If you’re reading this, you’re probably already in tune with the uses and benefits of protein powder. However, you can never have too many recipes on-hand. You know what they say: variety is the spice of life.
Sure, a good protein shake or protein bar might be all you need to get pumped and healthy, but it can get repetitive. We all crave a tasty treat every once, but junk food doesn’t provide us with the daily nutrients we need. What if you could have your cake and eat it too? In other words, what if you could enjoy recipes that are both healthy and delicious?
That is why we’ve put together these two delicious but healthy recipes with protein powder to satisfy your cravings. They’re fun, easy to make, and tasty, too. What’s more? They’re healthy, so you won’t have to worry about jeopardizing your diet.
1. Protein Pancakes (Flourless)
Everyone loves pancakes. If you’re craving pancakes in the morning but are worried they’ll mess with your diet, don’t fret. We have a recipe for a much healthier alternative that includes—you guessed it—protein powder.
Ingredients
- Two eggs
- ¾ cup of protein powder
- 1½ teaspoon of baking powder
- ⅓ cup milk
- Butter
- Maple syrup
Cooking Instructions
Break two large eggs into a bowl. Whisk the eggs thoroughly. If you don’t have a whisk, you can use a spoon or a fork to beat the eggs instead.
After beating the eggs for a short while, add ¾ of a cup of unpacked protein powder and mix thoroughly. You can use vanilla-flavoured protein powder or any other flavour that suits your taste; you must use a flavour you’ll enjoy. Feel free to add more or less protein powder, depending on your preference.
Now that you’ve added your protein powder, it’s time to add your baking powder. You should note that these pancakes are not as fluffy as your regular pancakes because this recipe includes no flour for the baking powder to interact with.
Mix all your ingredients thoroughly until you get a batter with a thick consistency. Once you’ve achieved this consistency, it’s time to add your milk. You can add your milk all at once or incorporate it a little at a time to ensure that your better is thoroughly mixed. Adding your milk a little at a time will also make it easier to stir.
After mixing your batter until you get the correct consistency, it’s time to introduce the heat. Grease your griddle or frying pan with some butter, allowing the butter to melt completely. Next, carefully scoop your batter onto the griddle. Ensure that you’re not adding too much batter, or it will spread, and the pancakes will form together. Two tablespoons of batter should be enough for one pancake.
Once you see bubbles forming, it’s time to flip your pancakes so that the other side can cook. Once your pancakes are done, transfer them to a plate and allow them to cool for a few minutes. The last step? Add butter and syrup and enjoy!
Note: You can add in your milk at any time during this recipe, but this mainly depends on the type of protein powder you use. If you’re using plant-based protein, it can be a bit denser than whey protein, so adding the milk at the end helps make sure your mixture remains smooth.
2. Protein Brownies
Who doesn’t love the sweet goodness of chocolate brownies? If you’re craving brownies, we’ve got just the protein-infused recipe for you. The best part: baking takes only a minute in the microwave! So, not only are these brownies tasty and rich in protein, but they’re quick to make, too.
Ingredients
- One scoop of chocolate protein powder
- One tablespoon of all-purpose flour
- One tablespoon of stevia
- One egg
- ⅓ cup of milk
- ½ teaspoon of baking powder
- One tablespoon of cocoa
- Chocolate chips
Cooking Instructions
Crack your egg into a mixing bowl. Next, add ⅓ of a cup of any milk of your choice. We recommend low-fat chocolate milk, almond milk, or coconut-flavoured milk.
Add one large scoop of chocolate-flavoured protein powder. This recipe leans heavily on chocolate ingredients since we’re making brownies. To make this recipe even healthier, opt for low-calorie ingredients whenever possible. In addition, feel free to add more or less protein powder based on your preference.
Next, add a tablespoon of flour. You can use whatever type of flour works best for you, even all-purpose flour. Coconut flour and almond flour are also great gluten-free options.
Add a tablespoon of stevia. Since we’re trying to keep our sugar consumption to a minimum, we encourage you to avoid it as much as possible. Monk fruit is a great alternative if you can’t get your hands on stevia. However, if you can’t find any of these alternatives or don’t have them on hand, sugar will work just as well. Just be sure not to add too much!
After, add one tablespoon of cocoa and half a teaspoon of baking powder to your brownie mixture. Avid chocolate lovers might even want to add in a handful of chocolate chips.
Stir all your ingredients together until they’re combined. Transfer your mixture to your microwaveable container. Keep in mind that your mix will rise when you put it in the microwave, so use a sizeable container. Make sure you don’t fill the container to the brim, either, as it might overflow and create a mess.
Microwave your brownie mixture in the microwave for precisely one minute. Once the timer goes off, take your protein brownies out of the microwave and allow them to cool for a few minutes. Once they’re cool, enjoy!
Conclusion
The two recipes with protein powder that we’ve included in this article are both delicious and healthy. Gone are the days of swearing off delicious recipes such as pancakes and brownies because of your diet. Now, with the help of protein powder, you have much healthier alternatives to choose from. As a result, you no longer have to worry about the extra calories.
Eating healthier doesn’t have to be bland. Thankfully, there are so many different protein powder flavours, making it easy to substitute your favourite foods with protein-infused versions. Happy cooking!