This thick and creamy cake batter protein shake recipe is perfect for a healthy breakfast or a high protein snack!
Birthday cake batter protein shake
Forget chocolate and vanilla protein shakes.
One taste of this homemade cake batter protein shake and you will fall completely in love with the sweet birthday cake flavor and thick, creamy texture.
It tastes like a cake batter milkshake, with over forty five grams of protein packed into just one serving!
Whip one up in minutes for breakfast, snack, dessert, or any time you are craving vanilla cake batter in the form of a delicious protein shake.
Craving cake? Try this Chocolate Mug Cake
Health benefits and nutrition facts
This cake batter protein shake has more than forty five grams of protein if you include the scoop of protein or close to twenty grams even with no protein powder added.
The healthy snack or breakfast recipe can also be low calorie, low fat, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, nut free, and added sugar free.
It contains even more protein than the popular Premier Protein cake batter delight shake, without all of the oil, artificial flavors, gums, carrageenan, and sucralose.
The banana version offers potassium and fiber, while the yogurt version can give you calcium and probiotics.
Full nutrition facts for the shake are included in the recipe box below.
Cake batter protein shake recipe video
Above – watch the step by step recipe video
Vanilla cake batter protein shake ingredients
To make the birthday cake protein smoothie, you will need milk of choice, protein powder, pure vanilla extract, yogurt or banana, optional coconut butter or cashew butter, sweetener of choice, and rainbow sprinkles or your favorite toppings.
For a dairy free and vegan cake batter shake, choose a plant based milk. Options that work well include almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk. Or go with canned coconut milk for a rich vanilla milkshake texture.
Look for pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavoring, which has an artificial aftertaste. As a fun flavor variation, you may also add a few drops of almond extract, maple extract, or butter extract (many brands are surprisingly vegan).
If using unsweetened yogurt and unsweetened milk, or if you prefer more sweetness than just the banana provides, add a tablespoon of pure maple syrup, honey, unrefined sugar, or a no sugar sweetener.
What type of protein powder?
Feel free to use your favorite protein flavor, if you have one.
Options that work well in a cake batter shake include salted caramel, vanilla, cookies and cream, chocolate, espresso, unflavored or unsweetened, or of course birthday cake batter protein powder.
You can find protein powder at regular grocery stores, health food stores, and online retailers. Common varieties of protein include brown rice, casein, pumpkin seed, egg white, and whey protein. My personal preference is for pea protein powder.
If you prefer to make a protein shake without protein powder, it is fine to omit the ingredient altogether. You can still get protein from the yogurt and nut butter.
Protein shake without banana
Bananas are commonly used in smoothies because they add thickness and creaminess, as well as natural sweetness.
However, the fruit will also impart banana flavor to the finished smoothie.
If you do not like banana, have allergies, need a low carb alternative, or simply do not want your smoothie to taste like banana, go with one of the following options instead.
Six ounces of plain or Greek yogurt, Homemade Frozen Yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or Coconut Ice Cream can be substituted for the banana.
You can also use six ounces of frozen mango or roasted sweet potato puree.
How to make a healthy cake batter milkshake
For an instant cake batter shake, start with chilled milk and yogurt or a frozen banana. Simply blend all ingredients until completely smooth.
If time permits and you want a super thick milkshake texture, stir all ingredients together and pour the mixture into an ice cube tray or shallow container.
(This step can be done days or even weeks in advance.)
Freeze until solid. Then pop the frozen ice cubes into a high speed blender, allowing the cubes to thaw just enough that your blender can easily crush them.
Blend until smooth, thick, and frosty like a classic diner style milkshake.
Pour the birthday cake shake into a tall glass, mason jar, or smoothie bowl.
Garnish with rainbow sprinkles and Coconut Whipped Cream.
Cake Batter Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 1 scoop protein powder (30g)
- 6 oz yogurt or one banana
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp coconut butter or cashew butter (optional)
- sprinkles as desired
- 1 tbsp sweetener of choice, or to taste
Instructions
- For the best texture, start with cold milk and yogurt or a frozen banana. To make the cake batter protein shake recipe, simply blend all ingredients together until smooth. Sweetener amount will depend on the specific ingredients you use as well as your own personal tastes. Feel free to add sprinkles before or after blending.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
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More Healthy Shake Recipes
Julie says
What protein powder has 30 grams of protein per scoop. All I can find is 30 grams per 2 scoops??
CCK Media Team says
Hi, we are going by the gram measurements listed in the recipe box (30g), not using the scoop that some brands put in their containers. Hope that helps!
Angie says
The recipe calls for plain yogurt so if I use vanilla yogurt, would I omit the vanilla extract?
CCK Media Team says
Yes 🙂
Sam says
This shake was delicious! I used cinnamon plant based protein powder.