Healthy Protein Donuts
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These healthy donuts are a tasty high protein treat, and they’re so easy to make! They’re gluten and dairy free and can be made with vegan or whey protein. Better than any premade protein donut from Shark Tank or online!
This post was originally shared in 2015 but has since been updated.
If you have a serious sweet tooth but want to eat well, this protein donut recipe is perfect for you. With just a few gluten-free ingredients, you can make a batch of 12 healthy donuts. They are topped with a delicious nut butter ‘frosting’ and even some sprinkles for good measure!
Aside from how deliciously soft and tender they are, each donut has 7 grams of protein and just 126 calories.
This is one of our favorite sweet treats, alongside our Protein Cookies, Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars, and Healthy Banana Protein Muffins.
Liz’s Tips for Healthy Donuts
- We don’t recommend substituting ingredients in this recipe beyond what we have listed in the substitutions section. Making donuts with protein powder can be challenging because it requires the perfect combination of liquid and fat in order for them to turn out moist.
- The batter should be somewhat thick, but if it is clumpy or difficult to stir, add a little more milk or water.
- To quickly fill the wells of the donut pan, spoon the batter into a Ziploc bag, cut the corner off, and ‘pipe’ the batter in.
- Leave some room for the donuts to rise. Only fill each well of the pan 3/4 full with batter.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
You’ll also need a donut pan. Here’s a link to the donut pan we use.
Substitutions
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can get creative with it. You can use whatever protein powder flavor you’d like, and throw in your favorite add ins .
Milk – Any milk can be used in these donuts – regular dairy or non dairy (almond, soy, coconut, cashew, etc)
Honey – You can substitute honey with maple syrup
Nut Butter– We’ve tested this recipe with peanut butter and almond butter. Both are delicious. We haven’t tested sunflower seed butter but I’m sure it would work for a nut free replacement
Oil – Coconut oil, olive oil, vegetable oil or avocado oil will all work in this recipe
Oat flour: We don’t recommend using a substitute for the oat flour. If you don’t have oat flour, make our Homemade Oat Flour Recipe.
Which Protein Powder to Use
- These donuts come out the best when you use whey protein powder. I use a Vanilla Whey Protein Powder, they are perfectly moist, and I don’t think they have that protein-y taste.
- To make vegan: I used a plant based protein powder. This NOW Foods Vanilla Plant Protein worked great, but the donuts came out a little bumpy on top, rather than being smooth. I think these also taste great, but they do have a little bit of a gritty texture. Sub 1 egg for a flax egg and swap honey with maple syrup. These donuts will come out more bumpy on top while ones with whey protein will come out smooth on top.
- I also tested this recipe with an Egg White Protein Powder and do not recommend it. They came out very dry and shiny, with an eggy taste.
How to make the Healthy Donuts
This is just a summary of the steps involved in making the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full instructions, or click on the Jump to Recipe button, below.
- In a bowl, whisk together nut butter, eggs, honey, coconut oil, and almond milk. Stir in remaining ingredients. The batter will be thick, and that’s fine!
- Spray your donut pan with coconut oil or cooking spray. Fill each well 3/4 full with batter.
- Bake at 325°F. for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown on top. Allow donuts to cool completely before decorating them.
- Decorate with glaze and sprinkles if you want to.
Donut Recipe Variations
We’ve made this recipe with different flavor combos, and all of them are DELISH! You can use the recipe as a base and sub ingredients to make whatever flavor you like!
Here are are the different donut flavors that we’ve made:
- Blueberry Pie: Vanilla Whey Protein, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 cup blueberries (add at the end and just push into the tops of the donuts)
- Apple Spice: Vanilla Whey Protein, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, pinch of cloves, 1/2 cup finely chopped apples (add apples at the end and just press into the tops of the donuts
- Mocha: Vanilla Whey Protein, 1/2 tablespoon finely ground espresso, 1/4 cup finely chopped dark chocolate
- Chocolate Peanut Butter: Chocolate Peanut Butter Whey Protein, 1/3 cup finely chopped dark chocolate
- Healthy Chocolate Donuts
Now.. who’s ready to make some donuts??
Trying to eat more protein?
If you’re trying to eat more protein, check out our High Protein Dinners Ebook! It has 24 easy recipes you can make in under an hour with 25g+ protein per serving!
storage
Refrigerator: We recommend storing them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Be sure to keep them in an airtight container.
Freezing: You can freeze the donuts for up to 3 months.
Protein-Packed Healthy Donuts
Ingredients
- ¼ cup nut butter peanut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed
- 2 eggs
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 cup oat flour
- ½ cup protein powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325℉
- Grease your donut pan with coconut oil or cooking spray.
- In a bowl, whisk together nut butter, eggs, honey, coconut oil, and almond milk. Stir in remaining ingredients
- The batter should be somewhat thick, but if it is clumpy or difficult to stir, add a little more milk or water.
- Fill your greased donut pan 3/4 the way full. Tip: You can spoon batter into a ziploc bag, cut the corner off, and 'pipe' donuts into your pan.
- Bake at 325 for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown on top.
- Allow donuts to cool + enjoy. You can 'frost' with nut butter or greek yogurt/honey mixture if you'd like (1/2 cup greek yogurt + 1 teaspoon honey)
Video
Notes
Nutrition Facts
This recipe originally had almond meal in it but was updated to have fewer ingredients and better macros. The original recipe ingredients are shown in the image below.
Other high protein Snacks and Desserts
Here are just a few of our favorite high protein snack recipes:
Very good. Will be making them again!
Just made these and glazed with some chocolate. Really curved the donut cravings and they have protein so win,win.
Amazing recipe. Never baked with protein powder and didn’t find it dry until now. Definitely will be making these again. Followed recipe to the t and topped with almond butter and honey. Thank you for great recipe!!!
Can I substitute honey with sugar free maple syrup?
Please read the substitutions section. You can substitute honey with maple syrup. I have not tried sugar free maple syrup so I dont know how that would work.
Easy, delicious, and kid approved! I love how versatile the ingredients can be. I should have doubled the recipe because these will be gone today!
Thank you so much!
I know you probably don’t appreciate cursing on your site but DAMN these were good! 😉 As a former sugar addict turned Health Coach I appreciate that I don’t have to give up the sweet pleasures of life and these donuts are a testament to that! I had my daughter make them and she actually loved them too and she is a sugar addict to all of the wrong kinds of foods. Loved this “cheat” recipe and I loved how you made it clean and delicious….I will be sharing this one! 🙂
So happy you liked them!
These donuts are delicious and easy to make! I love that the recipe uses simple ingredients. The macros are great and the toppings are limitless!
So glad you like them, Nicole!! Thank you so much!
These donuts are incredibly fluffy and SO delicious! It’s hard to believe how healthy they are! Thanks so much for the amazing recipe!
Thank you so much!!
Thank you for sharing! My son is deathly allergic to almonds:/ what substitute can I use for almond flour?
Hi Momo – I’m sorry but I’m not sure what you can substitue here. I haven’t tested the recipe in any other way and healthier baking is so finicky. Sorry I can’t be more help!
I know this recipe has been out here a while, but I didn’t see this asked in the comments. Is there a reason for the Oat flour? Can I sub it for coconut flour (not measure for measure as coconut flour does tend to soak up moisture) or use all almond flour … or remove it by using more protein powder? I am trying to keep my net carb intake low and out flour is not very fibrous.
Thank you for any assistance!
Hi Angela-I have only tested this recipe as is. Coconut Flour is very difficult to work with, and I don’t think you can substitute it for oat flour. You might be better off looking for a keto donut recipe if you’re looking for low carb! Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
Can cashew milk be used or would that not work??
Yes! That will work fine. Any milk will work!
Tried them! Used almond flour instead and it was SOOOOO GOOOOOOD the nut butter/frosting really makes a difference
So glad you liked them!
These were so quick and easy to make! & They turned out moist and delicious!
So glad you liked them Jamie!
I did the apple pie version and they were really tasty. I used unflavored, unsweetened rice protein powder (about 50g), added 1 tsp vanilla, 3 tbsp Swerve (needed a little more I think), 1/4 c chopped walnuts, applesauce instead of oil, and used 2 flax “eggs.” I cooked them for 23 minutes, but they were still wet in the middle, maybe because of the apple or because my oven isn’t cooking at the correct temperature. I will either increase bake time or increase oven temperature next time. I tossed them in a brown sugar/cinnamon mix once they were cool enough to stay together when handled.
Those sound delicious, Katherine! Glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Instead of almond meal and oat flour, have you ever tried with King Arthur GF flour or any other general gf flour product?
Hi Rachel – I’m sorry I haven’t tried this! It might work, but almond meal is kinda finicky so I can’t say for sure. If you try it let me know!
Just got a doughnut pan on sale the other day, and was excited to find a healthy version of one of my fav guilty snacks? i used all oat flour instead of almond, and i suspect because of that they are pretty dense…closer to perhaps a bagel type of thing. However, still pretty darn good. Topped w/ blueberries, i suspect these are going to become my newest breaky on the go?
I’m glad you liked them, Naomi! If you’re going to use oat flour I would try maybe adding a little more coconut oil. I’ve never tried it with that but I suspect that’s why they’re a little dry 🙂
I realize this is an old post and my comment may not be seen, but I realized all the comments before stated how much they wanted to make these donuts and that no one commented after trying the recipe. Well, I made them! Twice! And they are delicious! I followed the original recipe and the blueberry alternative and neither has dissappointed! Thanks for the recipe! They are wonderful!
Hi Liz – I’m so glad you liked them!! And I love that you tried the different flavors 🙂 That makes me so happy to hear!
Must you use a donut pan, would a large muffin tin work too??
I’ve never tried this in a muffin tin – but it may work!