Healthy dessert. If you can find them, oh boy is that a gold mine?! Imagine if we were able to satisfy our sweet tooth, and it being healthy to do so. The glory! Well, there is a way. Adding protein to desserts is a healthy way to satisfy your sugar cravings, especially when you’re on a health and wellness journey.

Today, I’m sharing a round-up of healthy, high-protein dessert ideas that you can easily make at home.

Healthy High Protein Desserts

Just to make sure we’re all on the same page, here’s a quick breakdown of what a high-protein dessert is before we start diving into the list. A high protein food is when protein makes up at least 20% of the total calories.

In this post, the high protein desserts I’ll be sharing all fit within this criteria and are also delicious and healthy dessert recipes that are also packed with nutrition. 

What Is A High Protein Dessert

Some common protein sources used in desserts are peanut butter (and nuts), milk products, eggs, and more. But you can also include protein additives like protein powders to bump up the protein content as well. Just be mindful that protein powder can affect the flavor.

How To Add Protein To Dessert

Add nuts and nut butters

Got a sweet tooth? One of the easiest ways to add protein to your dessert is to use nut toppings or a nut butter spread. Nuts naturally pair well with many desserts, especially if there’s a chocolate or fruit component to the dish. Think of classics like homemade peanut butter and chocolate Reese’s

Use almond flour or oat flour

Without straying too far away from the flavor, you can swap out the plain flour for one packed with higher amounts of protein like almond flour, oat flour, or even whole wheat flour. Bonus: Substituting regular flour for options like almond flour could also make your dessert gluten free.

Add cottage cheese

A single serving of cottage cheese packs about 11 grams of protein. Interestingly enough, there’s a ton of classic cottage cheese desserts you can try if you’re looking to bump up your protein intake. Some examples are strawberry fluff, cottage cheese puff pastries, or even the Russian classic Pashka, which is similar to a no bake cheesecake.

Incorporate high protein fruits like avocado or figs

Avocado has a neutral flavor, which makes it seamless to blend into desserts that call for creamy textures or ingredients. Figs work great as a natural sweetener to dishes. 

Add Greek yogurt

Baking cookies or making a mug cake? Add in a scoop of Greek yogurt for added protein that won’t take away from the flavor of your dish.

Add protein powder

Of course the easiest thing you can do is add a single serving of protein powder to your favorite desserts. Just be mindful that protein powder can change the texture of your dessert as well as the flavor. However, it’s a great way to add in the exact amounts of extra grams of protein you want and need for the day. There’s also loads of flavors to choose from to help make your dessert fun and tasty.

5 Healthy High Protein Dessert Recipes

Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

289 calories

This easy to whip up ice cream recipe comes out to be 32g Carbs, 28g Protein, 8g Fat, 3g Fiber, and 4g Added Sugar. This creamy and healthy dessert is a close dupe to regular strawberry ice cream with added toppings.

Ingredients

1 cup Cottage cheese, 2% – 180 calories

6 tsp Stevia – 0 calories

1 cup Strawberries, fresh – 50 calories

1 Graham crackers – 59 calories

Instructions

1. Dice strawberries and crush graham cracker into small pieces.
2. In a blender or food processor, blend together cottage cheese, 3/4 of your strawberries, and your sweetener until smooth.
3. Add your blended mixture to a freezer safe container, and top with the rest of your strawberries and graham crackers.
4. Freeze for 3 hours, enjoy!
5. No dairy? Swap this recipe for another.
6. Inspired by @lainiecooks_

Sweet Potato in Yogurt

282 calories

If you’re looking for a healthy dessert, you’ve got to add this one to your weekly rotation. This healthy dessert recipe contains 35g Carbs, 25g Protein, 5g Fat, 4g Fiber, and 0g Added Sugar. There is a subtle and natural sweetness along with a creamy texture. The added spices also make this one perfect for fall, but truly great no matter the time of year. You can also drizzle pure maple syrup on this dish to add even more nutrients. Did you know? Pure maple syrup is high in antioxidants and contains other healthy nutrients like riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium and potassium. 

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

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.
2. In a bowl, mix yogurt and sweet potato.
3. Top with cinnamon.
4. No dairy? Use a dairy free yogurt. Want a flavored yogurt? Choose one with less than 15 gm added sugar.

Chocolate Chip Mini Parfait

251 calories

I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of parfaits, but this yummy recipe will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but also your body with the extra sources of protein. This mini parfait contains an impressive 15g Carbs, 17g Protein, 12g Fat, 3g Fiber, and 2g Added Sugar. The coconut flakes and chocolate chips add a special bite of sweetness and crunch, and the perfect bite you’re looking for in a dessert!

Ingredients

1 Yogurt, plain, Greek, 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

1. Top single-serving yogurt with coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and almond slivers.
2. Stir & enjoy!
3. 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. You can also try this one with frozen yogurt for a different twist.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

316 calories

Want more protein? Just add bacon! Haha, I mean who doesn’t love the sweet and savory combo? Try these bacon wrapped dates for a mouth watering flavor bomb in one bite. It comes out to be 34g Carbs, 15g Protein, 12g Fat, 4g Fiber, and 0g Added Sugar. And tastes oh so delicious!

Ingredients

2 Dates – 120 calories

¼ cup Ricotta cheese, part-skim – 108 calories

2 Uncured bacon, slice – 88 calories

Instructions

1. Slice dates in halves, and cut raw bacon strips in halves.
2. Add a small amount of ricotta to date halves.
3. Wrap with bacon and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees.
4. No dairy? Use a dairy-free ricotta. No ricotta? Use feta (regular). No bacon? Use turkey or soy bacon.

The Best Banana Bread Mug Cake

357 calories

This is a great mug cake recipe if you’re looking. It comes out to be about 39g Carbs, 14g Protein, 20g Fat, 7g Fiber, and 5g Added Sugar. 14 grams of protein is a pretty solid amount that’s already in this healthy dessert, but if you want to take things up a notch, you can add in a scoop of your favorite protein powder as well to make this dish even more high protein.

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

1. Mash banana with a fork in a bowl
2. Crack in egg and add almond flour, mix
3. Add in chocolate chips and cinnamon
4. Spray a mug with an oil spray
5. Add in mixture to the mug
6. Microwave for 120 seconds. If still watery, microwave another 30 seconds.

Wondering what does 100 grams of protein look like? Check out this comprehensive and visual guide to see.

Looking for more healthy dessert ideas? Here are some great honorable mentions: best low carb desserts and this list of some 3 ingredient desserts, making them even easier to whip up quickly at home.