Chocolate Protein Cake {71 Kcal Recipe}

Name: Chocolate Protein Cake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 egg; ½ cup (120 g) Greek yogurt (nonfat); ½ cup (50 g) oat flour (or preferred flour); ½ cup (50 g) protein powder; ¼ cup (20 g) cocoa powder; ¾ tsp baking powder; ¼ to ¾ cup (60 to 180 ml) milk of choice (see notes*); sweetener of choice (to taste (if using unflavored protein powder, see notes*))

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The recipe for protein cake that you’ve always wanted – moist Chocolate Protein Cake! Clocking in at 71 calories per slice, this macro-friendly dessert satisfies your cravings without guilt.

If you are looking for more protein desserts, you should also try my protein muffins, protein cheesecake, moist protein banana bread and flourless protein brownies.

High protein cake
Ingredients
How to make protein cake
What protein powder is good for baking?
Dietary adaptations
Storage information
Matteo’s tips
Frequently asked questions
More protein desserts
Chocolate Protein Cake Recipe

High protein cake

A couple of days ago I was talking with a friend about random stuffs. Maybe because it was lunchtime or maybe because everyone loves food, the topic moved to cakes. He was explaining how much he loves desserts when, knowing about my blog, he asked:

“Can I use protein powder instead of flour for baking?”.

Following Benjamin Franklin lines (“tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”), my reply wasn’t with words. I went to the kitchen and came back with the answer: a slice of chocolate protein cake. Or better, the easiest and most macro-friendly cake ever!

Ingredients

This is a very simple recipe for protein cake. You only need a handful of ingredients that you probably already have at home – no sugar, no oil and no nut butter.

Egg. Use a large fresh egg, or replace with a flaxseed egg if you follow a vegan diet.
Greek yogurt. This recipe works with any thick yogurt of your choice – dairy or nondairy – as long as it has a firm texture. For more protein and fewer calories, I like nonfat Greek yogurt.
Oat flour. Use homemade or store-bought oat flour, gluten-free if necessary. As an alternative you can utilize wholewheat flour, all purpose flour or almond flour for keto protein cake.
Protein powder. For the moistest protein cake, I recommend vegan protein powder, casein or a mix of casein and whey. Whey alone, is not the best option because it tends to dry when exposed to heat.
Cocoa powder. For a healthier treat, prefer natural cocoa powder without added sugars.
Milk of choice. This protein dessert can be made with either dairy or nondairy milk, I used unsweetened soy milk.
Baking powder. This will help your chocolate protein cake rise.

How to make protein cake

Step 1: Get ready for baking. First of all, preheat the oven to 180ºC (350°F) and fold a 20 cm (7.8 inches) cake mold with parchment paper. Set aside for later while you prepare the protein batter.

Step 2: Mix the dough. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg together with the Greek yogurt until it is smooth. Add now oat flour, protein powder, cocoa powder and baking powder. Start mixing, gradually adding the milk until you get a smooth cake batter. Start with about 60 ml (or 1/4 cup) and add as much as 180 ml (3/4 cup) – the amount of milk depends on the protein powder that you use.

mixing wet ingredients for the protein cake

Step 3: Bake and enjoy. Transfer the protein batter to the prepared mold and bake in hot oven for 20 to 25 minutes. You know it is ready when a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Before serving, let cool at room temperature.

Watch the video recipe

What protein powder is good for baking?

This recipe for protein cake uses (chocolate) casein protein powder. After years of experience in baking with protein powder, I can tell you that casein and vegan protein powders are the best options. Differently from whey, they do not dry out when heated and therefore make a moister chocolate dessert. If using whey, the texture may be slightly dry and rubbery.

In terms of flavor, my recommendation is to use either chocolate or vanilla protein powder. Here I used chocolate. Besides matching with the recipe, flavored protein powders are usually sweetened (without sugars). This way you won’t need any additional sweetener!

If opting for unflavored protein, you may need to fix the taste with a couple tablespoons of maple syrup, honey, monk fruit or any other sweetener. Keep this in mind when baking cake with protein powder!

Dietary adaptations

Keto protein cake. Replace oat flour with blanched almond flour and choose a keto-friendly protein powder. To cut more carbs, you may use Greek-style soy yogurt instead of the regular.
Vegan protein cake. Substitute the egg with one flaxseed egg, choose vegan protein powder, use dairy-free yogurt and plant based milk. I recommend soy yogurt, it is high in protein and low in carbs.
Dairy-free protein dessert. Swap regular Greek yogurt and milk for nondairy alternatives such as unsweetened almond milk and soy yogurt. Additionally, you’ll need a vegan protein powder.
Gluten-free fit cake. Use either certified gluten-free oat flour or almond flour in combination with gluten-free protein powder. I recommend casein or a casein/whey blend.

Storage information

Before storing, make sure you allow the dessert to cool completely. I suggest taking it out of the oven, placing it over a dish and letting it rest at room temperature. Once it has cooled, transfer into a food container and refrigerate for a maximum of 3 days.

For a longer storage, seal it in zipper bags and freeze. Frozen protein cake will last for up to 3 months. And when the cravings hit, take it out of the freezer and pop in hot oven for a couple of minutes. Enjoy, my friend!

Matteo’s tips

Use flavored protein powder. As this recipe has no additional sweetener, I suggest flavored protein powders. My favorite options are chocolate and vanilla.
Use vegan protein powder or casein. Avoid whey because it will make your dessert pretty dry. I usually bake with casein.
Sweeten if necessary. In case you opt for unflavored protein powder, you may need to fix the taste with additional sweetener. A couple tablespoons of maple syrup, honey or erythritol should be enough.
Add milk gradually. When mixing the batter, start with little milk and add as much as you need to get a smooth consistency. This depends on the protein powder you used.
Store in the fridge. After refrigerating for a couple of hours, its texture will improve while the flavors will become more pronounced. Additionally, the cake will last longer in the fridge.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my protein cake dry?

If your cake comes out dry, chances are that you are using whey protein. Whey protein powder dries out when heated and therefore it is not recommended for this recipe. To make it less dry, prefer casein or vegan protein powder.

Can all protein powders be used in baking?

Ideally, you should bake this chocolate cake with vegan protein powder, casein or a mix of whey and casein. Although it can also be used, whey is not the best option because it dries out when exposed to high temperatures.

Does protein powder go bad in heat?

Protein powder does not go bad in heat and maintains its nutritional values. However, it denatures – or to put it simply, it changes its structure. But this is NOT a bad thing. At all! Because the denaturation of protein is a process that normally occurs in your body.

Are protein cakes healthy?

If made with the right ingredients, protein cakes can be healthy and nutritious. Just like this protein chocolate dessert: low-calorie, low carb, sugar-free, oil-free and gluten-free!

How much milk should I add?

The quantity of milk depends on the type protein powder you use. Casein and vegan protein powder will require more milk (about 180 ml or 3/4 cup) than whey (about 60 ml or 1/4 cup). Start with little milk and add as much as you need to get a smooth batter.

How to replace protein powder?

You can replace protein powder with oat flour, almond flour or any flour of your choice. However, keep in mind that the protein content of your cake will be lower.

Can I cook my protein cake in the microwave?

Unfortunately you cannot cook this dessert in the microwave – you need an oven.

More protein desserts

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