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.

The composition of protein powder can significantly impact the outcome of baked goods.Different protein powders have varying protein concentrations. Higher protein content can affect the texture and moisture of baked goods. Too much protein powder can result in a dense or tough texture.

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.

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

FAQs

How to use protein powder in baking? ›

this means that if your recipe requires 1 ½ cup of flour, you can use up to ½ cup of protein powder instead of flour. To simplify things a bit, think about it in these terms: Your batter should not be more than ½ protein powder. Don't Fear Fat – Remember, fat is a macronutrient – meaning that you need it.

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 can I mix with my protein powder? ›

Here are the five best options:
  • Water. Water might seem like an unremarkable choice for mixing protein powder, but its benefits are obvious. ...
  • Dairy Milk. Dairy milk has long been the standard companion to protein powder. ...
  • Kefir. ...
  • Plant-Based Milk (e.g. Almond Milk and Oat Milk) ...
  • Natural Fruit Juice.
Feb 4, 2024

What not to mix protein powder with? ›

The addition of real milk powder may lead to bloating, constipation and probably dysentery because of it's high lactose and sugar level. Don't add ingredients such as soy protein which contains chemical compounds that can lead to hormonal disturbance in some people. Avoid mixing vegetable oils that contain trans fats.

What happens when you bake protein powder? ›

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.

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

When it comes to baking, whey protein powder mixes very well with other ingredients and makes a good dough. However, you should never replace more than ¼ of the flour with whey protein otherwise it will make the baked goods dry and rubbery.

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 to do with protein powder besides shakes? ›

10 ways to use protein powder that go beyond shakes
  1. You can add protein powder to your coffee. ...
  2. You can mix protein in with homemade guacamole. ...
  3. You can put protein powder in your oatmeal. ...
  4. You can make protein powder pudding. ...
  5. You can mix protein powder into soups. ...
  6. You can turn protein powder into energy bites.
Oct 3, 2018

Can you just add protein powder to anything? ›

Or blend it with milk, fruit, greens, nut butter, or other fun additions, and it's an anytime snack or meal replacement. (And a delicious one at that.) But this supplement isn't only for liquids. You can also use it to make a variety of dishes, from muffins and cupcakes to burgers, lasagna, dips, doughnuts, and more!

What to stay away from in protein powder? ›

10 Protein Powder Ingredients to Avoid
  • Casein + WPC. These are also known as whey protein concentrate and sodium caseinate. ...
  • Gluten. ...
  • Dextrins/Maltodextrin. ...
  • Artificial sweeteners. ...
  • Skim milk powders/milk solids. ...
  • Soy protein. ...
  • Vegetable oils and fats. ...
  • Thickeners and gums.

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.

Is protein powder bad for gut health? ›

Some protein powders' added sugars and flavourings might also disturb your blood sugar levels and balance, promoting harmful bacteria growing in your gut,” says Dubberley. “While protein is needed for muscle repair, relying too heavily on supplements could lead to a fibre-deficient diet and poor gut health.”

How to add protein powder to box muffin mix? ›

Can you add protein powder to boxed muffin mix? Whey protein powder can be stirred into most boxed muffin mixes, but you'll likely need to add extra peanut butter to smooth out the batter.

Can you put protein powder in the oven? ›

cooking with protein powder doesn't destroy it, it does denature it, and it is 100% safe! So go bake some protein bars, cheesecake, cookies, make some protein oatmeal, or anything else your sweet tooth desires.

What does protein do in baking? ›

Protein's vital role in baking. Like any good actor, protein can play many parts. First, it's an essential component of a healthful diet. But especially important in bakery applications, protein performs as a dough conditioner, structuring agent and moisture controller as well as in myriad other roles.

What is the best way to use protein powder? ›

Protein powder is an easy way to get more protein daily. You can blend it into a shake or smoothie, sprinkle it into your oatmeal or add it to baked goods like bread or muffins. Extra protein, combined with regular exercise, can help you gain muscle, change your body composition, or meet your daily protein needs.

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