Mmm…protein cookies, protein muffins, protein waffles, protein cupcakes, protein pancakes, protein donuts…are you drooling now? These delicious creations can help satisfy your guilty cravings while keeping your health in check - sounds amazing, right? Unfortunately, baking with protein powder can be quite tricky due to the way its ingredients react with certain cooking methods and other ingredients - but don’t worry! We’ve got some useful tips and tricks for you so you can be a Michelin-level protein chef as well!

Sneak peek at today’s article:

• Tips and Tricks
• Difference Between Animal-Based and Plant-Based Protein Powder for Baking
• What Other Ways Can I Use Protein Powder (instead of drinking it straight up)?
• Protein Pancake Recipe
• Protein Boba Tea Recipe

Tips and Tricks

• Usually, protein powder can be added in or partially replace certain ingredients of recipes. For instance, it is recommended to use a ¼ cup protein powder as a replacement for flour (anything more may cause the recipe to be very dense and dry).
• Add ¼ – ½ cup of “wet” ingredients for every cup of dry – including protein powder. This will ensure enough moisture in the recipe and keep the final result from overly dry and dense. Unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin puree, greek yogurt, or cottage cheese work great!
• Protein powder can be sticky after mixing with liquid. Therefore, you may want to use a non-stick spray to prevent a mess (or add in some fat sources into the batter).
• Most protein powder itself is already sweetened, so you may want to lower the added sugar content of the recipe to avoid making the final product excessively sweet (and also to make it "healthier" for those interested in a healthier/protein cookie). You may want to try the protein drink on its own first to get a sense of the flavor and sweetness.
• Direct contact with hot liquid may cause the protein to form clumps. Therefore, you may want to mix all the powders together first to avoid that (and use cold or room temperature liquid).
• Whey protein powder can burn at a high temperature. So, you may want to lower the temperature or use aluminum foil for the first half of baking to prevent the top from drying out or burning.

Difference Between Animal-Based and Plant-Based Protein Powder For Baking

• Taste: Plant-based protein powders may have a distinct flavor compared to animal-based ones.
• Texture: Plant-based protein powders can lead to denser baked goods, while animal-based ones can result in a more tender texture.
• Allergen: Animal-based protein powders may contain allergens such as dairy or egg, whereas plant-based ones are often allergen-free.
• Nutritional Profile: Plant-based protein powders may have a different amino acid profile and lower bioavailability compared to animal-based protein powders.
• Compatibility with recipes: Some recipes may work better with animal-based protein powder, while others may work better with plant-based protein powder. It's a matter of experimentation.

To learn more about the different types of protein powders, check out our blog on The Only Guide You Need to The Most Popular Types of Protein Powder.

What Other Ways Can I Use Protein Powder (instead of drinking it straight up)?

• Mix it into smoothies: One of the easiest ways to incorporate protein powder into your diet is by adding it to a smoothie. Simply add a scoop of your preferred protein powder to your favorite smoothie recipe.
• Use it as a baking ingredient: Protein powder can be used as a substitute for flour in baking recipes to add extra protein (see the previous section for more tips and tricks!).
• Add it to oatmeal: Mix one (or half) scoop of protein powder into your oatmeal to boost its protein content and add more flavor.
• Make protein energy balls: Mix protein powder with rolled oats, peanut butter, and honey to make protein balls. Roll the mixture into small balls, and store them in the refrigerator for a healthy snack on the go.
• Use it as a protein-rich dip: Mix protein powder with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese to make a protein-rich dip. Serve with veggies, crackers or pita chips.
• Mix it into your coffee: Add a scoop of protein powder to your morning coffee for an extra boost of energy and protein. Prefer watching a tutorial? Check out this reel on Protein Coffee Hack and follow our Instagram page for more interactive content! Also feel free to read our blog A Complete Guide To Caffeine to learn more about caffeine.
• Make protein ice cream: Mix frozen banana, Greek yogurt, and a scoop of protein powder in a blender. Blend until smooth, and enjoy as a healthy alternative to traditional ice cream.

Protein Pancake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• 1 scoop (~30g) protein powder - use one of our 10+ boba-flavored protein powders to spice it up!
• 1 egg
• 1/2 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/2 cup milk of choice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer blended mixture into a separate bowl.
3. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat (or spray pan with non-stick spray).
4. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto the heated pan.
5. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
6. Transfer to a plate and serve with your favorite toppings (fruit, nut butter, syrup, etc.).
7. Dig in!

Protein Boba Tea Recipe

Want to enjoy a boba drink without all the guilt? Our boba-flavored protein powders are meant to do just that, but you can give the following a try to up your boba game even further!

Add boba (tapioca) pearls into your protein shake: mix your protein shake as you would normally (milk or water first, then protein powder, and shake thoroughly). Pour the shake into a separate cup or tumbler, then add pre-cooked tapioca pearls into the drink and enjoy!

Add protein powder into bubble tea: alright, this one’s not going to to take away the “guilt” of a regular boba, but at least it will add more #gainz to your boba game - so that justifies it, right? Pour your boba into a shaker and simply add a scoop of a similar flavor of our protein powder into the drink and shake well! Adding the protein powder won’t change the taste too much, but it will provide the protein lacking in a regular boba. Also, I would recommend choosing a lower-sugar amount when ordering your boba to avoid turning the final drink overly sweet!