5am, they stormed his room and rushed him to surgery. His WBC was 175,000, and his vital organs were shutting down.Now, as we are in March, he’s stable and back in PT. I requested a dietitian to speak with us. It seemed natural to me since this involved the bowel. They were shocked! I thought diet could have anything to do with his stomach. Weird, but ok. I left and went to the medical library that I had access to from school. I spent weeks learning about Keto and the positive outcomes of many illnesses, especially stomach issues.We were released and started keto immediately! We were told it would be 2 years before he could walk again, work, drive, bath himself, and I told him… nope. We wasted enough time. We worked around the clock, and as keto was doing it’s magic he was gaining weight, 4800 to 6200 calories a day.
He was 84 pounds at his lowest and 91 pounds at release. By June 2003, he was walking unassisted, and by August, he was skateboarding again.James was still in chemo, and within weeks of starting Keto, he went into full remission!He came off of ALL his medications, and his bowel was not only showing no signs of inflammation… there were no visible signs of Chron’s.By 2004, he was back to normal. We were both healthy from Keto and accepted that because of the Chemo, we’d never have kids. I guess there were other plans, and as I write this, I’m carrying our 3rd child naturally. I give a lot of credit to Keto and endless prayers.” -Liz
I have unflavored Equip, could I use that and add some vanilly extract?
I have alpha gal allergy. Is there a chicken /egg/turkey based protein powder I could use instead?
Sorry to hear that! Not that I know of 🙏
This looks SO yummy! Is there any way one could sub the pumpkin purée to make it zero-carb/carnivore? Thanks so much❣️
You could use extra pumpkin pie spice and extracts maybe? Sorry I haven’t tried 🙏
This recipe did not turn out. I followed the steps as written. The bars never solidified. Then I come across this short that you did recently and ingredient amounts are completely different than what you have here. In your short you are using only a half a cup of pumpkin puree and an entire bar of cream cheese. I can see that this would solidify. There is conflicting information here I think you need to correct. I love all your recipes I love how you are please fix this.
I had this exact same issue. Never solidified.
Did you follow the recipe exactly? I’ve never had an issue and neither did my recipe testers 🙏
I had the same isssues that it did not solidify. What gives girl?
I’m really not sure. I have not had that issue. Follow the written instructions exactly, and be patient. It could take awhile for them to cool and solidify fully. I hope it works out!🙏
You mention your mom baking pumpkin bars. I am curious if she bakes traditional, or uses your recipes?
My parents are not Keto at all 🤪
THIS IS SO GOOD!!! Just made this for my husband, upped the sweeteners and salts just a tad.
Thank you, Maria!
So glad you liked it!
Can one use a whey based protein powder in place of the beef based protein?
I haven’t tried so I do not know how it would turn out. I don’t personally use or recommend whey protein because it is too quickly absorbed into the blood stream, causing blood sugar spikes in too many people. I also do not recommend it for weight loss if that is a goal of yours 🙏
Can you use regular protein powder. Where I live I can’t get the equip protein powder or the one you recommend for us Canadian
Sorry, I have only tested this recipe with beef protein isolate. You can get some here if you are in Canada: https://mariamindbodyhealth.com/beef-protein-powder-in-canada/
I am soooo impatient! Is there anyway to speed up the setting process? 6 hours is an eternity. 😩
Sorry, not that I know of 🙂
In your video, the cream cheese looks almost runny – do you put it in the microwave to soften it and make it easier to mix?
Yes, you can do that 🙂
These were delicious! Made them many times, tired of the pumpkin flavor, could you offer/suggest recipes for a different flavor combo of the same no-bake bars? Mint chocolate, butterscotch, caramel? Any other suggestions? I am not good at creating my own measurements. What would be the substitute for the pumpkin puree in another flavor recipe ?
So far I have shared these and my no-bake cheesecake brownies on the blog: https://mariamindbodyhealth.com/keto-no-bake-cheesecake-brownies/
I also have several more exclusive Equip recipes on my coaching support website for members ❤️https://keto-adapted.com/subscriptions/
Hi Maria! I love your recipes! I only have chocolate Equip protein powder. Would that work in place of the vanilla flavor?
I think that sounds yummy! 🙂