This gluten free Healthy Protein Donuts Recipe is soft, fluffy and secretly protein packed! A perfect treat to curb your sweet tooth, and a dairy-free option is included!
PIN Healthy Protein Donuts Recipe
Like RLY RLY.
Donuts. Made in the oven. WITH PROTEIN. That are ACTUALLY GOOD.
You know those triangles with one awesome thing at each point like “social life, sleep, good job” or whatever, and you can only have 2 of them – 2 that are on the same side?
These healthy donuts would have “yumminess” “health” “protein” at each point.
BUT, you could HAVE THEM ALL. No picking sides.
Does life really get any better?
Now, I consider myself a donut elitist. Growing up in Canada, Tim Hortons is a VRY VRY big deal and I grew up eating their perfectly soft, perfectly sweet donuts on the ‘reg. HECK, Mr. FFF and I even broke an old fashioned sour cream glazed donut on our wedding, instead of cutting a cake.
SO CUTE RIGHT?
I am not going to lie to you. This healthy protein donuts recipe is NOT those donuts.
Real talk: I don’t care how much you self-talk your brain into thinking that a baked donut recipe is as good as deep fried, IT IS NOT. And it never will be.
I’m not wrong. You know it.
I am so good at selling my own recipes, I know. ?
BUT, when you’re turning into a hangry donut-craving-monster, but still are searching for something wholesome to curb your sweet tooth, this protein donut recipe? It does THE TRICK.
The inside of these donuts is SOFT, tender, FLUFFY and B-U-T-T-E-R-Y, just the way you would expect the promise of “donut” to be. They’ve also got this protein powder exterior that gets ALL over your face, in your hair, eyebrows and WHO KNOWS where else.
Totally re-living those powdered-mini-donuts-from-the-bag moments of my childhood.
How to Make Protein Donuts
Despite what you might think, these protein donuts are actually really simple to make!
- Mix all your dry ingredients together. Like the gluten free vegan cinnamon rolls and cheddar gluten free biscuits, I am using a blend of cornstarch, oat flour and protein. This mimics all-purpose flour, but gluten free!
- Make a well in the center and add in the eggs, Greek yogurt , ghee and applesauce. Mix, mix, mix!
- Chill it 2 hours. DO NOT OMIT THIS. I know you want donuts RIGHT NOWWWWWWW (I understand) but this is key to that FLUFFY donut texture that is going to make you believe in magic again.
I don’t know what that means. But, it felt like the right thing to say in the moment.
- Put that chilled doughy goodness into a piping bag and fill up that donut pan!
- Just kidding. Don’t fill them ALL the way up. Just under 2/3 of the way is good as these babies rise A LOT.
- BAKE, POWDER AND EAT.
Are donuts dairy free?
These donuts can be made dairy free, yes! Just use your favorite dairy-free protein powder instead of whey, along with a thick, dairy-free yogurt and dairy-free butter! Voila – you have a dairy free healthy protein donuts recipe!
I want ALL OF YOU to be able to happily shovel your face with a healthy donut recipe, so I covered alllll the bases for you. <3
Taste-testing 1 million batches in the name of having ALL the people of the world to experience donut bliss. <– It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
You’re about to experience soft, sweet, FLUFFY, protein PACKED donuts.
EXCITED FOR YOU
Similar recipes you might like
Healthy Protein Powder Cookie Dough
Blueberry High Protein Muffins with Quinoa
Protein Low Carb Keto Brownies

Ingredients
For the donuts:
- 9 Tbsp Non-GMO Cornstarch (79g)*
- 1/4 Cup Vanilla whey protein powder (25g) (or dairy-free protein)
- 6 Tbsp Coconut sugar, packed
- 2 Tbsp Oat flour (15g)
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking powder
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1 Large egg, at room temperature
- 1 Egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1/2 Cup Plain, non-fat Greek yogurt (or a thick dairy-free yogurt)
- 3 Tbsp Unsweetened applesauce
- 2 Tbsp Ghee, melted (or dairy free butter)
For coating:
- 1/2 Cup Vanilla whey protein powder
- Cinnamon, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the cornstarch, protein, coconut sugar, oat flour, baking powder and salt.
- Make a well in the center and crack in the egg, along with the egg yolk, yogurt, ghee and applesauce. Whisk the egg with a fork, and then mix everything together until you have a really sticky dough. Cover and refrigerate at least two hours.
- One chilled, heat your oven to 325 degrees and generously rub a donut pan with melted ghee.
- Fill a piping bag with the chilled donut mixture and pipe into the donut pan, filling just under 2/3 of the way full. You will need to do this in 2 batches if you only have 1 pan. Keep the remaining dough chilled in the fridge.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 14 minutes. Let stand in the pan 5 minutes.
- In a shallow plate, mix together the protein powder and cinnamon, adjusting the amount of cinnamon to taste.
- After 5 minutes, gently remove the donuts from the pan and immediately place them into the protein powder mixture, tossing them gently until totally coated.
- DEVOUR. **
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
FOR THIS RECIPE, I RECOMMEND:
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PER SERVING: FREESTYLE POINTS: 5 POINTS+: 4 . OLD POINTS:3
(per 1 donut – can vary based on protein powder and yogurt used.)
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Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says
A healthy donut? I’ll take a dozen STAT!
Taylor Kiser says
I knew you’d be in! Thanks girl!
Cassie Autumn Tran says
I am SUCH a sucker for both donuts and cinnamon rolls. Hence, this would probably be the best combination ever! I would love to see a vegan donut recipe, though I am sure you already have one on the blog somewhere–I’ll have to search it up!
Taylor Kiser says
I actually don’t think I do! Will keep that in mind!
Holly says
Omg looks delicious but that was the longest novel ever about donuts to get to the ACTUAL recipe. Spare us the details and make your content scannable and skimmable, ain’t nobody got time for that! Thank you
Taylor Kiser says
Hi Holly! This is a food blog and by nature a “blog” means story – it’s not like All Recipes where it’s just a recipe! Feel free to use the “jump to recipe” at the top of the post to be taken straight to the recipe. Thanks!
Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite says
Love how these are coated in vanilla protein powder instead of powdered sugar!
Taylor Kiser says
Right!!? And it looks the same! 🙂
Cam says
Is oat flour gluten free though? Oats are not gluten free.
Taylor Kiser says
Some oats are – you just need to use a GF brand like Bobs Red Mill 🙂
Suzanne says
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
Taylor Kiser says
You’re welcome! They are best eaten within a few days! 🙂
Vanessa says
Yum! I can’t wait to try these. This blend must hold together well!
Taylor Kiser says
It totally does! Let me know if you try it!
judith says
whey is derived from dairy…
Taylor Kiser says
And the recipe gives the option to use plant based protein too 🙂
Amy says
Dang it! I really wanted to love this recipe especially after reading how passionately confident you are about it but they absolutely did not remind me anything near the love I had for the little powdered donuts I devoured as a child. Unfortunately, I will not plan on making this recipe again… The consistency was perfect but the taste was too tangy and I followed your recipe to a T except I used unsalted butter instead of the Ghee (which I do not think should have adversely affected the flavor). super bummed because I even let them chill for several hours and although it was fun to test out your recipe I’m still looking for that perfect healthy donut. ?
Taylor Kiser says
I’m sorry you didn’t love the texture! It could very easily be your protein powder. Every protein powder tastes SO different that it can be hard to get exact results across the board when it’s involved in recipes! Ghee is also a lot richer in flavor than butter, so it actually could change the taste. Again, sorry you didn’t love them!
Donna DeCapite says
What brand protein powder was used for this recipe? I would like to recreate it.
Taylor Kiser says
Muscle Milk Light!