Easy Protein Donut Recipe (2024)

This easy protein donut recipe makes the perfect high-protein treat. No dry protein powder donuts here. Just fluffy donuts with delicious cream cheese glaze!

If you’re looking for a guilt-free sweet treat, try this easy protein donut recipe for a delicious but protein-packed dessert (or snack!)

With these protein powder donuts, you can now indulge in your donut cravings while getting a protein boost. They only need simple ingredients, and they’re super easy to make!

Protein donuts are also baked, not fried. ?

What Is A Protein Donut?

Protein donuts are protein powder donuts or donuts made with protein powder. And compared to the classic donut, a deep-fried pastry, a protein donut is baked in the oven using a donut pan.

As someone who loves regular donuts, I have never imagined that I could enjoy them with less oil or with a protein punch. So when I saw this protein donut recipe with cream cheese glaze, I knew I had to check it out.

There are many protein donuts out there, but this recipe yields cakey, moist, and fluffy donuts.

One of the most common issues I saw with these healthier, protein-packed, baked donuts is they’re dry, and the culprit?

Whey protein powder!

I will share more tips below to ensure your protein donuts will come out delicious and eat like a cake, so keep reading.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Want a donut that you can feel good after eating it? You “do-not” want to miss this super simple protein donut recipe. Here’s why:

• Easy Recipe: Because these protein powder donuts are baked in molds, they’re easy and mess-free. The ingredients are likely already in your pantry, and you won’t even need special kitchen tools to whip up these delicious desserts!
• Protein-Packed Treat: These protein donuts are not just made with protein powder. This recipe also uses almond flour and Greek yogurt, so imagine how energizing these treats can be! ?
• Perfect for Sweet Tooth: Even though they’re healthier donuts, any sweet tooth will still find these protein powder donuts delicious. They have a soft, cake-like texture and just the right sweetness for a dessert that anyone can enjoy.

What Do Protein Donuts Taste Like?

Protein donuts taste sweet but not too sweet, and I think that’s a compliment.

You can still get your sweet tooth cravings fixed with a protein donut, but it’s not too rich that you’ll get sick of it.

I also love the cakey, fluffy texture because who would want dry and crumbly donuts? I think baking them did the protein powder donuts justice.

These donuts are full of buttery vanilla flavor, but you can customize them however you like.

Use your favorite frosting, pick a protein powder flavor you love, or just simply follow this protein powder recipe with a luscious cream cheese glaze. ?

Is Protein Donut Healthy?

This protein donut recipe is healthier than your average donut recipe.

The trio of protein powder, Greek yogurt, and almond flour is why these baked donuts secretly pack a protein punch.

I’m not surprised by the rising trend of desserts and snacks made with protein powder because it makes it possible to enjoy them without compromising your diet.

If you choose protein-packed desserts and snacks like these protein powder donuts, you are potentially reducing cravings since protein helps you feel full.

Just look at these cake batter protein balls that make the perfect workout snack! They’re way better than the high-calorie donut hole!

What Are The Benefits Of This Protein Donut Recipe?

The benefit of these protein donuts is they are filling and absolutely scrumptious.

Because of their protein content, you can enjoy them as a snack or dessert, and you wouldn’t be reaching out for other unhealthy cravings any time soon.

Protein helps keep your energy up, so protein powder donuts won’t make you feel sluggish like sugary foods.

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And finally, a protein donut won’t let you down when it comes to taste.

It’s not chalky or dry, but instead, you get to enjoy a soft, sweet, fluffy dessert that’s made even better with a cream cheese glaze.

Anyone can whip these protein powder donuts up because of their simple ingredients and hassle-free baking method. ?

Ingredients For Protein Powder Donuts

• Greek yogurt – Greek yogurt is not only a high-protein food. It also makes the protein donut soft, moist, and cakey.
• Eggs – For fluffy baked donuts! Eggs are also excellent sources of protein, making the protein donut a tasty energy fuel.
• Butter – These vanilla protein donuts are deliciously buttery and moist. But to avoid clumping, remember to whisk your yogurt, eggs, and butter quickly. ?
• Almond flour – For protein boost and fluffy, low-carb donuts that taste like your typical powdered cake donuts. I haven’t tried this recipe with coconut flour, though.
• Protein powder – You can use any flavor of protein powder, but these vanilla protein powder donuts are oh-so-versatile for different toppings and frostings.
• Baking powder – So our cake donuts will rise nicely.
• Salt – To give the protein donut a balanced sweetness.
• Water – Activates the ingredients in this baked donut recipe for the perfect taste and texture.
• Cream cheese – I know these are healthier donuts, but sometimes, indulging in a rich glaze is okay!
• Sweetener – You can use any sweetener, but we’re opting for monk fruit sweetener in this protein donut recipe.
• Vanilla extract – Creates a more well-rounded flavor on the glaze.
• Candy sprinkles – These colorful sprinkles are optional, but they just give our protein donuts the classic donut charm, don’t you think?
• Cooking spray – We’ll grease the donut pan with a neutral oil.

Tools Needed To Prepare Protein Powder Donuts

• Bowls for combining the ingredients
• Whisk for mixing the protein donut batter
• Donut pan for baking the donuts
• Wire rack for cooling the protein donuts

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For This Protein Donut Recipe

Greek yogurt

If you don’t have Greek yogurt in the pantry, you can still make these cake-like, protein-packed, baked donuts with bananas!

Swap Greek yogurt with the same amount of mashed bananas, and your protein donut will still come out soft. ?

Chocolate glaze

If you’re craving chocolate donuts, you can make a quick but “healthier” chocolate glaze for these protein powder donuts. You only need to mix cacao powder, coconut oil, almond milk, and honey!

Nut butter

To be honest, these protein donuts are good on their own, even without frosting. But if you’re feeling lazy and just want to give your donut an extra oomph, you might enjoy them with some nut butter on top. ?

How To Make Protein Donuts

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 ¼ cups almond flour
• ½ cup protein powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp water
• ⅓ cup cream cheese
• 1 tbsp butter for the glaze
• 4 tbsp sweetener
• ⅓ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp candy sprinkles
• Cooking spray

Tools you need:

• Bowl
• Whisk
• Donut pan
• Wire rack

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for your protein donuts.

STEP 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the donut pan with cooking spray.

STEP 3: Whisk the yogurt, butter, and eggs in a bowl and set aside.

STEP 4: Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix to form the donut batter.

STEP 5: Fill the donut pan with the batter and bake for 12 to 16 minutes or check the donuts with a skewer until it comes out clean.

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STEP 6: Once done, allow the donuts to cool in the pan, usually around 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

STEP 7: Meanwhile, prepare the glaze by combining cream cheese, butter, sweetener, and vanilla extract.

STEP 8: Drizzle the cooled protein donuts with the glaze and decorate with sprinkles. Enjoy.

What To Serve With Protein Donuts

Serve these protein donuts with your favorite beverage for a satisfying breakfast, snack, or dessert.

The protein-packed donuts are already filling and delectably sweet, so I think a comforting beverage complements them best. But forget about brewing coffee or tea; try something new!

I suggest our easy, Instagram-worthy, but healthy blue matcha latte. Click on that link to know why it’s blue and nutritious!

And for those who just want to relax and enjoy their protein donut as a pick-me-up after a long day, why not have it with our pumpkin spice Vietnamese iced coffee?

Tips About Making This Protein Donut Recipe

Afraid that your protein donuts will come out dry and not soft and cake-like? Here are the secrets for making the perfect protein donut at home:

• If you’re making a big batch and want to save time or want your protein powder donuts to come out with a perfectly rounded donut shape like the store-bought ones, I suggest using apiping bag to fill the donut cavities in the baking pan.
• Follow our recipe’s instructions on allowing the donuts to cool in the pan before transferring them to a wire rack. This prevents overbaking them since the donuts will continue cooking after you take them out of the oven.
• Not all protein powders are the same when making protein powder donuts! Whey protein powder dries easily when exposed to heat, so use casein or vegan protein powder for this donut recipe.

How To Store Protein Donuts

You can make this protein donut recipe ahead of time and enjoy your cake donuts later. Here are the storage guidelines if you also have leftover donuts:

• Fridge: Transfer your protein donuts to an airtight container. They will keep well in the fridge for 4 to 5 days!
• Freezer: You can freeze your protein donut for longer storage. The protein donuts can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: I suggest freezing plain donuts, then serving them with freshly made glaze for the best experience. You can reheat frozen donuts in the microwave at 10-second intervals until they’re soft and heated through or thaw them on the counter until they’re at room temperature.

How To Make Protein Donuts Moist

One of the worries about protein powder donuts is they might end up dry. The secret is using casein or vegan protein powder, not whey protein powder since it leads to dry baked goods.

You also want fat in the donut batter, which is why we have butter in this protein donut recipe.

And finally, do not overbake your protein powder donuts! Take them out of the oven after 12 to 16 minutes, and they’ll continue cooking as they cool.

How To Make Herbalife Protein Donuts

You can make this baked donut recipe with Herbalife Formula 1 protein powder if you’re a fan of the brand. I know some people have this particular protein powder at home because it’s an easy way to make protein shakes.

Try making chocolate protein donuts with the brand’s Dutch chocolate protein powder!

FAQ About Protein Donut

Protein Donut

Yield: 12

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Total Time: 21 minutes

This easy protein donut recipe makes the perfect high-protein treat. No dry protein powder donuts here. Just fluffy donuts with delicious cream cheese glaze!

Ingredients

• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 ¼ cups almond flour
• ½ cup protein powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tbsp water
• ⅓ cup cream cheese
• 1 tbsp butter for the glaze
• 4 tbsp sweetener
• ⅓ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp candy sprinkles
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Gather the ingredients for your protein donuts.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease the donut pan with cooking spray.
3. Whisk the yogurt, butter, and eggs in a bowl and set aside.
4. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix to form the donut batter.
5. Fill the donut pan with the batter and bake for 12 to 16 minutes or check the donuts with a skewer until it comes out clean.
6. Once done, allow the donuts to cool in the pan, usually around 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
7. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze by combining cream cheese, butter, sweetener, and vanilla extract.
8. Drizzle the cooled protein donuts with the glaze and decorate with sprinkles. Enjoy.

Notes

• You can just spoon the batter into the donut pan, but using a piping bag makes it easier to fill the donut cavities and get donuts with perfectly rounded edges.
• Do not overbake your protein donuts because they’ll continue cooking from the residual heat after taking them out of the oven.
• Did your donuts turn out dry? It might be because you used whey protein powder. I suggest casein or vegan protein powder for this donut recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 64Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 30mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 4g

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.

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Conclusion

Say goodbye to high-calorie, sugary, fatty donuts, and say hello to protein donuts!

This protein donut recipe yields protein-packed donuts that are soft, moist, and deliciously indulgent with a cream cheese glaze.

Just remember that the secret to moist protein powder donuts is using the right protein powder. ?

Love this protein donut recipe? Try any of these next, and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

• Best Homemade Baked Donuts: Krispy Kreme Snickers Donuts
• Delicious Baked Pumpkin Donuts
• Cake Batter Protein Balls (Easy Birthday Cake Protein Balls)
• How To Make Sweet Nigerian Buns The Easy Way!

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