13 High-Protein Desserts
Getting enough protein on a daily basis should be one of your main priorities when it comes to eating a healthy and balanced diet. Protein is important for building muscles, giving you energy for the day, helping with weight loss, it’s good for blood sugar control, it helps with hunger management, and it’s important for your overall health and well-being. That’s why consuming the required daily amount of protein is crucial for your health.
Most adults need about 0.75 grams of protein per kg of body weight per day, so the amount of protein you need will depend on your weight. However, lots of people struggle with protein consumption and don’t meet the daily recommended amount of protein intake.
That’s why I love high-protein desserts! As most people have a sweet tooth and love desserts, eating protein-packed desserts is an amazing way to meet your daily protein intake requirements and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time. It’s so easy to incorporate them into your diet (even if you’re on a weight loss journey, as it’s very possible to eat healthy desserts that don’t have a ton of calories or added sugar).
So, in this post, I’m sharing a roundup of high-protein dessert recipes that you try and incorporate into your weekly meal plans.
13 High-Protein Desserts
Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Ingredients
1 cup Cottage cheese, 2%
6 tsp Stevia
1 cup Strawberries, fresh
1 Graham crackers
Instructions
Step 1: Dice strawberries and crush graham cracker into small pieces.
Step 2: In a blender or food processor, blend together cottage cheese, 3/4 of your strawberries, and your sweetener until smooth.
Step 3: Add your blended mixture to a freezer safe container, and top with the rest of your strawberries and graham crackers.
Step 4: Freeze for 3 hours, enjoy!
Note: No dairy? Swap this recipe for another.
Note: Inspired by @lainiecooks_
Apple “Cookies” with Peanut Butter
Ingredients
1 Apple, small - 77 calories
3 Tbsp Peanut butter, unsweetened (Tbsp) - 282 calories
¼ tsp Cinnamon - 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Slice apple as depicted in picture
Step 2: Spread peanut butter on each slice
Step 3: Top with cinnamon
Note: Alergic to peanuts? Use another nut butter. No nuts? Use a seed butter e.g. sunflower seed butter
Yogurt Bowl with Blueberries and Chocolate
Ingredients
1 Greek Yogurt, plain, 2%, single-serving container - 110 calories
1 cup Blueberries, fresh - 70 calories
1 Tbsp Peanut butter, unsweetened (Tbsp) - 94 calories
1 Tbsp White chocolate chips, Tbsp - 70 calories
¼ tsp Vanilla - 0 calories
¼ tsp Honey - 5 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Combine yogurt, vanilla, and honey, stirring until evenly mixed.
Step 2: Top with peanut butter, chocolate chips, and blueberries.
Note: Want a flavored yogurt? Choose one with less than 15 gm added sugar. No dairy? Use dairy-free yogurt. No nuts? Feel free to use any other nut/seed butter you prefer.
Low Sugar Apple Crisp
Ingredients
1 Apple, small - 77 calories
½ cup Low sugar cereal - 110 calories (try to find high-protein cereal)
1 Tbsp Butter (Tbsp) - 103 calories
¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories
1 tsp Cinnamon - 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Step 2: Dice apple
Step 3: Place cereal in a plastic bag and crush into small pieces with a hard object (like a rolling pin or an ice cream scoop)
Step 4: Melt butter in microwave (in a microwave safe dish for 8-15 seconds until melted)
Step 5: In a large bowl, mix together apple, butter, and seasonings
Step 6: Spray a small casserole dish or ramekin with a coconut oil spray, or olive oil spray if you don’t have coconut
Step 7: Add in apple mixture
Step 8: Bake for 20-30 minutes, until apples have softened
Optional: top with whipped cream or add a scoop of ice cream (not included in calorie amount, if you add it – track it!)
Note: I’m using Catalina Crunch cereal, but use whatever cereal you like (does not have to be “low sugar” – just track what you’re using to be accurate).
Pumpkin Mug Cake
Ingredients
1 Banana - 105 calories
1 Egg, large - 72 calories
1 Tbsp Pumpkin, puree, unsweetened (Tbsp) - 5 calories
3 Tbsp Almond flour/Almond meal - 120 calories
1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 60 calories
½ tsp Maple Syrup (tsp) - 9 calories
½ tsp Vanilla - 0 calories
½ tsp Cinnamon - 0 calories
¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Mash banana in a bowl with a fork in a bowl
Step 2: Add in the rest of the ingredients, and stir to combine
Step 3: Microwave for 2 minutes
Salty Apple Cookies
Ingredients
1 Apple, small - 77 calories
2 Tbsp Peanut butter, unsweetened (Tbsp) - 188 calories
⅛ cup Nuts - 100 calories
⅛ cup Sunflower seeds (cups) - 93 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Slice apple as shown in picture.
Step 2: Spread PB on apples.
Step 3: Top with nuts & seeds (separately or together!).
Strawberries & Yogurt
Ingredients
1 cup Strawberries, fresh - 50 calories
1 Greek Yogurt, plain, 2%, single-serving container - 110 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Dip berries in yogurt.
Step 2: Want a flavored yogurt? Just choose one <15 gm added sugar. No dairy? Use dairy-free yogurt.
Yogurt Bowl with Apple and Chocolate
Ingredients
1 Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, single-serving container - 110 calories
1 Apple, small - 77 calories
1 Tbsp Peanut butter, unsweetened (Tbsp) - 94 calories
1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 60 calories
¼ tsp Vanilla - 0 calories
¼ tsp Honey - 5 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Combine yogurt, vanilla, and honey, stirring until evenly mixed.
Step 2: Top with PB, chocolate chips, and diced apple.
Step 3: Want a flavored yogurt? Choose one with less than 15 gm added sugar. No dairy? Use dairy-free yogurt. No nuts? Feel free to use any other nut/seed butter you prefer.
The Best Banana Bread Mug Cake
Ingredients
1 Banana - 105 calories
1 Egg, large - 72 calories
1 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 60 calories
3 Tbsp Almond flour/Almond meal - 120 calories
¼ tsp Cinnamon - 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Mash banana with a fork in a bowl
Step 2: Crack in egg and add almond flour, mix
Step 3: Add in chocolate chips and cinnamon
Step 4: Spray a mug with an oil spray
Step 5: Add in mixture to the mug
Step 6: Microwave for 120 seconds. If still watery, microwave another 30 seconds.
Mini Parfait
Ingredients
1 Greek Yogurt, plain, 2%, single-serving container - 110 calories
1 Tbsp Coconut chips - 45 calories
0.3 Tbsp Chocolate chips, semisweet, Tbsp - 18 calories
2 Tbsp Almonds, slivered (Tbsp) - 78 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Top single-serving yogurt with coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and almond slivers.
Step 2: Stir & enjoy!
Notes: No dairy or nuts? Use a dairy-free version and feel free to swap out these for any nut or seed you prefer! (Roasted & salted are fine!) Want a flavored yogurt? Just choose one with <15 gm added sugar. Non-dairy yogurts are fine here if you prefer.
Sweet Potato in Yogurt
Ingredients
8 oz Yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, from tub - 170 calories
1 Potato, sweet, medium, 5 inches - 112 calories
¼ tsp Cinnamon - 0 calories
Instructions
Step 1: Wash potato & slice off (be careful) blemishes on skin. Poke holes on all over potato with a fork. Microwave for 4.5 minutes on each side.
Step 2: In a bowl, mix yogurt and sweet potato.
Step 3: Top with cinnamon.
No dairy? Use a dairy free yogurt. Want a flavored yogurt? Choose one with less than 15 gm added sugar.
Protein Peanut Butter Cups
These protein chocolate peanut butter cups only call for 4 ingredients - peanut butter, protein powder (whey protein with vanilla flavor), dark chocolate chips, and coconut oil. They’re super quick and easy to make, very delicious, and they will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth.
Oreo Protein Balls
If you love Oreo, you’ll love these Oreo protein balls! They’re gluten-free, take only 10 minutes to make, and they’re very tasty.
These would also be great for dessert table ideas for your wedding!
If you’re looking for wedding dessert bar ideas, I have lots on my blog!
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