6 Protein Donut Recipes You Can Feel Good About Eating

Even the most devoted dieters will struggle to deny themselves a donut. The fluffy dough, balanced with the sticky sugar is undeniably a winning combination. Unfortunately, donuts are full of all the bad stuff you need to resist if you're looking for rock-hard abs.

Sticking to a strict diet can leave you feeling like you need a treat every so often, but indulging without the guilt of derailing your diet is practically unheard of. That was until you discovered our incredible donut recipes...

The best bit is that there's no need to pass up on flavor for a healthy food fix. We've got one for every occasion — Christmas donut? Check. Chocolate? Of course. Our high protein donut recipes give you all the taste without putting your diet to the test. Baked instead of fried, you can basically see the goodness oozing out of them — along with the tasty toppings. In fact, why not eat the dozen?

If just the pictures of these donutty creations don't make you drool, then the smell of donuts fresh from the oven is sure to have you ready devour them. You can enjoy these tasty alternatives any time of the day — the protein donut is the perfect post-workout reward or a sneaky evening snack.

1. Patriotic Pronuts

This quick and easy protein donut recipe (or ‘pronuts’, as we like to call them) is perfect for when you need that sweet fix, but still gotta make those gains!

The patriotic topping is awesome for showing off, but the base recipe makes the perfect pronuts in a jiff for when you’re not feeling too flashy.

Makes: 4-6 protein donuts, depending on the size of your pan

Cuisine/Type: Western, donut dessert

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 8-10 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 2 scoops Vanilla Impact Whey Protein
• 1/4 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 medium egg whites
• 1/4 cup milk (of choice)
• 1 ripe banana
• 2 tbsp. melted coconut oil
• 12-15 drops Vanilla Flavdrops

• 1 cup half-fat cream cheese
• 2 scoops Impact Whey Protein (we used Glazed Donut, obviously!)
• Red and blue natural food colouring

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. First, add the whey, flour, baking powder, egg whites, milk, ripe banana and melted coconut oil into a blender and process until smooth.

3. Oil a donut pan and pour the batter in. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until an inserted toothpick or knife comes out clean, then remove and allow to cool.

4. Once cooled, make the frosting. Blend the half-fat cream cheese and whey protein together with food colouring and drizzle over the pronuts. Done!

Calories: 156kcal | Protein: 17g | Carbohydrates: 8g | Fat: 6g

2. Delicious Strawberry Protein Donuts

Enjoy a little fruity flavor alongside a soft and sweet donut? Then look no further than these strawberry pronuts. Packed with protein from Strawberry Cream Impact Whey as well as fresh, juicy strawberries, there's no need to make excuses for indulging in this delicious donut.

Makes: 4 protein donuts

Cuisine/Type: Western, donut dessert

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 1 scoop Strawberry Cream Impact Whey
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce (113g/4oz)
• 3 tbsp. egg substitute (46ml)
• 2 tbsp. coconut flour
• 2 tbsp. almond flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup chopped strawberries (35g/1oz)

• 1 cup half-fat cream cheese
• 1 scoop Impact Whey Protein in Strawberry Cream
• pink natural food colouring

Method

 1. Preheat oven to 390°F or 350°F for fan-assisted.

 2. Chop strawberries into small pieces and set aside.

 3. Mix together the remaining ingredients until it forms a smooth batter.

 4. Then, stir in chopped strawberries.

 5. Coat donut pan with nonstick oil and fill the moulds with batter.

 6. Bake for 25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick or knife comes out clean, then remove and allow to cool.

 7. Once cooled, make the frosting. Blend the half-fat cream cheese and whey protein together with food colouring and drizzle over the pronuts. Done!

*Don’t have a donut pan? Bake as muffins or bars! (adjust baking time accordingly).

Calories: 84kcal | Protein: 8g | Carbohydrates: 10g | Fat: 3g

3. Sweet Potato Pronuts

We know what you're thinking — sweet potato in a donut? Along with a few spices, however, this is the perfect fall food. The sweet potato gives them a toasty orange color, paired with the soft doughiness, this one will warm you up from the inside.

Add gooey marshmallows for the ultimate cozy campfire feeling, or keep it plain and simple for a sumptuous skinny snack.

Makes: 4 protein donuts

Cuisine/Type: Western, donut dessert

Prep Time: 25 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 1 scoop Vanilla or Buttered Pecan Impact Whey
• 1 cup steamed and cubed sweet potato
• 1/4 cup quick oats
• 3 tbsp. unsweetened almond milk
• 3 tbsp. egg substitute
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Sweetener to taste

Method

 1. Preheat oven to 390°F or 350°F for fan-assisted.

 2. Peel and cube sweet potato, then steam until very tender.

 3. While steaming the sweet potato, mix remaining ingredients together in a separate bowl.

 4. Next, mash the sweet potato and then mix with the rest of the ingredients.

 5. Lightly coat the donut tray with oil before pouring the mixture into the moulds.

 6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick or knife comes out clean, then remove and allow to cool.

 7. If you're feeling like a decadent dessert, then top with frosting and marshmallows. Otherwise, dig in to your delicious donuts.

Calories: 83kcal | Protein: 8.5g | Carbohydrates: 10g | Fat: 1g

4. Cacao Protein Donuts

Chocolate and donuts. We've combined the two things that are usually a diet don't into a delicious do(nut) that's good for you too. It doesn't get much better than this. This cacao donut wil curb every craving without the curse of unwanted calories. The addition of Chocolate Smooth Impact Whey Protein means that you can still meet you macros and enjoy doing it too.

Makes: 4 protein donuts

Cuisine/Type: Western, donut dessert

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 scoop Myprotein Chocolate Smooth Impact Whey
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 3 tbsp. egg substitute
• 3 tbsp. unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tbsp. coconut flour
• 2 tbsp. almond flour
• 1 tbsp. cacao powder, or unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• Sweetener to taste

• marshmallows
• 1 cup low-fat cream cheese
• 1 scoop Vanilla or Chocolate Smooth Impact Whey

Method

 1. Preheat oven to 390°F or 350°F for fan-assisted.

 5. Combine the low-fat cream cheese with the Impact Whey to make your frosting.

Calories: 81kcal | Protein: 9g | Carbohydrates: 8g | Fat: 3g

5. Easy Glazed Pronut

This baked protein donut recipe makes 6 ultra-moist protein donuts (AKA pronuts). Each one contains a mere 161kcal and 5g fat, and a hefty 8g protein. Who said donuts couldn’t be good for you?

If you feel like showing off for the holidays, top your protein donuts with a little green frosting and make a donut tree like ours. If not, just bake, top with your favorite topping and wolf ’em down, stat.

Makes: 6 protein donuts

Cuisine/Type: Western, donut dessert

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup Instant Oats (use Vanilla or Unflavored) or 90g rolled oats blended to a fine powder
• 1 scoop Vanilla Impact Whey Protein or Vanilla Micellar Casein
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 medium egg
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (or your preferred syrup-based sweetener)
• 1/4 cup milk (of choice)
• 2 tbsp. Smooth Peanut Butter
• 10-12 drops Vanilla Flavdrops or ½ tsp. vanilla extract

• 7 oz. (200g) reduced-fat cream cheese
• 10-12 drops Vanilla Flavdrops or ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• Sweetener of choice (to taste)
• A few drops natural green food coloring (optional)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 390°F or 350°F for fan-assisted.

2. Next, combine Instant Oats (or the blended rolled oats if you’re using them), whey protein, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Mix until the ingredients are well-distributed, then set aside for a moment.

3. Place the egg, maple syrup, milk, peanut butter and vanilla into a blender and process until smooth.

4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and gently fold few until just a few lumps remain, and you can’t see any dry powder anymore.

5. Grease a donut pan with coconut oil (or your preferred oil) and pour the batter into the donut holes, up to just under the rim.

6. Place onto the middle shelf of the oven for 11-13 minutes, or until an inserted knife or toothpick comes out clean. Once cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove from the pan and allow to cool completely.

7. To make the topping, simply whisk the cream cheese, sweetener, vanilla and food coloring until smooth. Dip each donut into the topping and set in the fridge. Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Calories: 161kcal | Protein: 8g | Carbohydrates: 22g | Fat: 5g

6. Chocolate Protein Donuts

This donut looks and tastes like Christmas. If that isn't a reason to indulge, then what is? Use Cinnamon Roll Impact Whey, or simply Vanilla to make these delicious donuts dipped in creamy chocolate frosting. No need to limit these to Christmas, however, as they make a great post-workout snack or after dinner delight, being low in sugar and packed with protein.

Makes: 6 protein donuts

Cuisine/Type: Western, donut dessert

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 12 mins

Total Time: 22 mins

Ingredients

• 1 scoop Cinnamon Roll or Vanilla Impact Whey
• 1 Cup almond flour or Instant Oats (do not use ground almonds)
• 2 tbsp. coconut flour
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp.  ground cinnamon
• Few drops of Vanilla Flavdrops
• 1/4  cup Liquid egg whites
• 2 tbsp. of 0% fat greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened apple purée
• sweeten to taste with sweeteneer of choice

• 2oz of High Protein Chocolate
• sweetener of choice
• 1oz Almond Milk (room temperature)
• Optional: Gold Stars for decoration

Method

 1. Preheat oven to 390°F or 350°F for fan-assisted.

 2. In a bowl, mix together the Impact Whey, reduced fat almond flour/oat flour, sweetener, coconut flour, cinnamon and ginger.

 3. Add in the Vanilla Flavdrops, liquid egg whites, greek yogurt, water and unsweetened apple purée to form a thick mixture.

4. Spray a silicone doughnut pan with a low calorie cooking spray or oil and take the dough and roll into long sausage shape pieces.

 5. Press into the pan to fill each donut hole mould. This should fill a couple of molds so you will need to make at least a couple of batches.

 6. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until golden on top. Leave to cool and once cool, tip out so that the smooth side is face up for topping.

 7. Take the High Protein Chocolate and carefully melt in the microwave ensuring you do not burn it. Add in the sweetener and almond milk and mix to form a ganache. Spread the ganache onto each of the donuts and decorate with stars. Leave to set and then enjoy!

Calories: 148kcal | Protein: 10.3g | Carbohydrates: 23g | Fat: 2.5g