Healthy Cottage Cheese Pumpkin Cake Bars

These cottage cheese pumpkin cake bars are a delightful and nutritious treat perfect for fall. Made with wholesome ingredients, they offer a delicious way to enjoy pumpkin while boosting your protein intake. This pumpkin cake bars recipe is ideal for those looking for healthy pumpkin bars that satisfy sweet cravings without compromising on nutrition.

Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy pumpkin recipe or a fall protein dessert, these bars are sure to please. They combine the rich flavors of pumpkin with the creaminess of cottage cheese, making them a unique addition to your autumn pumpkin baking repertoire.

Easy Pumpkin Cake Bars Recipe

These pumpkin cake bars feature a moist and flavorful base made with pumpkin puree and cottage cheese, providing a healthy twist on traditional pumpkin desserts. The recipe takes about 45 minutes from start to finish and yields 12 bars, making it perfect for sharing or enjoying throughout the week.

Ingredients

1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, honey (or maple syrup), eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. If desired, fold in the chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into squares and serve.