PUMPKIN COLLAGEN PROTEIN BLONDIES
These Pumpkin Collagen Protein Blondies were the best healthy snack with my early morning coffee! These blondies are the perfect balance of cakey and fudgey, and full of pumpkin spice and dark chocolate chips. Seriously – I have to make these every year. Hard to believe they’re low carb, low sugar, gluten-free and high-protein!
You might also like my Collagen Protein Carrot Cake Squares 🙂
Did you know? Like other yellow and orange vegetables, pumpkin is very high in Vitamin A, a nutrient that protects your eyes and skin from free radical damage, while boosting your immune system and supporting bone health (collagen is important for bone health, too).
Protein recommendations
These delectable pumpkin blondies get a boost of protein from unflavored collagen protein powder (peptides). I love the flavorless LIV Body Marine Collagen because it’s highly bioavailable and great for baking! You’re welcome to use my code SARAHWILKINS for free shipping 😉
If you don’t have collagen protein, you can try substituting half as much whey, casein, or plant-based protein (roughly 60g). You simply can’t use as much of these other protein powders without ruining the texture. Feel free to swap out the collagen for half a cup (60g) of gluten-free baking flour or one quarter cup of coconut flour too.
Flour recommendations
I prefer coconut flour in these blondies keeps the carbs down, but I have also tested these with one cup of gluten-free baking flour. Feel free to swap the gluten-free flour for an equal measure of all-purpose flour, cake flour, cassava flour (Paleo), oat flour (oats blended into flour), sorghum flour, spelt flour, or whole wheat pastry flour. Almond flour or garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour might not work because they behave much differently!
Sweetener recommendations
To sweeten these Pumpkin Collagen Protein Blondies, I used a sugar-free brown sugar alternative that measures like sugar. I like Truvia Sweet Complete Brown for a budget option or Besti Brown Sweetener for a stevia-free and erythritol-free. You can use any sweetener you prefer! You can also use coconut sugar or brown sugar but this will significantly increase the calories and sugar!
I added all the warm spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice – but two teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice works too!
Wet ingredients
Of course, this recipe calls for lots of pumpkin, 100% pure canned pumpkin puree to be exact. You can also use roasted and mashed pumpkin! The other wet ingredients include egg whites, almond butter (so good in these!), and pure vanilla extract. If you can't have almonds, try sunflower seed butter or cashew butter. The egg whites can also be swapped for two whole eggs, four tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed with one-quarter cup water, or a vegan egg replacer.
Chocolate recommendations
And don’t forget sugar free dark chocolate chips! You can add the chocolate chips directly to the batter, or make a ganache to pour over top. Simply place the chocolate chips in a bowl and pour one quarter cup of hot steaming milk over top, then mix until you get a thick, smooth, chocolatey sauce. Pour over top the blondies and chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes (talk about decadent).
Anyway, here’s the printable recipe for these Pumpkin Collagen Protein Blondies! I hope you’ll rate and comment below if you try them (it really means a lot).
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