Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (2024)

Incorporating protein powder into your diet does not have to be boring. Here are several recipes to get you started baking with protein powder.

You're working hard to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle, but sometimes you want that piece of cake. If only there were a way to enjoy dessert without compromising your fitness goals...

That's whereprotein powdercomes in.

You can make many of your favourite desserts healthy by baking with protein powder instead of flour. Not only will this help you add more protein to your diet, but it also allows you to indulge in your favourite treats (without all the guilt).

Following a healthy diet doesn't mean you never get to enjoy dessert again. Below are some tasty recipes that will help you get some extra protein.

Beginner Tips for Baking With Protein Powder

When baking with protein powder, there are a few things to keep in mind to make your desserts turn out as rich and delicious as the less healthy versions. For example, using protein powder as a substitute for flour in a recipe can work great, but too much protein powder could cause your baked goods to come out a little tough.

Some recipes will turn out better with more added protein than others, so sometimes a little trial and error is in order. Generally speaking, you don't want to substitute more than a third of the flour in a recipe. Recipes should include moisture and fats to prevent the treat from drying out.

While most of these recipes usewhey protein, many protein powder recipes can substitute for plant-based orvegan protein powderinstead. Likewise, it is a matter of experimentation and determining what proteins meet your tastes and nutritional needs.

Important Note:The protein powders listed in this post may assist in the building of lean muscle tissue/mass when combined with regular weight/resistance training and a healthy balanced diet. Please note that certain protein powders may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label and consult a healthcare professional for more information.

1. Protein Mug Cakes

Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (1)

Mug cakes made with protein powder are a great way to beat cravings without letting your diet fly out the window. Plus, they are a single serving, which means you won't be tempted to binge on leftovers later.

Even better, you can make mug cakes in the microwave in just a minute! A basicvanilla mug cakeis a simple and easy protein powder recipe to keep your sweet tooth in check.

Ingredients:

  • One scoop ofvanilla protein powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbspcoconut flour
  • 1 tbspgranulated sweetener
  • 1/4 tspvanilla extract
  • 1 tspdark chocolate chips(optional)
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • 1 large egg

Instructions:

Pour the mixed ingredients into a greased coffee mug, microwave until done (about 1-2 minutes), and enjoy! Thankfully, mug cakes are a flexible recipe, so you can experiment with different flavours of protein and fun add-ins like cinnamon or sprinkles.

2. Protein Powder Pancakes

One clever way to cut the gluten and sneak more protein into your diet is swapping wheat flour for chickpea flour and protein in your pancakes. This light and fluffy protein pancake recipe is an all-time favourite and will surely make for a delicious Sunday morning breakfast.

Ingredients:

  • 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup chickpea flour (or any other gluten-free flour)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup oat milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions:

In one bowl add ingredients to a mixing bowl (you can add a tablespoon of honey if you want your pancakes to be sweeter). Whisk together until there are no pockets of powder. Warm a pan at medium heat and scoop 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Flip once the bubbling on the batter has slowed or stopped. Top with butter and maple syrup and enjoy!

3. Protein Muffins

Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (2)

Muffins fortified with a few scoops of protein powder are a clever way to have a treat for breakfast (or any time of the day, really). One batch of muffins can provide you with healthy breakfasts or snacks for the week.

Ingredients:

  • 2 scoops ofprotein powderin any flavour of your choice
  • 1/2 cupalmond flour
  • 1 tspbaking powder
  • 1/2 cupnut butter(such as peanut, almond, or cashew)
  • 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)

Instructions:

Pour the mixture into a lined muffin tin and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Finally, add fruit, nuts, orchocolate chipsfor even more deliciousness.

4. Protein Cookies

Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (3)

Who doesn't get excited about cookies? Healthy cookies are doubly exciting, and there are tons of protein powder recipes for cookies out there.

Here is a simpleprotein cookie recipethat can be tweaked to suit your needs or satisfy any particular craving you might have.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cupprotein powderin your flavour of choice
  • 2 cupsoat flour
  • 1 tspbaking soda
  • 1/4 tspsalt
  • 1 tspvanilla extract
  • 1/2 cupsugar
  • 1/4 cupdark chocolate chips
  • 6 tbsp softened butter
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

Roll the dough into balls and flatten slightly on a baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees, and you'll have warm, delicious cookies that provide an added boost of protein to your diet.

5. No-Bake Protein Balls

Protein balls are an easy and fun dessert recipe that you can customize in endless ways. Four main ingredients make up the base of protein balls. Mix up a base of these ingredients and then jazz it up however you want!

Ingredients:

  • protein powder
  • rolled oats
  • nut butter
  • honey

Instructions:

Get creative with your ingredients. Try different protein powder flavours and other mix-ins like chocolate, nuts, and fruit to find a unique combination you love. You can adjust measurements depending on how well your mixture sticks together. Store in the fridge for about 30 minutes or until they set.

6. Protein Candy

Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (4)

Yes, you read that right. You can make healthy candy with protein powder! These no-bake peanut butter cups make delicious protein powder desserts that will satisfy even the strongest chocolate cravings.

Chocolate Layer Ingredients:

  • 2 tbspchocolate protein powder
  • 1/4 cupcocoa powder
  • 2 tbspsweetenerof choice
  • A pinch ofsalt
  • 1/4 cup milk (almond or skim)
  • 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt

Peanut Butter Layer Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cupPB2
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tbspsweetenerof choice
  • A pinch ofsalt

Instructions:

In a separate bowl, mix the peanut butter layer.

Line a mini muffin tin and pour about a teaspoon of the chocolate mixture into each section. Then, top that with some of the peanut butter mixture, and finish each one off with another layer of chocolate. Finally, put the peanut butter cups in the freezer until they are firm enough to remove from the tin and enjoy!

7. Protein Powder Brownies

Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (5)

Speaking of chocolate, no list of protein powder desserts would be complete without brownies.This treatis fudgy, delectable, and packs a protein punch.

Ingredients:

  • 1 scoopchocolate whey protein powder
  • 2/3 cupalmond flour
  • 1/2 cupcoconut oil
  • 2/3 cupcoconut sugaror another sweetener
  • 1/2 tspvanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cupsdark chocolate chips
  • 2 eggs

Instructions:

Pour the mixture into a greased 8x8 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until done.

8. Protein Bars

The creamy peanut butter and crunchychocolate chipsblend with the rest of the ingredients to create the ideal post-workout snack.

If you continuously find yourself snacking on chips, cookies, or other sugar and fat-filled treats, then you'll love this healthy swap. Not only can you whip these together in under 10 minutes (they are no-bake!), but they also keep you full for hours. Goodbye, late-night cravings!

Find the full recipe below.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cupold-fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 tbspextra virgin coconut oil
  • 1/2 cupprotein powderof your choice
  • 2 tbsphoney
  • 3 tbsppeanut butter
  • 3Well Told Stress Fighter Capsules(just the powder)
  • 2 tbspdark chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup dairy-free milk

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a large flat container. Mix ingredients until thoroughly combined. Next, flatten the mixture using the back of a spoon and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Slice into rectangular bars and enjoy!

What Protein Powder is Best For Baking?

Wondering which protein powder is best for baking? Try either a whey protein concentrate powder or soy protein powder for the optimal texture in your baked goods. You can also try baking with pea protein powder.

Here are 3 protein powders to choose from:

1. Kaha Nutrition New Zealand Whey Isolate

2. Botanica Perfect Protein Vanilla Pea Protein

Find Your New Favorite Healthy Treat

Baking withprotein powderis a great way to upgrade your favourite desserts to fit in with a healthy lifestyle. Experiment with different types and delicious flavours of protein powder to find your new go-to treat.

Don't forget to save this post for later!

P.S. Leave a comment below letting us know which recipe you are most excited to try! Maybe it's the protein muffins or the protein mug cake... Either way, we'd love to know.

Related Posts:

  • The Benefits Of Foam Rolling And Why You Should Start Today
  • How To Build A Home Gym In 5 Simple Steps
Baking with Protein Powder: 8 Easy Recipes to Try (2024)

FAQs

Can you bake with only protein powder? ›

Although you can replace part of the flour with protein powder, you should never replace more than ⅓ of the flour with protein powder. Ideally, you should be aiming to replace just ¼ of the flour with protein. Anything above will get you a dry texture.

What does protein powder replace in baking? ›

Protein powder can be used as a substitute for flour when baking. So whether you're looking for an alternative due to dietary restrictions or just want something different from your usual baking routine—swapping out regular flours for protein powder is definitely worth trying at least once!

What protein powder is the best to bake with? ›

Best Protein Powders for Baking
  • Whey Protein Isolate: This form of whey protein has a high protein content, low carbohydrate and fat content, and is relatively neutral in flavor. ...
  • Casein Protein: Due to its slower digestion, casein protein can provide a creamy texture to baked goods.

Does protein powder lose potency when baked? ›

The cooking of protein powders has the same results as the cooking of all types of proteins: the nutritional values remain the same. With cooking, therefore, the quality of the proteins does not change and the nutritional properties do not change.

How to add protein powder to box muffin mix? ›

In terms of when to add, mix in your protein powder with your other dry ingredients like flour or ground nuts and slowly whisk with the wet ingredients to make a smooth batter. Now you can decide if you need to add a splash more liquid to make the batter thinner and smooth.

Can you add protein powder to eggs? ›

With this simple ratio, use No Yolking™ 100 % Egg White Protein Powder to up the protein of scrambled eggs and omelets without the added fat and calories from using several whole eggs. When you're feeling fancy, dress up the eggs with your favorite veggie and herb combo.

How to add protein to all-purpose flour? ›

It can be used to bake good breads, though they won't have quite the same structure and texture as bread made from higher-protein bread flour. Add vital wheat gluten, which is primarily made up of wheat proteins, and you can bump your all-purpose flour's protein percentage.

Does protein powder make baked goods dry? ›

Baking with protein is very different to normal baking, especially baking with whey protein powder because it causes the baked items to become dry if not counteracted with other ingredients.

Can you use protein powder as a substitute for eggs in baking? ›

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) and whey protein isolate (WPI) are two common types used for egg replacement. WPC's are the ingredients of choice for most egg replacement in baked products. WPC's are readily available in protein concentrations of 34%, 60% and 80%, and can be customized to meet specific requirements.

What does protein powder taste best with? ›

Enhance the Taste of Your Protein Shake
  • Add Fruit. Fruit adds a delicious kick to your protein shake without adding a tremendous amount of calories. ...
  • Add Milk. ...
  • Add Cocoa Powder. ...
  • Add Yogurt. ...
  • Toss In Some Peanut Butter!

What happens to protein powder when you bake it? ›

Heating up protein powder can alter its structure a bit, but the good news is that the nutritional value remains largely unchanged. This means you can still get the benefits of the protein, even if you mix it into hot foods like soups or bake it into treats.

How do you add protein powder to baking mix? ›

Don't add the protein powder directly to the dry ingredients. Basically, add the protein powder to the liquid in the recipe and dissolve it into a hom*ogenous liquid; you can then treat that just like the wet ingredients rather than keeping the protein powder with the dry ingredients.

What are the side effects of protein powder? ›

High doses can cause some side effects such as increased bowel movements, acne, nausea, thirst, bloating, reduced appetite, tiredness, and headache. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if whey protein is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding.

How do you know when protein powder is bad? ›

It clearly indicates that it's gone bad if it emits an unusual or foul odor. Fresh protein powder should have a neutral or slightly sweet aroma. Examine for Clumping or Discoloration: Visually inspect the powder. If you notice clumps, a change in color or any signs of moisture, this could indicate spoilage.

Can you mix protein powder into oatmeal? ›

Scoop protein powder of choice (whey, casein or vegan) into a small bowl. Once dissolved, stir the protein mixture into your oatmeal. Should it get excessively thick, adjust with additional milk until creamy as desired. Serve protein powder oatmeal with your favorite toppings, such as fruit and nut butter.

What happens if you use protein powder instead of flour? ›

It's a decent flour substitute that delivers best results when used together with some flour or (better yet) oat flour. Whey gives an almost exact cake-like flour texture to baked goods.

Can you bake with just baking powder? ›

If you have a recipe calling for baking soda, you might be able to substitute baking powder. However, you will need up to 4x as much baking powder to get the same amount of leavening. And, depending on the recipe, you might end up with a baked good that's a little bitter with that much baking powder.

Can you cook with pure protein powder? ›

It's a supplement so they think that it's some type of magical food that's not real, which isn't the case at all. Protein powder is real food just like chicken that we bake, meals we microwave, and jerky or dehydrated foods we leave in the car. Heating up protein powder does not destroy it at all.

Does protein get destroyed with heat? ›

Heat, acid, high salt concentrations, alcohol, and mechanical agitation can cause proteins to denature. When a protein denatures, its complicated folded structure unravels, and it becomes just a long strand of amino acids again.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6382

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Birthday: 1996-12-09

Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

Phone: +2296092334654

Job: Technology Architect

Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.