These recipes for healthy protein desserts pack a mix of healthy fat and fiber, too — the key to getting that “I’m pleasantly full” feeling.
Can you bake with protein powder? How to bake with protein powder? Which protein powder is best for baking? Does baking destroy protein powder?
If these are your questions, then you are in the right place. This guide will teach you all you need to know on baking with protein powder instead of flour.
After introducing the different types of protein powders in the market, we will see the best practices, tips and tricks for baking with protein powder.
If you’ve ever baked with protein shake powder, you probably realized quickly that not all protein powders bake the same way. Not only do the different types of protein powders bake differently (whey, pea, casein, etc.) but you could have 5 different single-ingredient whey protein powders that bake differently. It’s all in how the protein is processed. So what’s the best protein for baking?
Well, I do have an all-around great protein powder to recommend, but the answer to that question really depends on what you want to make and if you have any dietary preferences.
Baking with Protein Powder Infographic
Jump to Recipe
Have you ever ordered two pounds of protein powder just to get bored of shakes after a few days? Worry not; we’ve hand-selected 15+ delicious and versatile protein powder recipes for you!
free 7-day vegan meal plan
Your next week of eating is planned out with these quick and delicious vegan bowls, meal prepping steps & full grocery list.
From energy balls and other meal prep-friendly protein snacks to easy breakfast ideas and indulgent desserts, these sweet treats are guaranteed to make the use of protein powder much more exciting for you.
Check out healthy plant-based protein sources as well as our homemade protein blend and vegan protein meals next! Enjoy this list.
Protein Overnight Oats
One of the easiest ways to use protein powder is to make overnight oats. This results in a creamy, thick and healthy breakfast idea you can simply grab from the fridge in the morning!
Double Chocolate Protein Cookies
Loaded with chocolate and protein, these vegan cookies are out-of-this-world delicious! Probably one of your new favorite ways to get your essential amino acids.
Fluffy Protein Pancakes
Only 7 ingredients are needed to make these easy and fluffy vegan protein pancakes. Ready in 30 minutes and delicious with fresh fruit and maple syrup.
Protein Powder Cookie Dough
This protein-packed snack idea is great for making ahead of time and ready in only 5 minutes. It packs 20g of protein, so eat the whole bowl!
No-Bake Chocolate Protein Bars
Looking for a quick and healthy post-workout snack? Try these grain-free chocolate protein bars with peanut butter, cocoa, almond flour and maple syrup. Cheaper than store-bought!
Baked Berry Protein Oatmeal
Make these baked protein oats ahead of time and stash them in the fridge for a quick breakfast in the morning! Only simple ingredients are needed, including your favorite protein powder, oats, fruit and plant-based milk.
Protein Chickpea Blondies
This recipe offers a lot of plant-based protein from chickpeas and protein powder. With just seven ingredients and less than 30 minutes needed, this healthy and cheap snack idea is a must-try.
Banana Protein Powder Waffles
Start your day with these healthy vegan banana protein waffles that are freezable and great for meal prep! Fluffy, tasty and ready in under 30 minutes.
Chocolate & Vanilla Mug Cake
Mug cakes have become super popular — and for good reason. This microwave cake takes only 7 minutes in total, is great for making just one serving and can be high in protein when using protein powder.
Easy 2 Minute Yogurt Bowl
Make your own colorful yogurt bowl with soft tofu, cashew butter, frozen fruit and protein powder! Decorate to your liking with granola, nuts, fruit or other toppings.
Protein Ice Cream
How about some healthy vegan protein ice cream using frozen bananas as a base? Try different flavors using your favorite protein powder and enjoy this nutritious treat.
Vegan Protein Brownies
Flourless, fudgy and decadent, these protein brownies are a great healthier snack idea! Only 6 ingredients, such as peanut butter, maple syrup and cocoa powder, are needed.
Easy Protein Muffins
These quick and easy blender muffins are a delicious protein-packed treat for the whole family! The recipe uses simple components such as rolled oats, baking powder, bananas and dairy-free yogurt.
Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Bars
Celebrate fall with these homemade protein bars. They are perfectly portable and a delicious sweet snack or nutritious dessert.
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
If you’re into meal prep, this high-protein carrot cake baked oatmeal will be totally your jam! It tastes just like cake, requires 10 minutes of prep time and calls for protein powder in the icing.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Keeping a container with these peanut butter protein balls on hand is a great way to stay happy and nourished! They take less than 15 minutes to put together.
More Recipes
- 1 cup chocolate soy milk (240 ml)
- 1 banana, frozen
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee
- 1 scoop of vegan chocolate protein powder
- Ice cubes, to preference
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust to your taste and texture preferences, then pour into glasses and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use any dairy-free milk for this recipe.
- Add a handful of spinach to make this smoothie higher in nutrients.
- Find 15+ more protein powder recipes in the article above.
½ recipe
Amount Per Serving:
2g 1g 0g 2g
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated automatically, their accuracy is not guaranteed. Just focus on whole plant-based foods and eat until satiety!
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These high-protein desserts nourish your body while quelling your insatiable craving for dessert.
Who says you can’t satisfy your sweet tooth with a boost of protein?
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However, it’s not always easy to eat the recommended daily dose. That’s why I’m all for high protein desserts!
Sure, desserts aren’t exactly the healthiest choice. But it’s all about moderation.
This roundup has it all from healthy plant-based desserts to indulgent chocolatey treats.
Pick your favorite and spoil yourself with a high-protein goodie.
High-Protein Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut butter and chocolate are a flawless combination that makes up the best desserts.
But when I want more protein, I go with these extraordinary homemade candies.
Better than store-bought, these peanut butter cups are coated in dark chocolate and have a hint of vanilla from whey protein.
There’s no extra sugar added, which is great if you find Reese’s to be too sweet.
No-Bake Cheesecake
Cheesecake may seem like a lavish dessert that takes a high skill level to make. But any beginner can make this recipe.
This uncomplicated dessert doesn’t require baking and only takes 10 minutes to make.
Whip it up and reward yourself with a creamy, custardy slice.
Chocolate Protein Pudding
To say this is an easy dessert would be an understatement.
With four ingredients, you can have a luscious dairy-free and gluten-free chocolate pudding ready in just 5 minutes. Seriously, it’s that easy.
Afternoon snack or late-night chocolate craving attack, you’ll want to keep this recipe close to quench those hankerings fast.
High Protein Cheesecake
Have a craving for a decadent dessert? I’ve got just the ticket.
You’ll start with a bottom layer of low-carb almond flour crust.
Then add on the white chocolate cheesecake filling that gets a boost from Greek yogurt and protein powder.
You can mess around with the toppings or stick with the theme and drizzle on white chocolate along with a handful of raspberries.
Milkshake
I want to slurp up every last drop of this creamy shake! It gets a double dose of chocolate with the help of chocolate ice cream and thick chocolate syrup.
Keep in mind, the darker the chocolate the higher the protein.
To make this richer in protein, opt for dark chocolate syrup and sprinkle some dark chocolate shavings on top while you’re at it.
Chocolate Workout Brownies
Brownies may seem unassuming when it comes to healthy desserts, but these are legit.
No refined sugar and gluten-free, workout brownies don’t require miles on the treadmill to enjoy.
They’re naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and honey which is the perfect amount of sweet.
I love how the nut butter makes them gooey while adding in some additional protein that’s enhanced further by chocolate protein powder.
Powerhouse Protein Parfaits
If a powerhouse dessert is what you want, that’s what you’ll get with these ambrosial parfaits.
They are brimming with plant-based ingredients and a little dairy, too. If you want all plant-based, you can substitute Greek yogurt for nut milk.
While these make a wonderful high protein dessert, you could eat them for breakfast to start your morning on the right track.
High-Protein Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie Pie
Now, this is how you do a high protein pie!
Let’s start with the crust. This is a store-bought graham cracker crust that reduces your workload while adding in the perfect texture.
But there’s no denying the filling is by far the best part. It’s full of fudgy chocolate, peanut butter, and protein.
Strawberry Protein Fluff
When chocolate sounds too rich, I reach for a bowl of this light and fluffy dessert.
Almond milk and xanthan gum give it a voluptuous body while it’s all about the strawberry flavor.
It tastes like a tall glass of strawberry milk while the texture is all fluff.
Oreo Protein Cake
Have any Oreo lovers in the house? Put a smile on their face with this gorgeous cake.
It has layers of protein infused chocolate cake and fat-free cream cheese frosting.
This recipe uses naturally sweet ingredients along with a keto-friendly powdered sugar substitute.
I’m a big fan of this because it reduces the likelihood of a sugar crash.
Chocolate Protein Ice Cream
The best way to enjoy a hot day is with a scoop of ice cream. So why not also nourish your body with some protein in every lick?
You can make this creamy and smooth chocolate ice cream on your stove. Which is great news if you don’t own an ice cream machine.
What is necessary, though, is cocoa powder, monk fruit, and protein powder.
Keto Funnel Cakes
For me, funnel cakes conjure up fun childhood memories of family trips to the fair.
I loved getting these carb-filled greasy goodies, but they’re far from healthy.
Enter these keto funnel cakes. These have only 1 net carb and are oh-so-tasty.
Protein Rice Krispie Treats
Talk about favorite childhood treats! Rice Krispie treats are a classic that’s so simple to make and one you can easily infuse with more protein.
You’ll still use all the standard ingredients like marshmallows, crispy rice cereal, and butter.
The difference with these is you’ll add in some whey protein powder.
You can leave them plain for drizzle on some dark chocolate syrup for an indulgent protein boost.
High-Protein Birthday Mug Cake
This high-protein mug cake is great for when you only need a single-serving.
Plus, it trades in all those sugar and carb-filled cake ingredients for healthier alternatives.
Apple sauce and Swerve Confectioners sugar add a hint of sweetness while coconut flour makes up the fluffy cake texture.
A warm mug of this cake is too easy and too good not to make. Don’t worry, I won’t tell if it isn’t your birthday.
Oreo Chocolate Parfait
Not all parfaits have to be about the fruit and granola.
This one makes for a decadent dessert with the combination of chocolate pudding, Oreos, and whipped topping.
Did I also mention it will only take you 4 minutes to make?
S’mores Protein Bites
Dessert or snack time, you’ll want to add this to your list of favorite protein desserts.
These protein balls are a delightful mix of mini chocolate chips and mini-marshmallows.
Plus, oats, cashew milk, and graham crackers help everything to bind without requiring baking.
High Protein Frozen Yogurt
What’s so great about this frozen yogurt is it’s sweet without using a mound of sugar.
It’s got a fabulous fruity taste from the mango and raspberry. To make it super creamy, use full-fat Greek yogurt.
You’ll want to eat this immediately rather than let it sit in the freezer. Otherwise, it will be too hard to enjoy.
Oreo Protein Balls
I know I’ve talked about a few Oreo desserts, but there’s just one more you have to try.
Protein balls give you an energy boost with the perfect amount of cookies and cream.
These are the perfect afternoon pick me up that will taste great with a cold glass of milk.
S’mores Protein Cookies
This is not your average batch of cookies. These are s’mores disguised meals in cookie form.
Each gigantic cookie gets a healthy dose of protein powder along with collagen.
But wait, there’s even more protein than that because these are full of peanut butter, Greek yogurt, and almond milk.
Of course, no cookie is complete without the sweets. This one is a play on s’mores with chocolate and marshmallows.
Chocolate Protein Donuts
Donuts don’t exactly scream healthy desserts. But this recipe is changing the game with less than 100 calories and 11 grams of protein.
What I love is you can eat these donuts and not immediately feel heavy with guilt. I also love that they are deliciously chocolatey.
Protein Berry Crumble
From time to time all I want is this juicy berry crumble. It may not look like the most prizewinning dish, but I guarantee looks are deceiving.
It’s oozing with a yummy mix of fresh raspberries, almonds, and oats. While many crumbles are full of sugar, this one uses Stevia instead.
If I’m feeling a bit more indulgent, I’ll pour on some heavy whipping cream, or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
To help you find easy protein powder desserts all in one place, here is the list I put together with the best recipes out there.
Protein powder is making waves in the fitness industry because of its benefits, which is why desserts made with protein powder instead of flour are becoming more and more popular in the baking (and nutrition) world.
In a nutshell, whey protein powder is an isolated protein derived from a dairy source and comes in powder form.
But there are other kinds of protein powder that are suitable to bake with, such as soy, pea protein, hemp, casein, and others.
Some home bakers would prefer protein powder over grain flour for their sweet treats because it provides a high-protein profile to their recipes.
Protein powder can be used as a substitute for all-purpose wheat flour in some, but not all, baked goods.
However, using protein powder for baking some desserts can entirely change the game.
It can change your dessert’s texture, consistency, and even flavor, depending on the type and protein concentration.
It’s good to get acquainted with the many forms of protein powder, such as soy, peanut, casein, whey, pea protein, and more, maybe before you start cooking.
For instance, choosing whey protein is popular among bakers because it’s a water-soluble milk powder that can easily dissolve in water.
On the other hand, some claim that soy protein may also have a distinct taste, which may change the outcome of your baked goods.
Plus, soy protein powder doesn’t dissolve in water very well.
So if you’re new to baking, try whey protein in your first protein powder dessert.
So here are easy protein powder desserts you can try, especially #24 because who doesn’t love blueberries and coffee in one delectable cake?
Let’s kick this list off with a 1-minute mug brownie that’s gluten-free and sugar-free.
Forget grabbing your all-purpose flour because you only need coconut flour to give this cake a nice texture.
Mix all ingredients in a mug, fold it with the chocolate chips, pop it in the oven for 60 seconds, and voila, dessert!
This banana chocolate chip cake is a sure crowd pleaser with its delicious flavors and moist texture.
You need full-fat butter and brown granulated sugar to achieve the flavor.
Keep this recipe light by using fat-free yogurt as well.
You can never go wrong with a succulent, fudgy chocolate truffle with a decadent chocolate ganache in the middle to satisfy your sweet tooth.
And the best part about this recipe is that you don’t even need an oven to make this!
Blending the nut butter and protein powder and coating it with melted chocolate chips are all it takes!
This cheesecake is extra creamy and crunchy because of the crust that doesn’t fall apart when you have that perfect slice.
This vanilla-flavored cheesecake is not too sweet, with hints of tangy flavor.
Here’s another protein powder dessert that you can devour in minutes!
This recipe only requires 5 to 6 ingredients, and you can enjoy this treat after mixing all ingredients in a bowl.
But you may also chill this in the fridge for 15 minutes and eat it all!
If you love Reese’s cups, then you’ll love this peanut butter cup recipe that will surely hit your sweet spot.
It’s made with peanut butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and protein powder.
The treat is a chewy, dense peanut butter filling that’s sweet and salty at the same time!
Who would’ve thought black beans are a perfect ingredient in protein powder desserts like this black bean fudge recipe?
Black beans make this recipe extra fudgy and soft because they add bulk and structure.
All it takes is to drain, rinse, puree your black beans, add all the ingredients, then bake!
Banana Bread is excellent as a snack or dessert.
It’s one of those desserts that’s light yet leaves you full and satiated.
This recipe uses pea protein powder and oat flour to ensure it doesn’t get overly dense.
A secret to thick and creamy pudding is the thickening agent that gives it its beautiful structure.
In this recipe, mix Greek yogurt with other three ingredients, such as vanilla protein powder, stevia, and unsweetened almond milk.
Eat immediately or chill in the fridge for a few minutes for that cold, custard-like texture.
Nothing can awaken your taste buds than a yeasty, buttery, and irresistibly soft cinnamon roll!
This recipe is gluten-free, and you’d be amazed by the filling made with a pinch of cinnamon and sticky brown sugar mixed with butter.
Making parfaits is fun because you can decide what fruits or toppings you like.
These layered delights are quick and easy to make by mixing whipped cream and protein powder, cutting up berries of your choice, and alternating them in a parfait glass.
Imagine a fudge brownie that’s fudgy on the sides, lusciously gooey in the middle, and has no oil, flour, or sugar!
With this recipe, you’ll only need cocoa powder and chocolate protein powder as the sweet base!
If a slice of chocolate peanut butter pie doesn’t make your mouth water, I don’t know what will!
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie with a crunchy crust, creamy peanut butter, and cream cheese filling is a delicate and appetizing dessert.
If you haven’t decided on a Thanksgiving dessert, try this pumpkin pie recipe with spiced pumpkin puree and vanilla protein powder.
Serve this divine Pumpkin Pie dessert with fall sprinkles, ice cream, or both!
Everyone loves the nut and chocolate combo because of the nutty and gritty texture combined with the fudgy and soft chocolate.
And this Pecan Pie Brownie is a crowd-pleaser with Medjool dates that give it its caramel flavor.
The protein powder, almond butter, maple syrup, and chocolate protein powder underneath a crunchy, sweet pecan pie topping is heaven!
This Strawberry Sorbet reminds you of summer vibes due to its refreshing and fruity taste.
The slightly tangy and candied flavor from the strawberries is enough to make you take a couple of scoops!
If you’re craving something cold and creamy, this Vanilla Ice Cream will save the day!
This unique recipe only takes 30 seconds to make with a blender.
It’s also not sugar-laden like an ordinary vanilla ice cream because you’ll use Stevia Extract so it’s refined sugar free!
Another ice cream flavor you can try without the loaded sugar is this chocolate ice cream recipe, similar to the vanilla ice cream recipe.
To make this extra chocolatey, blend almond milk, cocoa powder, chocolate protein powder, and frozen bananas.
Serve with your favorite toppings like chocolate chips or rainbow sprinkles!
Here’s a crunchy dessert you can store in the fridge anytime!
These Rice Krispies are made with brown rice crisps and melted peanut butter for that extra gooey and chewy texture.
It’s low in sugar, also making this a light snack if you want something on-the-go.
Another peanut butter and chocolate dessert tandem that will surely make you want more is this simple protein Oreo Cake recipe.
The key to this recipe is selecting an excellent chocolate powder.
And in this recipe, Macro Supps ONE protein powder mixed with cocoa powder give this cake a black base.
How about pairing mint with chocolate?
These Mint Chocolate Bars are dense and are similar to brownies in terms of texture and taste.
Try this recipe if you want something that doubles as a protein powder snack and dessert!
It gives you a robust minty flavor and a pleasant succulent taste from the chocolate.
Also known as molten cake or chocolate moelleux, this Lava Cake is a mix of chocolate cake and soufflé.
You’ll enjoy the decadent exterior and creamy and lush center.
Add some arrowroot starch to build that base and microwave in the oven for only a minute and 15 seconds.
If you want a better-for-you yet equally filling donut as dessert, don’t miss out on these Protein Donuts!
It’s made with protein powder, oat flour, honey, coconut oil, and almond milk.
The frosting is also a yummy nut butter!
This Blueberry Coffee Cake with a lemon glaze will be the limelight of your parties!
Wow your guests with that natural coffee flavor, a hint of cinnamon and tanginess from the blueberries.
Top with a lemon glaze that’s zesty and fresh, and this dessert won’t disappoint.
These Lemon Cheesecake Balls will excite every sweet tooth out there because of their tangy and mildly sweet flavor from the cream cheese.
This recipe requires no baking, with only five ingredients!
One bite, and you’ll enjoy that chewy texture, especially when served chilled!
The bottom line
Try these protein powder desserts if you want something sweet, refreshing, and light.
Replacing flour with protein powder is easy if you choose the right brand.
So remember to experiment with a few protein powder brands first, and pick one that will become your go-to for baking delightful treats!
Ingredients
- Skim through our Protein Powder Desserts list.
- Select the recipe you’re looking for.
- Prep the ingredients as instructed.
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Have your oatmeal and get your protein in with this protein baked oatmeal! It’s easy to make, perfect for meal prep and packs over 17 grams of protein per serving.
One of the most popular questions I receive when it comes to baked oatmeal is “can I add protein powder to baked oatmeal?” While you can definitely add protein powder to any of my baked oatmeal recipes I thought it was time to create a specific protein baked oatmeal recipe.
Oatmeal on its own is not super protein-rich and can sometimes leave me feeling hungry 1 hour after eating it, which is why I’m all about adding protein and healthy fats to help keep me full and satisfied all morning long!
I’ve previously created protein overnight oats and protein oatmeal recipes, but this protein baked oatmeal might just be my new favorite way to eat protein oats (aka proats)!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make and only requires one bowl and one pan!
- Perfect for an on-the-go breakfast for busy days.
- It’s gluten-free, dairy-free and can easily be made vegan!
- Has 17 grams of protein per serving!
Ingredients Needed
- old fashioned rolled oats – my fave brand is Bob’s Red Mill gluten free old fashioned rolled oats.
- vanilla protein powder – for this recipe I used the vanilla Warrior blend by Sun Warrior, but feel free to use your favorite brand of protein powder. Nuzest is also one of my favorite brands. It’s plant-based and has a minimal, clean ingredient list. Plus, the chocolate flavor is delish. You can use my code eatingbirdfood for 15% off your order.
- unsweetened almond milk – I used unsweetened almond milk, but any non-dairy milk will work.
- peanut butter – adds some more protein and great flavor to this baked oatmeal. Feel free to use your favorite nut or seed butter.
- eggs – the eggs will help bind all the ingredients together. See vegan alternatives below.
- coconut oil – make sure you’re using coconut oil that’s melted. I’ve purchased several different brands of coconut oil before, but Nutiva organic extra virgin coconut oil is my favorite.
- vanilla extract – a flavor enhancer.
- salt – can’t forget the salt! This brings all the ingredients together.
- fresh blueberries – I love the addition of fresh blueberries in this baked oatmeal. Frozen berries will also work.
Substitutions & Notes
- Protein powder: I prefer to use a plant-based vanilla protein powder, but feel free to use your favorite flavor and brand of protein powder. I’m sure whey protein or hemp protein would both work, I’m just not sure what the end result would taste like as I haven’t tried either of these options. If you don’t have protein powder on hand I suggest making one of my other 22+ baked oatmeal recipes instead.
- Peanut butter: If you have a peanut allergy or don’t have any on hand, feel free to swap it out with any nut or seed butter. Almond butter would be my second choice, but cashew butter, tahini or sunflower seed butter are all great options.
- Eggs: To make this recipe vegan use flax eggs or chia eggs instead or regular eggs.
- Maple syrup: Feel free to use your favorite liquid sweetener like honey or agave. To keep this recipe low-sugar use monk fruit maple syrup.
- Blueberries: I prefer fresh blueberries, but you could really use any fruit of your choice. Some options I would try are strawberries, raspberries, cherries or blackberries. If you want to skip the fruit and add a different mix-in, go for it! Chocolate chips or chopped nuts would both be delicious.
- Want to make this a blended baked oatmeal? If you’re a fan of the blended baked oats and want to make a blended version of this protein baked oatmeal just add all the ingredients (except for the berries) to a blender and blend until smooth, add blueberries, pour into a baking dish and bake!
How to Make
Just like all of my baked oatmeal recipes this one is super easy to whip up. Start by preheating your oven to 375°F and spraying an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray or oil. You could also line it with parchment paper.
In a large bowl mix together the oats, protein powder, almond milk, peanut butter, eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract and salt. Once combined, stir in the blueberries and carefully pour the mixture into baking dish. Top it off with additional blueberries.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center is set. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Portion and serve with a drizzle of nut butter!
What to Serve With Baked Oatmeal
This baked oatmeal is packed with fiber, healthy fats and 17 grams of protein per serving, so it’s a great breakfast option and can definitely be eaten on its own, but if you want to serve it with some sides here are some ideas that would pair well with it:
- A savory egg dish – baked egg muffins , egg white bites, dairy-free spinach quiche or kale and feta crustless quiche
- A fresh fruit salad – easy fruit salad or fruit salad with mint
- Meat – regular bacon, tempeh bacon, chicken sausage, breakfast sausage or veggie sausage
- Yogurt – a side yogurt bowl
Can I Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time
Yes, you can totally make baked oatmeal ahead of time. Here are a couple of options that work well.
BAKE AND THEN REHEAT BEFORE SERVING
- Mix all your dry ingredients together in a large bowl, cover, and let sit out on the counter until morning.
- Mix together all the wet ingredients in a different bowl, cover, and store in the fridge until morning.
- In the morning just mix your dry and wet ingredients together and pour the mixture into your baking pan, and prepare in the oven as suggested above.
How to Store and Reheat
This baked oatmeal is a great meal prep recipe and stores really well in the fridge or freezer.
In the fridge: store in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
In the freezer: store in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. When freezing, I recommend cutting the oatmeal into portions, wrapping each in plastic wrap and placing the portions in a large freezer bag. The individual servings make it easier for reheating.
To reheat the entire pan of baked oatmeal: cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes or until warm.
To reheat individual portions: set oven or toaster oven to 350ºF and bake for 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1 minute. Once warm, add your toppings and enjoy!
FAQ’s
What’s the best protein powder to use?
For this recipe I used Sun Warrior, but Nuzest is also one of my favorite brands. I have a more detailed guide on the best protein powders out there if you’re interested in learning more.
Why add protein powder to oatmeal?
The one fault oatmeal has is that it’s usually not very high in protein. For those of you that think oatmeal isn’t very filling or you’re hungry 1 hour after eating it, all you need to do is add some protein and healthy fat. That’s why I’m a huge supporter of making protein oatmeal. Adding protein powder to my oatmeal ensures that breakfast will keep me full for hours and the vanilla protein powder I use adds extra flavor (and sweetness) as well.
Can you swap rolled oats for steel cut oats or quick oats?
My baked oatmeal turned out soggy. What happened?
This recipe is a bit soft, but shouldn’t be too soggy. If yours turns out super gooey or soggy, you either added too much milk, or you might need to cook it longer.
Is it okay to bake with protein powder?
Definitely! Adding protein powder to recipes is a great way to make certain ones more filling and add more protein to your diet. I bake with protein powder all the time and have so many protein recipes here on EBF.
More Protein-Packed Recipes
Be sure to check out all of my baked oatmeal recipes as well as all of the protein recipes here on EBF!
- old fashioned rolled oats
- vanilla protein powder I used Sun Warrior
- unsweetened almond milk or any dairy-free milk
- or any nut butter
- or flax eggs
- plus more for topping
- for drizzling on top
- Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, protein powder, almond milk, peanut butter, eggs, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and salt.
- Stir in blueberries and carefully pour oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with additional blueberries.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is set. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Portion and serve with a drizzle of nut butter.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Easy Basic Overnight Oats
Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, holistic nutritionist, health coach and personal trainer. Whether it’s for my meal plans, my favorite recipes or just because you want to feel good, I’m so happy you’re here.
More about Brittany
Birthday Cake Smoothie
Produce on Parade
Every night feels like your birthday with a cake-flavored smoothie that tastes almost as good as the real thing. Bonus: Thanks to the staying power that comes via a scoop of protein powder, you’ll avoid the sugar rush (and subsequent crash) after enjoying this healthy protein dessert.
Does baking destroy protein?
Exposing protein powder to high temperature does not destroy the protein in it.
The only thing that may happen to protein when heated is that it changes its structure. But this is nothing bad. The nutritional value of the protein powder remains intact and your body still absorbs all the protein in the food!
So nothing you should worry about. If the macros count of your recipe says 40 grams of protein before baking, your food will still contain 40 grams of protein after baking!
Running with Spoons
Nut butter is the secret to this vegan treat, but a chocolate drizzle is what makes you wonder how something that tastes so good can be so good for you. Try cashew, almond, or peanut butter — whichever you prefer — they will work just the same (and taste just as good!) in this healthy protein dessert.
Healthy Vegan Cookie Dough
The Glowing Fridge
You’ll never guess that one serving of this healthy cookie dough is packed with 11 grams of protein — and from chickpeas. This sweet treat tastes like the raw cookie dough your parents would never let you have — but now, you can grab a spoon and dive in to this healthy protein dessert!
📝 More protein baking tips
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🐄 By protein source
Whey concentrate is generally good for baking, depending on the rest of the ingredients in the recipe.
In cake or bread, whey typically needs other dry ingredients or carbs to offset its protein content (for example this protein cake and this protein bread).
Chocolate Protein Cake
In cookies and brownies, using nut butter can bring down the cake-like texture to something more dense, as in these protein brownies and chocolate chip protein cookies.
Whey concentrate is great for cheesecakes and puddings (like this chia pudding), as well.
A note about flours when baking with whey: Because whey adds protein to the recipe, it is usually best to use a gluten free flour like oat flour. Regular flour or whole wheat flour would make this bread recipe and this banana bread recipe very tough.
Healthy Banana Nut Bread
My go-to whey for baking is this vanilla whey protein. Even though it is a whey blend, I use it as I would a whey concentrate.
Whey protein isolate
Do you want to eat hockey pucks? Try baking with a clean whey isolate. No bueno.
I don’t recommend whey isolates for cakes, breads, or cookies. Unless you are using a small amount relative to your other ingredients, you’ll probably get something dry, rubbery, or hard. Go with whey concentrate or this whey blend for baking.
Whey isolate can be great for unbaked recipes like ice cream and puddings because some whey isolates blend nice and frothy. If your whey isolate makes a fluffy protein shake, it will be great for unbaked recipes, and probably ok for cheesecakes.
Protein Rice Pudding
Casein protein powder
Casein powder on its own (not in a whey/casein blend) is a good thickener for things like puddings and frostings. (I have a great recipe for protein peppermint patties using casein protein!) But I haven’t baked with straight casein because if I’m going the casein route in baking, I’d go with a whey/casein blend. I suppose casein would act like coconut flour in baking, and would suck the moisture out of your bake if not used in the right amount.
Whey/casein blends
The combo of whey and casein proteins is the closest you’ll find for a flour substitute. If you’re looking to add protein to a traditional baking recipe, I’d try replacing half the flour with a whey/casein blend, and experiment from there. These coffee cake muffins use a whey/casein blend, as do these sandwich cookies. But my favorite way to use a whey/casein blend in protein powder recipes is in no-bake recipes like these lemon poppy seed protein balls, and this chocolate protein frosting. Using just whey in these recipes would give wet results, but the whey/casein blend is just perfect.
Protein Coffee Cake with Crumble Topping
Pea protein
Pea protein powder (and pea blends) bake very fluffy when combined with egg whites. For example, see this simple protein pancake recipe and this delicious vanilla cupcake recipe. When combined with nut butters in cookies, they give a nice soft texture, as in this protein cookie recipe. Some pea proteins can taste bitter, but I find these pea blends to be great to work with.
Vanilla Protein Cupcakes
Almond and peanut proteins
Almond protein and powdered peanut butter also bake very fluffy when combined with egg whites, and are great in muffins. These would also be a good sub for rice or pea protein in cookies. I’m not sure it would have quite enough structure for a bread, as these proteins bake up quite soft.
Apple Peanut Protein Muffins
Rice protein
Usually made from brown rice, rice protein is the best way to get cookies that crumble and and melt in your mouth. (Whey will never do this.) One of my very first recipes, this one for peanut butter protein cookies, is a great way to bake with rice protein. Used in a cake, rice protein would need to be combined with another protein like whey, and many of my early recipes use this combo. A cake with all rice protein would be wet and dense. But for protein cookies, perfect!
Hemp protein powder
Hemp protein has a nutty flavor, and its texture would make it a good option for a rice protein sub in baking. I used hemp powder in this no-bake mint cookie recipe, and it is so so good! (I also happen to like chocolate hemp protein in a shake with frozen cherries. Such a good flavor combo!)
Hemp protein cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Cups
Peanut Butter and Fitness
These simple five-ingredient peanut butter cups pack almost 13 grams of melt-in-your-mouth protein. Go ahead, have two!
Grain-Free Protein Peanut Butter Cookies
Fit Foodie Find
At 8 grams of protein, these rich, gooey, peanut-buttery flavored cookies sound like a fairytale. But make a batch for yourself, take a bite of the high-protein dessert, and you’ll realize dreams really do come true.
No-Bake Triple Chocolate Protein Cookies
The Big Man’s World
These cookies are chocolaty enough to satisfy any chocoholic’s craving, while packing in tons of fiber and 11 grams of protein. The best part? There’s no baking required to bring this protein dessert to life.
Pumpkin Pie Protein Pudding
Desserts with Benefits
This pumpkin pie pudding is so good that you’ll be tempted to swap this high-protein dessert for a slice of the traditional pie. Plus, 11 grams of protein give you a reason to eat it whenever your sweet tooth comes calling.
Recipes with protein powder
I first started baking with protein powder when I was 17 years old.
Here are some of my favorite recipes with protein powder for you to try!
Protein Blueberry Vanilla Mug Cake
This protein blueberry mug cake has a vanilla dough and juicy blueberries. Vegan, gluten-free and so healthy, this blueberry cake in a mug comes together in just 3 minutes!
Mocha Protein Mug Cake
Some days we just need chocolate. Some days we just need coffee. And most days we just need both, that’s why this healthy mocha mug cake is the solution! This mocha mug cake is the quick-fix dessert you’ve always desired. It is healthy, high protein, gluten-free and vegan-friendly.
Protein Banana Crumble with Oats
This protein banana crumble with oats is a healthy way to use up your ripe bananas. Made from oatmeal, this banana crumble is vegan, nourishing and free from added sugars. The perfect healthy treat!
Protein Keto Chocolate Cake for One
This keto blueberry chocolate cake for one is low carb and high protein. With juicy blueberries, this fluffy protein keto cake is the ultimate healthy Dessert for Breakfast. So moist that you will never believe it’s oil free and gluten-free!
Easy Banana Protein Pancake
Have some ripe bananas? Then you should make these banana protein pancakes with oats. With just 4 simple ingredients, this is the easiest protein pancakes recipe ever!
Low Carb Coconut Flour Protein Pancakes
These are the ultimate low carb and high protein coconut flour pancakes. Gluten-free and oil-free, these coconut flour pancakes turn out fluffy every time. Make these easy protein pancakes for a healthy breakfast that keeps you full for hours!
Frozen Yogurt Bark
My Fussy Eater
Craving something crunchy? This yogurt bark will take care of that! And at seven grams of protein, it’s perfectly satiating. (
Clean Eating Protein Cheesecake
Low-fat cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and vanilla protein powder are the secret ingredients that fill this healthy protein dessert with 15 grams of creamy protein goodness per slice.
Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Fudge Brownies
Despite being free of gluten and dairy, somehow each bite of this healthy high-protein dessert is still moist and rich. (Could it be the avocado? Or the banana? Or maybe the coconut butter?) When you combine mint chocolate chip with fudge and call it a brownie, though, no other explanation is even necessary.
Maple Vanilla Protein Fudge
The Honour System
Yes, fudge can be healthy: This recipe blends good-for-you fat from coconut oil with 10 grams of protein to create a fudge you indulge in anytime. (
Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies
Amy’s Healthy Baking
Can anyone ever say no to a warm chocolate chip cookie? With 5 grams of protein added in via coconut flour, these are sure to be your new fave late-night snack.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Protein Pudding
This quick and easy chia protein pudding is a serious upgrade from the powdered stuff that comes in a box. This healthy protein dessert has the benefits of a superfood and 29 grams of the muscle-building macro on its side. Sounds like a clear winner! (P.S. Chia seeds are some of the healthiest seeds out there.)
Baked Blueberry Protein Donuts
Southern in Law
These gluten-free donuts are totally customizable. You can use coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey for a touch of sweetness, and swap blueberries for raspberries if you’re into a more tart protein dessert (or breakfast — do you!).
Low carb baking with protein powder
If there is one thing you should have learnt is that you can’t substitute all the flour for protein powder. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t put together a low carb dessert!
If you want to make a low carb protein recipe, replace carbohydrate-rich flours with almond flour, peanut flour or coconut flour. But be cautious with coconut flour. You always need to use it in combination with other flours (such as almond flour) because it absorbs plenty of liquid.
Four-Ingredient Flourless Protein Brownies
Not only are these brownies simple to make, but they are also Paleo- and vegan-friendly. And somehow this protein dessert recipe is perfectly moist without adding any butter at all — for real.
🌟 The best protein powder for baking – Quick answer
If you want to purchase one protein powder to start using protein in desserts and baked goods, I’d say the best option is this vanilla whey by ON. It’s my go-to vanilla whey protein powder. I used it to make these chocolate chip protein cookies, this creamy protein cheesecake, and these sweet potato protein cupcakes, to name a few. It is a blend of whey isolate, whey concentrate, and hydrolyzed whey.
Great choice for baking with protein powder
But please only use it in recipes that call for whey protein. If you use whey in a protein baking recipe that calls for a whey/casein blend or plant protein, the final product will likely be horrible. Using a different type of protein powder than what is called for in a recipe may work for no-bake recipes, but in baked recipes it generally doesn’t work unless the protein content in the recipe is very small.
If you’d like to have a wider variety of recipes to bake, I highly suggest you read further for the pros and cons of the different protein powders in baking.
🍰 By recipe type
For protein cakes (include protein mug cake recipes), whey, whey/casein blends, and pea protein (and pea blends) would be great options. But again, I suggest you find a recipe that calls for the type of protein powder you want to use, and don’t sub the different protein powders for each other.
If you’re looking for any sort of crispness, crunch, or crumble in your protein cookie, use a vegan protein powder like rice, hemp, or pea protein. If you want chewy protein cookies or cake-like cookies, go with whey.
Protein cheesecakes
Whey concentrates (or this whey blend) are the best here. Plant-base protein powders would leave a grainy, undesirable mouthfeel.
Meyer Lemon Cheesecake with Honey Hemp Crust
Protein breads
If you can include carbs in your protein bread also, use whey (as in this bread recipe) for a better taste. If you want a low carb bread, try this basic protein bread with pea protein. I don’t have a bread recipe with a whey/casein blend, but based on my Easter bread recipe, I think it would work well.
I like using plant-based protein powder for muffins, like with these chocolate chip muffins and these apple peanut muffins.
Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins
Protein bars and balls
I have found whey/casein blends to be the easiest for protein bars and protein balls. Using whey powder alone gives a wet, sticky bar, and trying to dry that up with coconut flour doesn’t taste very good. Using plant-based protein powder can work here (as in these chocolate coconut protein balls) but they tend to be softer and more delicate than with a whey/casein blend.
Whey isolates are great here, as they tend to fluff up nicely (better than whey concentrates). Frozen bananas + whey isolate + milk of choice makes a great protein ice cream!
Note: Whey isolates that don’t fluff as a shake (like Isopure) are not recommended in protein ice cream.
Protein frosting
Whey/casein blends or casein would make a frosting you could pipe. Whey isolate or whey concentrate would make a thinner frosting or icing.
Healthy Chocolate Frosting
Similar to what I suggest for breads, if you can add carbs, go for whey protein like I did with these pumpkin protein pancakes. If you want a low carb pancake, go with pea protein blends like in this protein pancake recipe.
Fluffy Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes
Can you bake with protein powder?
Baking with protein powder is definitely possible and is easier than you think. You will love to hear that you can swap out part of the flour with protein powder and put together a delicious yet healthier and macro-friendly dessert.
But before you head straight to the kitchen and start baking, there are a couple of “dos and don’ts“ you should get familiar with. Make sure you read through this guide on how to bake with protein powder and you will never get a dry, tasteless cake anymore!
Frozen Greek Yogurt
Healthy Recipes Blog
You never need to leave the house to satisfy your need for froyo again once you have this healthy protein dessert in your arsenal. This DIY frozen Greek yogurt is an icy treat that offers 10 grams of protein.
Chewy Cinnamon Roll Protein Granola Bars
With Salt and Wit
This gooey cinnamon roll slash granola bar mash-up packs 11 grams of protein and even more decadent bakery-like flavor. So much better than store-bought!
Healthier baking with protein powder
Replacing part of the flour with protein powder is an excellent way to make a healthier dessert. From increasing and repairing muscle mass to appetite control, research shows that eating more protein has plenty of health benefits.
Baking with protein powder instead of flour makes it possible for you to enjoy sweets without compromising your diet. You can put together a protein mug cake, protein cookies or protein pancakes that have both great taste and macros! And this will make it easier for you to satisfy your cravings while still sticking to your diet.
It’s like the best of both worlds: you get to eat your favorite treats and you reach your goals at the same time!
Different types of protein powder
Protein powders are not all the same.
There are different types of protein powders out there, and each one has different compositions. As a result, they behave differently when baking.
Here is an overview of the most common types of protein powder.
- Whey protein powder
- Casein protein powder
- Vegan protein powder
Baking with whey protein powder
Whey protein is probably the most known protein powder in the market. And for a good reason!
Whey is a very high-quality protein powder which contains all nine essential amino acids (especially leucine) for the functioning of the organism. On the top of that, whey protein has also one of the highest biological values. This makes this product the perfect food to consume after a strenuous workout.
Depending on the protein content and level of filtration, there are different types of whey: whey protein, whey concentrate, whey isolate and whey hydrolysate.
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 1/4 of the flour with whey protein otherwise it will make the baked goods dry and rubbery.
Another thing to keep in mind: whey protein powder dissolves very easily when combined with wet ingredients. For this reason, when it comes to replacing flour with whey the substitution ratio is not 1:1. You will need either more flour or less milk to get a good dough.
Whey protein powder is great for baking bars, brownies, cookies, pancakes or energy balls. It is not the best option for baking fluffy desserts, instead. For fluffy cakes and pastries, casein protein powder comes into play.
Baking with casein protein powder
As for whey, casein protein powder is also a byproduct of milk. Its protein content averages 80% and comes with all essential amino acids. In terms of properties, the main difference between casein and whey is that casein exhibits slower absorption rates.
When it comes to baking with protein powder instead of flour, casein is one of the best options. Differently from whey, when combined with other ingredients casein makes a creamy mixture and does not dry out when heated. This makes casein the perfect protein powder for baking any kind of dessert.
You may also find casein/whey protein mixes. Similar to casein, these multicomponent protein powders are also great for baking almost anything.
Baking with vegan protein powder
From soy isolate to pea protein, vegan protein powders come in different forms. Each type of vegan protein powder has different nutritional properties and amino acid profiles.
When it comes to baking with protein powder instead of flour, plant based products show similar characteristics. They are very absorbent because of the high fiber content, which means that you will need less flour or more milk to get a good dough. Moreover, vegan protein powders are well known for their intense earthy taste.
Therefore, there are two things to keep in mind for baking:
- You will need to adjust the dough or batter with more milk, or reduce the amount of protein or flour.
- If you are using unflavored protein powder, you will need some more sweetener to cover the plant taste.
Here are the guidelines on how to bake with protein powder.
Don’t skip the flour!
- Although you can replace part of the flour with protein powder, you should never replace more than 1/3 of the flour with protein powder. Ideally, you should be aiming to replace just 1/4 of the flour with protein. Anything above will get you a dry texture.
- For a healthier dessert, opt for wholegrain and unrefined flours – such as oat flour, spelt flour or Teff flour.
Add some moisture!
- To prevent the baked goods from drying out, you should always add some moisture to your recipes. As a rule of thumb, you need around 1/4 to 1/2 cup of wet ingredients for 1 cup of dry ingredients.
- The best ingredients here are mashed banana, applesauce, pumpkin purée, mashed potato or Greek yogurt.
Adjust with milk!
- As we have seen before, different types of protein powder have different compositions. Therefore, your recipe may require more or less milk to get to get fixed.
- Whey protein mixes well and dissolves easily – you may need less milk.
- Vegan protein powders are very absorbent – you may need more milk.
Add some healthy fats!
- Fats make baked goods fluffier and much softer because they prevent the flour from absorbing too much water. This holds true especially for baking with protein powder, which tends to dry when heated.
- For a healthier recipe, make sure to use healthy unsaturated fats. Great picks are peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or avocado oil.
Don’t over-bake!
- Baking with protein powder instead of flour requires lower temperatures or shorter baking time. When exposed to high temperatures, protein powder – especially whey – gets dry and rubbery.
- Side note for baking with whey protein – cakes and baked goods with whey protein get brown quite easily. Overcome this by decreasing the baking time and temperature.
Adjust the sweetness!
- Most protein powders are already flavored and sweetened. For this reason, your recipe may need less sweetener. Taste and adjust according to your preferences.
- For most recipes, stick to simple protein powder flavors – such as vanilla, chocolate or peanut. More elaborate options may spoil the taste of your baked goods.
- Bonus tip – for healthier recipes, use protein powders that do not contain any added sugar.
Cranberry Almond Protein Bars
Gimme Some Oven
These are just sweet enough to be your late-night sugar fix, but the healthy fats and seven grams of nutty protein make the bars a good snack any time. (