Experiments in High-Protein Recipes

On: Aug 02Author: Rachel TrottaCategories:
Experiments in High-Protein Recipes

Experiments in High-Protein Recipes

When it comes to birthday parties, holidays, or other special occasions, I’m typically a proponent of “just eat the real thing” in moderation. Both for my own lifestyle and the way I coach my clients, it makes the most sense to enjoy the full-fat, full-sugar, full-everything version of a delicious food, in the right portion size that works for your body and your overall wellness.

There’s something to be said for mindfully satisfying yourself with the food you actually want at the time that you want it, rather than denying yourself (only to overcompensate later, which is often what happens).

But on a day to day basis, I honestly have a lot of fun experimenting with high-protein recipes. On a weekend morning, I like making pancakes that have some added protein powder. As a cook, I enjoy testing out how much protein a brownie can contain and still taste like a treat. I’m a combination of a personal trainer who who prioritizes protein, and a curious amateur cook with a penchant for experimentation.

So in today’s blog post, I’m sharing some ideas for high-protein recipes, and this article is sponsored by Naked Nutrition. For the recipes containing protein powder, I’m using their classic Grass-Fed Naked Whey (which is truly one of my favorite protein powders), and for the banana bread muffins recipe, I’m using their new product Naked Bake. This post contains affiliate links, but as I always point out when I recommend products, I never endorse items that I don’t actually use and love.

Something that is unique and highly useful about the Grass-Fed Naked Whey is that it doesn’t have any added flavors or sweeteners, and the texture is beautifully smooth. I find that it “hides” well in smoothies and baked goods, instead of feeling like a punch-in-the-face protein powder. For some of my clients who hate the aftertaste of stevia or who don’t want a protein powder “flavor” (and I feel the same way), this is a great choice.

So let’s get to the recipes!

High-Protein Pancakes

In our house, Saturday morning is “Pancake Day.” My almost-3-year-old daughter asks me sleepily on some mornings as she gets out of bed, “… Is it pancake day?” I’m always happy on the weekend mornings when I can say yes!

This is also a very popular high-protein recipe from my 28-Day Meal Prep Guide, which has 30+ high-protein recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as shopping lists and meal planning charts. You can download it here for free.

Here’s how you make the pancakes…

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Naked Whey protein powder
  • 1.5 cups flour of choice (I use rolled oats ground to a powder in my Nutribullet)
  • 3.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cups skim milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp oil of choice
  • Stevia to taste, if desired

Instructions

Whisk together the dry ingredients first, then mix in the liquid ingredients. Pour small pancakes (I measure 1/8 cup) over medium heat on a non-stick pan. Watch them closely, because they might brown/burn more quickly than traditional pancakes. I suggest a serving size of 1/4 of the recipe.

Tip: You can easily make a berry-flavored syrup by microwaving frozen berries for 2 minutes or more. I love using cherries, blueberries, and raspberries!

Facts

  • 340 calories
  • 28 g protein
High-Protein Brownies

I love, love, love this recipe. For pre- and post-workout, I eat them plain. But if I’m enjoying one as a sweet treat, I add peanut butter and/or vanilla ice cream. At 135 calories, 14 grams of protein, and no added sugar, they’re a lot of fun if you’ve been eating higher protein but need a little break from constant Greek yogurt, egg whites, and protein shakes.

Ingredients

  • 1.25 cups Grass-Fed Naked Whey
  • 1/4 cup brown rice flour
  • 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder (I use Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder – it is life-changing)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder 
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1.5 cups applesauce
  • 8 dropper-fulls liquid stevia
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup skim milk 

Instructions

Whisk together the dry ingredients first, then mix in the liquid ingredients. Bake on 350 for about 45 minutes, but check frequently after 30 minutes by inserting a knife into the middle of the brownies until it comes out clean. They do bake all the way through and shouldn’t be gooey/wet when done. 

Allow to cool, and divide into 8 servings.

Facts

  • 135 calories
  • 14 G protein
Naked Bake Banana Bread

This product, which is new to Naked Nutrition, is super interesting, because it is versatile – it can make muffins, pancakes, shakes, and more.

I decided to make chocolate chip banana bread muffins. I followed the instructions on the container, but I also added chocolate chips.

Ingredients

Instructions

I whisked the mix and water together, poured it into a nonstick muffin tin, and then measured out the chocolate chips and distributed them among the muffins, gently dunking them in each muffin. This made about nine well-sized muffins. I baked on 350 for about 20-25 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center came out clean.

Facts

  • 130 calories
  • 8 g protein
What about you?

Do you like experimenting with recipes like these? Which do you think you’ll try first?

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