Protein Donuts

These protein donuts are soft, fluffy, and packed with over 15 grams of protein each!

The best protein donuts

For those of us who love donuts but want to be healthy, this is the perfect recipe.

Imagine an entire batch of sweet, bakery style pastries hot from the oven.

And they are full of protein at the same time!

Plus, unlike many similar recipes, this one bakes up in under 10 minutes and requires no cake or pancake mix.

This truly is the best protein donut recipe you will ever try.

Also try this popular Protein Cheesecake

Why you’ll love this recipe

Baked instead of fried. In fact, there’s no oil required at all.

Packed with nutrition. Along with their high protein content, the healthy donuts can also be low calorie, low fat, cholesterol free, and refined sugar free.

Delicious chocolate flavor. If you want the taste of a Dunkin Donuts glazed chocolate donut in a protein filled breakfast or post workout snack, this recipe grants your wish!

High protein donuts recipe video

Protein donut flavors

Peanut Butter Cup: Follow the recipe below, and dip each baked donut in melted chocolate. Drizzle with peanut butter.

Cookies and Cream: Stir a handful of crushed OREO cookies in with the dry ingredients. Or add them as a garnish after icing with cream cheese frosting.

Chocolate Hazelnut: Instead of nut butter, use store bought or Homemade Nutella, and finish with chopped roasted hazelnuts.

Berry: Use blueberry or strawberry yogurt in the batter. Decorate with strawberry frosting or fruit jam and fresh berries.

Vanilla Protein Donuts: Increase the flour to one cup, and omit the cocoa powder. Choose a non chocolate protein powder, such as vanilla, chai, coffee, or birthday cake batter. Top with sprinkles or a basic powdered sugar glaze.

Apple Cider: Follow the vanilla variation above, substituting apple juice or cider for the water. Add a fourth teaspoon of ground cinnamon with the dry ingredients.

Key ingredients

Chocolate protein powder – Use a protein powder you already know that you like. This can be whey, casein, or soy or pea protein for vegan donuts.

Cocoa powder – Look for high quality unsweetened cocoa powder. As a fun alternative, you can swap an equal amount of hot cocoa mix.

Flour – I like whole grain spelt flour, because it is lighter than whole wheat flour, with a similar amount of fiber and slightly more protein. White all purpose flour, oat flour, and Bob’s Red Mill gluten free all purpose flour work as well.

For best results, stay away from almond flour or coconut flour. I include a low carb keto donut option in the recipe box below.

Nut butter – Try almond butter or cashew butter for a neutral flavor or peanut butter if you’re a chocolate peanut butter fan. Sunflower butter, tahini, and softened coconut oil are great nut free options.

Yogurt – I use dairy free Greek yogurt here for even more protein. Mashed banana or pumpkin puree also work.

Sweetener – The donuts are naturally sweetened with either pure maple syrup or honey. If you’d like to substitute sugar, add water as needed to form a dough.

How to make chocolate protein donuts

Step One: Start by greasing a donut pan, or a mini muffin pan for donut holes. Set this pan aside, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step Two: Whisk the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then stir in wet ingredients until just evenly mixed.

Step Three: Smooth the batter into the prepared pan. It should yield six traditional size donuts. Bake on the center rack of the oven for eight minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out mostly clean.

Step Four: Let the donuts cool fully before carefully going around the sides of each with a knife and popping out of the pan. The cooling step is very important, because it keeps the pastries from breaking apart.

Step Five: Add frosting, glaze, or toppings of choice, and enjoy. For optimal freshness, store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. Or freeze in an airtight container for up to three months.

For chocolate covered protein donuts, melt 2 oz chocolate chips in a bowl. Dip each donut in the chocolate sauce.

10 High Protein Breakfast Options

Protein Waffles

Cake Batter Protein Shake

Protein Bars

Blueberry Protein Muffins

Vegan Protein Pancakes

Chocolate Overnight Oats

Protein Hot Chocolate

Protein Fluff

Tofu Scramble

2 Ingredient Bagels