Healthy Chocolate Protein Donuts Recipe
These Healthy Chocolate Protein Donuts are a delicious and nutritious take on a classic treat, combining chocolate protein powder, cocoa, and a choice of wholesome sweeteners to create a moist, fluffy, and chocolatey baked donut. Perfect for a post-workout snack or a guilt-free indulgence, these donuts balance rich flavor with healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt and almond milk, suitable for both omnivores and vegans with simple substitutions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 donuts 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup flour (whole wheat or gluten-free blend)
- ½ cup chocolate protein powder (whey isolate or vegan blend)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)
- ¼ cup coconut sugar (or alternative sweetener like maple syrup or stevia)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 eggs or 2 flax eggs (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or applesauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup or sweetener of choice
- ½ cup almond milk or oat milk (unsweetened)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven and gather all your equipment, including a non-stick metal or silicone donut pan placed on a baking sheet for stability.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until uniformly mixed with no lumps.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk eggs (or flax eggs), Greek yogurt (or applesauce), maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and well incorporated.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently fold using a spatula just until combined without overmixing to avoid tough donuts.
- Fill the Donut Pan: Spoon or pipe the batter into donut cavities, filling each about ¾ full to allow room for rising without overflow.
- Bake: Bake the donuts in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean; typically around 12-15 minutes depending on oven specifics.
- Cool: Remove the donuts from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely and prevent sogginess before serving.
Notes
- Use chocolate protein powder for a richer flavor, or unflavored for flexibility to add extra cocoa.
- Whole wheat flour adds fiber and a denser crumb, while gluten-free blends accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Flax eggs are a great vegan substitute but may produce a nuttier flavor and a slightly different texture.
- Using Greek yogurt increases protein content and provides a moist texture; applesauce is a good alternative for natural sweetness and moisture.
- Don’t skip the baking powder and baking soda to ensure light, risen donuts.
- Filling the donut cavities about ¾ full prevents overflow and maintains the donut shape.
- Let the donuts cool on a rack to avoid sogginess from steam.
Keywords: healthy chocolate donuts, protein donuts, baked donuts, chocolate protein powder recipe, gluten-free donuts, vegan donuts
