When it comes to eating healthy, donuts aren’t typically part of the plan. Well, I’m here to tell you that certain versions can be! If you want a sweet treat to enjoy while staying on track and squeezing your protein in for the day, you’ve come to the right place!
Over my years of working out, I’ve seen the positives a high protein diet can have for athletic performance, muscle gain and weight loss. For those of you in a bulk period of looking to gain weight and/or muscle, protein helps your body push through intense workouts. During weight loss, protein allows you to feel fuller longer, ultimately eating less calories overall. This is because the body takes longer to break down and digest protein, compared to fats and carbs. The moral of the story – protein is necessary for achieving whatever your fitness goals are.
Unless you are planning your meals accordingly, hitting your protein goal can be tough. It’s recommended that the average person eats about 50-60 grams of protein each day. If you are physically active, you should consume 0.7–1.0 grams per pound of lean body mass. I aim for 125g of protein per day, at least.
When creating these healthy donuts, I knew I wanted to include protein powder, plain Greek yogurt, and the variety of options for making the recipe your own by adding different mix in’s or toppings. Queue sweetened coconut flakes, sprinkles and chocolate chips!
This recipe is so easy to make and only includes a few kitchen items and ingredients. The hardest part is making sure you have a donut pan on hand. I recommend using a silicone pan like these so they don’t get stuck in a metal pan. When I made these, I popped the made healthy donuts out easily.
Things to note while you make the recipe:
- The donut mix consistency should resemble other baked goods – breads, muffins, etc.
- When making the glaze, continuously stir the mix and be careful not to use too much almond milk. Otherwise, you may have to start over and make a new batch of glaze.
Ingredients & Alternatives
Kodiak Cake Power Cake Mix: Using the Kodiak Cake mix adds extra protein, but you can swap for any type of flour!
Non-dairy milk: I prefer unsweetened but you can use sweetened nut milk or normal milk. Whatever you have on hand.
Plain greek yogurt: If you only have vanilla yogurt you can use it, but plain greek usually works best
Vanilla extract: Just for a little extra flavor.
Chocolate protein powder: You can use any kind you want, just know the texture of the donuts may change depending on how well your protein powder bakes. I like using Ideal Lean or Quest best. If you want to use a different flavor, feel free but the healthy donuts will take on that flavor, so keep that in mind.
Baking powder: The standard stuff you have in your cabinet.
Egg whites: Using egg whites will make this higher in protein, but you can swap for an egg if that’s all you have at home or if that’s what you prefer. If you are vegan, you can use a flax egg. I’ve made this recipe with all three and they were successful.
Stevia: This is optional but will add extra sweetness to it. You can swap for any type of dry sweetener you have — cane sugar, coconut sugar, etc.
How to make healthy donuts
Making these healthy donuts could not be easier. There’s only a few steps standing between you and deliciousness!
First thing’s first — preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven heats up, grab a large bowl and mix together donut ingredients — Kodiak Cake mix or flour, milk, plain greek yogurt, water, vanilla, 2 scoops protein powder, baking powder, egg whites and sweetener. Mix until well combined with no clumps.
Take our your donut pan and evenly distribute the batter into all of the donut rings. Place in the oven for 15 minutes or until fully baked. Then you can pop the healthy donuts out of the pan and place them on a cooling rack or plate to cool for 10-15 minutes.
In a separate bowl, combine one scoop of protein powder and enough almond milk to create a glaze consistency. This may not be the full 2 tbsp’s or it may be more depending on the protein powder you use. Add slowly!
Dunk donuts face down into glaze to coat, then sprinkle on toppings and set aside for glaze to set. You can store in the fridge for up to a week or freeze for a few months. If freezing, take out and thaw in the fridge overnight before you want to eat them. Enjoy!
High Protein Baked Healthy Donut Recipe
Equipment
- Donut pan
Ingredients
Donut Dough
- 2 cups Kodiak Cake Power Cake Mix (or flour of your choice) 212g
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk 120 ml, I prefer unsweetened almond milk but any milk will work
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt 125g
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 scoops chocolate protein powder You can do a different flavor but that will be the taste the donuts take
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup egg whites 60g or 1 egg
- 1 tbsp stevia optional
Glaze
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 2 tbsp non-dairy almond milk
- Shredded coconut, sprinkles or mini chocolate chips for toppings Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix together donut ingredients (Kodiak Cake mix or flour, milk, plain greek yogurt, water, vanilla, 2 scoops protein powder, baking powder, egg whites and sweetener.
- Evenly distribute batter into donut pan.
- Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
- Pop donuts out of pans and place them on a cooling rack or plate to cool for 10-15 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, combine one scoop protein powder and enough almond milk to create a glaze consistency. This may not be the full 2 tbsp's or it may be more depending on the protein powder you use. Add slowly!
- Dunk donuts face down into glaze to coat. Sprinkle on toppings and set aside for glaze to set.