Layered Salted Caramel Pumpkin Protein Brownies [flourless + dairy-free]

These layered salted caramel pumpkin brownies are fudgy, chocolatey, and packed with protein, with a sweet date pumpkin caramel layer and flaky sea salt.

If you love fudgy brownies, salted caramel, and pumpkin everything, these layered salted caramel pumpkin brownies are about to become your new favorite fall dessert.

Made with True Nutrition Salted Caramel Vegan Lean Protein (code HEALTHYHELPER saves on True Nutrition!), applesauce, egg whites, cocoa powder, dates, and pumpkin puree, these brownies have a rich chocolate layer topped with a sweet and creamy pumpkin caramel layer. They’re finished with no-sugar-added chocolate chips and flaky sea salt for the ultimate sweet and salty combination.

And yes, they’re as good as they sound.

Why You’ll Love These Salted Caramel Pumpkin Brownies

These aren’t your average brownies. They have three delicious layers that come together for the perfect bite.

The bottom layer is a soft, vanilla-style protein brownie. The second layer is rich and chocolatey thanks to cocoa powder and milk. Then comes the star of the show: a naturally sweet date and pumpkin caramel layer that tastes like salted caramel pumpkin pie.

A sprinkle of flaky sea salt and a few chocolate chips on top takes them completely over the top.

They’re also an easy way to add extra protein to your dessert without sacrificing that fudgy brownie texture.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the brownie layers

Protein powder: True Nutrition Salted Caramel Vegan Lean Protein gives the brownies their protein boost while adding delicious salted caramel flavor. Code HEALTHYHELPER saves on True Nutrition!

Egg whites: Egg whites help create structure while keeping the brownies light and soft.

Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture and helps create a fudgy texture without needing a lot of oil.

Baking powder: Just a little baking powder helps the brownie layers rise.

Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder transforms half of the batter into a rich chocolate brownie layer.

Almond Milk: Milk helps thin out the chocolate batter and makes it easy to spread.

For the pumpkin caramel layer

Dates: Soaked dates create a naturally sweet, thick, caramel-like consistency.

Pumpkin puree: Pumpkin adds seasonal flavor and makes the caramel layer extra creamy.

No-sugar-added chocolate chips: These add little pockets of chocolate throughout the topping.

Flaky sea salt: The finishing touch that brings out all of the sweet caramel and chocolate flavors.

How To Make Layered Salted Caramel Pumpkin Brownies

Make The Brownie Batter

Add the protein powder, egg whites, applesauce, and baking powder to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.

Divide the batter evenly in half.

Add The Vanilla Brownie Layer

Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour half of the brownie batter into the pan and spread it into an even layer.

This creates the soft, vanilla-style base for your brownies.

Make The Chocolate Brownie Layer

Add the cocoa powder and milk to the remaining brownie batter. Blend until smooth.

Carefully spread the chocolate batter over the first layer.

Make The Pumpkin Caramel

The date caramel is what really makes these brownies special.

Soak the dates in water overnight to soften them. Once they’re softened, blend them with the pumpkin puree until smooth and creamy.

The result is a thick, naturally sweet caramel-like layer with plenty of pumpkin flavor.

Layer And Bake

Spread the pumpkin caramel evenly over the chocolate brownie layer.

Sprinkle the top with no-sugar-added chocolate chips and flaky sea salt.

Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes.

Let the brownies cool completely before slicing. You can also chill them in the refrigerator before cutting for especially clean slices.

Tips For The Best Protein Brownies

Use a parchment-lined pan. This makes it much easier to lift the brownies out of the pan once they’ve cooled.

Soak the dates overnight. Soft dates blend much more easily and create a smoother caramel layer.

Let them cool completely. This is important! The brownies will continue to set as they cool. Cutting them while they’re still warm can result in messy layers.

Chill before slicing. If you want those beautiful, defined layers, refrigerate the brownies before cutting them.

Don’t overbake. For fudgy brownies, pull them from the oven once they’re set but still soft in the center.

How To Store Salted Caramel Pumpkin Brownies

Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Because of the pumpkin and date caramel layer, I recommend keeping these brownies refrigerated. They’re also delicious straight from the fridge when the caramel layer is thick and fudgy.

For longer storage, you can freeze the brownies. Slice them individually and store them in a freezer-safe container. Let them thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Can I Use A Different Protein Powder?

The recipe was developed using True Nutrition Salted Caramel Vegan Lean Protein, which contributes both protein and salted caramel flavor to the brownie batter.

If you substitute another protein powder, the texture and sweetness may change depending on the type and brand of protein you use. A salted caramel or vanilla vegan protein powder would be the closest substitution.

Can I Make These Without Pumpkin?

Yes! If you’re not a pumpkin fan, you can replace the pumpkin puree with additional date caramel or experiment with a small amount of applesauce.

However, the pumpkin adds moisture, flavor, and creaminess to the caramel layer, so the final texture will be different.

Are These Brownies Vegan?

The brownie protein powder is vegan, but this specific recipe contains egg whites, so the finished brownies are not vegan.

If you want to make a vegan version, you’ll need to replace the egg whites with an appropriate vegan egg substitute and use plant-based milk.

More Healthy Pumpkin Desserts

If you’re looking for more ways to use pumpkin this season, try these next:

• Pumpkin Spice Oat Bites
• 2-Ingrediennt Pumpkin Bread Bites
• Banana Pumpkin Swirl Bars
• Paleo Coconut Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Talk soon,