A delicious recipe for vanilla protein donuts made with a blend of oats and flour, whey protein, eggs, cottage cheese, and maple syrup. When that donut craving strikes, these healthier donuts are the perfect solution!
Yes, you read that correctly. These protein-packed donuts actually come out moist and delicious! They were teenager approved and let me tell you, that's a big thumbs up! My daughter and her friend, Mia, scarfed them down after school and said that they were really good...Fruity cereal bits on top definitely didn't hurt. The hubs loved them, too. I'm a big fan of the crunch of the cereal with the soft texture of the donut and "frosting" on top. The macros on these moist protein donuts are great! I even helped myself to a second. 😉
Vanilla protein donuts are delicious pre or post-workout fuel!
These donuts are delicious and we love them, but they are different than a regular fried donut. These are a more cake-like texture and not as sickening sweet. I don't feel well when I eat one of those original sugar bombs, but I feel amazing after eating these. I'm all about tasty and nutritious substitutes for decadent treats. One of these donuts is only 144 calories, 13 grams of protein, 10 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of fat! How about them macros?!!
If you like your donuts plain with some peanut butter or homemade jam spread on top, you definitely need to check out my favorite recipe for Homemade Strawberry Jam (no refined sugar), plain-they are only 112 calories, 4 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbs and 9 grams of protein unfrosted. I love cutting them in half, spreading peanut butter on one side and jam on the other, and making my own epic version of a PB&J.
Protein Donut Tips
I used Quest's Vanilla milkshake whey protein powder in my donut and frosting recipe. You can use your favorite vanilla protein powder, but I can't guarantee the same results. Quest protein powders work well in baked goods because they are made with a casein and isolate blend. Protein powders differ in baked goods. Whey isolate will dry out a recipe, so go for a casein/isolate blend or a whey protein concentrate for the best results. Just remember, if you switch up the ingredients it will change the nutrient profile. A tablespoon of the Fruity Pebbles cereal adds 8 calories and 2 carbs to each donut. Feel free to sub the mini chocolate chips (my favorite topper), peanut butter chips, crumbled mini heath bars, coconut, sprinkles, or any other epic dessert topping. Make your own tasty version. They are delicious without any topping at all!
I did a LOT of recipe testing to come up with this version, experimenting with quite a few different protein powder brands and types and different ingredients. You get to enjoy the benefits of all that trial and error, without all the work. I hope that you love them as much as we do!
Lean muscle fuel never tasted so good!
More Protein-Packed Recipes
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Vanilla Protein Donuts with Fruity Pebble Topping
Ingredients
- For the donuts:
- ¼ cup unbleached all-purpose flour I love King Arthur brand
- ½ cup whole oats ground
- 1 large whole egg
- ⅓ cup egg whites
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon real maple syrup
- 28 g vanilla whey protein powder I used Quest Vanilla Milkshake flavor. A whey concentrate is also recommended.
- ½ cup 2% milk
- ¼ cup 2% cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- dash salt
- For the frosting:
- 28 g vanilla whey protein powder Quest Vanilla Milkshake flavor
- 3 tablespoon 2% Fairlife milk
- 2 teaspoon melted Earth balance butter original or regular butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grind the oats in a food processor until it reaches the consistency of flour
- Add all donut ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer and blend until well mixed, scraping down sides a few times while mixing (batter will look fairly thin)
- Grease a 6 hole donut pan with a baking spray with flour
- Pour batter evenly into the six molds of the donut pan
- Bake 14 minutes until cooked through (do not overbake)
- Whisk the frosting ingredients together, stirring the milk and protein powder together first until smooth, then stirring in the cooled melted butter until a frosting consistency is achieved.
- Drizzle over donuts after they have cooled a bit.
- Top with 1 tablespoon of your favorite cereal, mini chocolate chips or other tasty topping
- Enjoy immediately
Nutrition
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taylor vennya
I think I'll try to make it, the sprinkling makes the donut look more delicious
Amee Livingston
I hope that you enjoy it Taylor!
Mars
Just made these, but used chocolate protein, vanilla protein milk, sugar free syrup, and cinnamon toast crunch instead. Definitely a huge hit here at my house. Sooooo good!
Kelsey
These look delish! Think i am going to make these today, but do you happen to know the macros for these?
Amee Livingston
Hi Kelsey! I don't have the nutritional stats for these, but you can input the recipe in My Fitness Pal and get all the details. 🙂 I hope you enjoy them!
Joana
I used this recipe but used strawberry flavored protein powder I had on hand. They were so good, moist just like it said.
Thank you!!! Can’t wait to try with other protein powder flavors.
Amee Livingston
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed them Joana!! 🙂
Jazmin
Question, I tried making these and they came out REALLY delicious. However, when I took them out of the oven they deflated and wrinkled on the top. I don’t know what I did wrong. ‘
I did use Greek yogurt instead of cottage cheese could that have caused it to come out this way?
Amee Livingston
Hi Jazmin! Expired leavening ingredients can cause this problem (baking powder and baking soda) or opening the oven door while they are baking can cause baked goods to deflate, as well. Otherwise, I'm honestly not sure. I don't think the yogurt sub would have caused it. Did you use the protein powder that was called for in the recipe? Sometimes using other whey proteins can affect the texture and taste.