High-Protein Pumpkin Spice Peanut Bars
These are a brilliant little fridge staple when you fancy something sweet, chocolatey and satisfying. They’re packed with peanut butter, pumpkin, hemp seeds and peanut flour, with a rich dark chocolate topping and a little warming spice — perfect with a cuppa or as an afternoon snack.
Takes 1 hour 5 minutes
Serves 9
Ingredients
Pumpkin Peanut Base
- 220 g pumpkin purée about 1 cup
- 130 g smooth peanut butter ½ cup
- 75 g maple syrup ¼ cup
- 30 –45ml soy milk 2–3 tbsp
- 85 g defatted peanut flour about ¾ cup
- 40 g shelled hemp seeds ¼ cup, lightly toasted
- 40 g oat flakes ½ cup, lightly toasted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground ginger
- ¼ tsp mixed spice
- Pinch of fine sea salt
Chocolate Topping
- 160 g dark chocolate 60–70% cocoa
- 5 g coconut oil 1 tsp
- ¼ tsp instant espresso powder or fine coffee granules
- Flaky sea salt to finish
Instructions
Toast the oats and seeds
- Add the oats and hemp seeds to a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Toast for 3–4 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant, then set aside to cool.
Make the pumpkin base
- Add the pumpkin purée, peanut butter, maple syrup, 30ml soy milk, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, mixed spice and salt to a food processor or large bowl. Blend or mix until smooth and creamy.
Add the dry ingredients
- Stir through the peanut flour, toasted oats and hemp seeds until you have a thick, soft dough. If it feels too firm, add the remaining 15ml soy milk. You want a soft, dense mixture that holds together easily.
Press into a tin
- Line a 20 × 20cm square baking tin with parchment paper. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the tin.
Make the chocolate topping
- Melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil together in short bursts in the microwave, stirring between each one. Stir through the espresso powder until smooth and glossy.
Chill and slice
- Pour the chocolate over the pumpkin base and spread evenly. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, then refrigerate for 50 minutes, or until the chocolate has set. Slice into 9 bars and enjoy.