Whether your goal is weight loss, fat loss, or you simply choose to be calorie-conscious, eating low-calorie foods should not be boring.
I’m here to provide you with a ton of fun & delicious low-calorie recipes to make your weight loss journey that much easier and boost your protein intake.
When it comes to recipe creation, most of what I create starts with a scoop of vanilla protein powder because it is such a versatile ingredient. One of the best ways to add a boost of protein to your meals is to use protein powder, and vanilla protein powder is especially versatile.
I am always in search of a simple way to help everyone get enough protein into their diets in fun ways, so baking with protein powder helps accomplish that.
If you’ve only ever thought of vanilla protein powder as the main ingredient in healthy protein shakes or protein smoothies, I’m here to show you just how versatile it can be.
Table of Contents ▼
- Why Vanilla Protein Powder?
- Which Protein Powder is Best?
- Breakfast Recipes
- Protein Cinnamon Rolls
- Vegan Protein Pancakes
- 3-Ingredient Protein Pancakes
- Protein Milkshakes Perfect for Meal Prep
- Deliciously Crispy 3-Ingredient Churro Waffles
- Protein Overnight Oats (With Ten Different Flavor Options)
- One Minute Microwave Coffee Cake
- Cookie Recipes
- Keto-Friendly Protein Cookies
- High-Protein Cookie Skillet
- Low-Calorie Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Protein-Packed Oatmeal Creme Pies
- Protein Oreos
- Low-Calorie Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Protein Gingerbread Cookies
- No-Bake Protein Cookies
- Low-Calorie Sugar Cookies
- 60-Calorie Pumpkin Cookies
- Twix Cookies
- Protein Cornbread Cookies
- Classic Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
- Edible Protein Cookie Dough
- No-Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bars
- Protein Cookie Butter Spread
- Stuffed Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
- Molasses Crackle Cookies
- Low-Calorie Snowball Cookies
- Dessert Recipes
- Mini Low-Calorie Cheesecakes
- Biscoff Ice Cream Bars
- Protein Popcorn
- High-Protein Cider Donuts
- High-Protein Oreo Cupcakes
- Simple Protein Cheesecake Bites
- Air Fryer Protein Donuts
- Air Fryer Donut Holes
Why Vanilla Protein Powder?
There are so many amazing flavors of protein powder out there, so why am I only looking at vanilla protein powder?
Well, because it can be used in ANY recipe.
I’ve personally tested this theory: inchocolate flavorrecipes that would typically call for chocolate protein powder, I swapped it for ascoop of vanilla protein powderand couldn’t tell a difference.
Vanilla protein powder is the base of virtually any flavor of protein powder out there, they simply use added sugar and flavorings to fancy them up.
So when you see a recipe that calls for protein powder, you can almost always use vanilla protein powder. If it’s a chocolate recipe, as long as the recipe also calls for cocoa powder or chocolate chips, you’d never be able to tell there was vanilla protein in the recipe.
Which Protein Powder is Best?
When it comes to baking with protein powder, the type of protein you choose to use can make a big difference.
In all of my recipes, I use a whey & casein blend unless otherwise specified. More specifically, I use PEScience brand.
I have used a ton of different protein powders over the years, and I enjoy the flavor of PEScience the most. Plus, I find that a blend of whey & casein protein works best in most recipes.
That being said, I actually did two experiments for you to see the visual differences when baking with every type of protein powder. Check out my cookie experiment and my cake experiment to see the differences in each type of protein powder.
You can use any type of protein you prefer, but making substitutions can be very tricky when dealing with high-protein recipes.
I highly recommend using PEScience brand for these recipes if you can help it so you can take all of the guesswork out of the recipes. And you can use my code “Matt” to save on your order, too!
Now let’s curb that sweet tooth and get into the recipes.
Breakfast Recipes
Breakfast is easily my favorite meal of the day, and it’s often the first thing we think about when we wake up. That’s why I’ve got some really fun & delicious breakfast recipes for you to enjoy, all designed to wake up your taste buds and help with increased muscle mass and fat loss through adequate protein intake.
Protein Cinnamon Rolls
This simple recipe turns your favorite sweet treat into a protein-packed breakfast, using simple ingredients like flour, whey protein powder, and Greek yogurt. I love vanilla protein powder, but you can easily use unflavored protein powder in these as well for a great way to start your day.
Vegan Protein Pancakes
Using avegan protein powder, you can make a stack of soft, light, and protein-rich pancakes! This recipe is one of thebest protein powder recipesaround and is asimple wayto ensure you’re gettingmuch proteinfirst thing in the morning.
Light & Moist Protein Banana Bread
This recipe is aneasy wayto incorporatehealthy fatsand high-quality protein into your breakfast. It’s a moist and delicious banana bread recipe that includes ascoop of vanilla protein powder, giving you 6g of protein per slice.
3-Ingredient Protein Pancakes
This is asimple recipeusing just threesimple ingredients, including ascoop of protein powderfor a protein boost. With this recipe, you can enjoy fluffy, high-protein pancakes in no time. It’s one of thebest waysto start your day off toward your protein goals!
Protein Milkshakes Perfect for Meal Prep
These protein milkshakes are aneasy wayto meal prep a protein-packed breakfast! They can be ahealthy dessertor asweet treatat the start of your day. Withhealthy protein shakeoptions like these, you can switch up yourprotein contentwith various flavors, such as Oreo or Biscoff.
Deliciously Crispy 3-Ingredient Churro Waffles
Churro protein waffles are agreat wayto indulge while still maintaining a healthy diet. The recipe calls for ascoop of protein powderto up theprotein content, and the cinnamon sugar coating makes them the perfectsweet treatfor yourtaste buds.
Protein Overnight Oats (With Ten Different Flavor Options)
Overnight oats are a perfecthigh-proteinbreakfast option, and you can find all thesimple ingredientsneeded at your localgrocery store. Add yourscoop of protein powder—vanilla, chocolate flavor, or even vegan protein powder—along with other ingredients of your choosing to create a simple breakfast that’s perfect for muscle recovery after those early workouts.
One Minute Microwave Coffee Cake
This single-serve coffee cake is aneasy wayto enjoy asweet treatin the morning with a whopping 27g of protein, thanks to the addition ofwhey protein powder. It’s definitely one of theeasiest and best protein powder recipesyou’ll find for breakfast!
Cookie Recipes
Cookies are my favorite dessert to make, so they get their own category here. When you don’t feel like relying on protein shake recipes to hit your protein goals, these cookies will save you.
Keto-Friendly Protein Cookies
Escape the norm of dry, crumbly keto protein cookies with these soft, gooey chocolate chip delights. With only 1g net carbs each and ready in less than 20 minutes, they’re a keto dieter’s dream.
High-Protein Cookie Skillet
Experience the soft, decadent pleasure of a cookie skillet but with a health-conscious twist – each slice sneaks in 13 grams of protein. Ideal for low-carb dieters, each serving contains a mere 10g net carbs.
Low-Calorie Cinnamon Roll Cookies
These cinnamon roll cookies are not only an exciting treat, but they also score well on the calorie scale with just 75 calories each. Low-carb, gluten-free, and protein-rich, these cookies redefine fun with nutrition.
Protein-Packed Oatmeal Creme Pies
Revisit your favorite childhood snack in a healthier way. These oatmeal cream pies are packed with flavor, offer fewer calories, and boast more protein than the original versions (and they’re gluten-free too!).
Protein Oreos
Healthy Oreos? Yes please. Homemade and authentic in taste, these protein Oreos are a nutritious indulgence with each serving offering 135 calories, just 9g net carbs, and 9g of quality protein. Plus, they’re entirely gluten-free.
Low-Calorie Snickerdoodle Cookies
Reinvent your favorite cookie with these light snickerdoodles. They may not take the crown from your best homemade recipe, but they’re an amazing way to enjoy your cherished treat while keeping the calorie count low.
Protein Gingerbread Cookies
Get all the crunch of gingerbread cookies with fewer calories and added protein. Enjoy the classic taste without having to compromise on your diet.
No-Bake Protein Cookies
Unleash your sweet tooth with these easy, no-bake protein cookies. Whether you’re a traditional chocolate chip cookie lover or a fan of the double chocolate variety, these hefty 5oz no-bake cookies are sure to satisfy.
Low-Calorie Sugar Cookies
These low-calorie sugar cookies scream Christmas but are delicious all year round. They’re gluten-free, keto-friendly, and protein-rich, making them a versatile treat for any dietary preference.
60-Calorie Pumpkin Cookies
These pumpkin protein cookies are as soft and gooey as cookies should be but with only 60 calories and 4g protein each. Truly a diet-friendly delight.
Twix Cookies
Enjoy the classic Twix candy bars in a healthier form. These high-protein cookies blend crunchy shortbread, homemade protein caramel, and chocolate for a delightful and nutritious twist.
Protein Cornbread Cookies
These soft cornbread cookies brilliantly fuse sugar cookie and corn muffin flavors, all at just 100 calories per cookie. For sweet cornbread fans, these cookies are love at first bite!
Classic Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
Okay, this is a giant protein cookie (it weighs 6oz) so it’s technically not low-calorie. But you can take this same recipe and divide it up into smaller lower-calorie cookies, so it still fits the bill.
Edible Protein Cookie Dough
Indulge in the pleasure of safe-to-eat cookie dough. This gluten-free, protein-rich recipe is easy to prepare, so you’ll end up enjoying cookie dough all of the time.
No-Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bars
Shun the boring store-bought protein bars for these homemade beauties. They taste just like edible cookie dough, each bar is protein-packed, and they require zero baking.
Protein Cookie Butter Spread
Enjoy the beloved spread of Cookie Butter with half the calories, added protein, and all of the original flavor. This is easily one of my favorite recipes!
Stuffed Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Dive into the unique blend of a high-protein pumpkin cookie filled with luscious cheesecake. Low in carbs, gluten-free, and packed with 12 g protein per cookie, it’s a truly satisfying treat.
Molasses Crackle Cookies
These healthier molasses crackle cookies offer a slight crunch on the outside and a soft, gooey inside. Enjoy the rich, sweet, and robust flavors of molasses without the high calories.
Low-Calorie Snowball Cookies
These soft, buttery, nut-free snowball cookies might just become your new favorite. Healthier than most other options out there, they melt in your mouth and won’t derail your diet.
Dessert Recipes
Cookies are only scratching the surface of the delicious dessert possibilities with vanilla protein powder. Here are some of my favorites…
Mini Low-Calorie Cheesecakes
Enjoy a decadent yet healthy and easy cheesecake recipe. These mini cheesecakes weigh in at just 130 calories and 10 grams of protein each.
Biscoff Ice Cream Bars
Forget the costly store-bought Biscoff ice cream bars and make your own healthy high-protein version at home. Choose from white chocolate or milk chocolate to suit your mood.
Protein Popcorn
Protein popcorn will soon be your go-to snack. Whip up this protein-rich treat in minutes for a perfect end-of-day snack.
High-Protein Cider Donuts
Embrace the flavors of fall with these high-protein apple cider donuts that taste fresh from the cider mill. Avoid the deep-frying but not the taste or the protein.
High-Protein Oreo Cupcakes
These Oreo cupcakes require just four ingredients and are topped with a delicious high-protein Oreo filling icing. It’s a simple treat with a protein punch.
Simple Protein Cheesecake Bites
If you’re a cheesecake lover, get ready for these bite-sized cheesecake treats. Each soft bite contains only 55 calories and a generous 4g protein, and they don’t even require baking!
Air Fryer Protein Donuts
Prepare yourself for light, buttery donuts that can be made from scratch in just 15 minutes. With the help of an air fryer, you’ll be enjoying protein donuts in no time.
Air Fryer Donut Holes
Indulge in these effortless, low-calorie, and low-carb donut holes that bake to perfection in just 4 minutes thanks to the air fryer. Choose your favorite glaze or powdered sugar, or mix it up with your choice of toppings.
35 Low-Calorie Vanilla Protein Powder Recipes
Weight loss should not be boring! Here's a collection of 35 of my favorite low-calorie recipes using vanilla protein powder.
Ingredients
Breakfast Recipes
- Vegan Protein Pancakes
- Protein Cinnamon Rolls
- 3-Ingredient Protein Pancakes
- Protein Milkshakes Perfect for Meal Prep
- 3-Ingredient Churro Waffles
- Protein Overnight Oats
- One Minute Microwave Coffee Cake
Cookie Recipes
- Keto-Friendly Protein Cookies
- High-Protein Cookie Skillet
- Low-Calorie Cinnamon Roll Cookies
- Protein-Packed Oatmeal Creme Pies
- Protein Oreos
- Low-Calorie Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Protein Gingerbread Cookies
- No-Bake Protein Cookies
- Low-Calorie Sugar Cookies
- 60-Calorie Pumpkin Cookies
- Twix Cookies
- Protein Cornbread Cookies
- Classic Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
- Edible Protein Cookie Dough
- No-Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bars
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
- Molasses Crackle Cookies
- Low-Calorie Snowball Cookies
- Protein Cookie Butter
Dessert Recipes
- Mini Low-Calorie Cheesecakes
- Biscoff Ice Cream Bars
- Protein Popcorn
- High-Protein Apple Cider Donuts
- Protein Oreo Cupcakes
- Protein Cheesecake Bites
- Air Fryer Protein Donuts
- Protein Donut Holes
Instructions
- Choose your favorite recipe from the list above, gather your ingredients, and enjoy a delicious low-calorie recipe!
About Matt Rosenman
With over 15 years of experience in health and fitness, Matt Rosenman is the expert voice behind Cheatdaydesign.com. Matt’s philosophy is simple: no foods are off-limits, and a healthy lifestyle shouldn't be complicated or restrictive. As a former certified personal trainer with a bachelor’s degree in Health Behavioral Sciences, Matt brings well-rounded expertise to his blog. From revamping classic recipes with a nutritious twist to breaking down fast food menus, his goal is make healthy living less confusing for everyone. Featured in major publications and with a strong following on social media, Matt is committed to making “healthy” uncomplicated—no matter where you are in your health journey. Join Matt on his mission to simplify health without sacrificing flavor. Learn More
