Dessert lovers rejoice! You’ve stumbled on a treasure trove of recipes, carefully curated by yours truly. These high protein desserts without protein powder serve up both delectable flavour and nutrition. Read on to learn how to make decadent brownies, cookies, smoothies, protein balls, and more, all protein powder-free!
Saving room for dessert is one way to enjoy life to the fullest. But in some quarters, dessert has a reputation for being nutritionally empty. It needn’t be so! Dessert is the perfect place to pack in protein, a powerful macronutrient that can help control hunger, regulate hormones and balance blood sugar.
Have protein powder in your pantry? Check out this collection of amazing ways to use protein powder in dessert. But if you don't have protein powder on hand, no worries. Many protein-rich ingredients are dessert classics. Dairy, including milk and yogurt, stars in many of these dessert recipes. Nut butters, too. There are also some sophisticated options you may not expect, like tofu, chia, and hemp seeds. The subtle, earthy flavour of chickpeas pairs perfectly with chocolate, and a single cup offers 14.5 grams of protein!
I’m confident you’ll find a dessert recipe to love in this round up. For even more dessert inspiration, check out my Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie. Tastes like cheesecake and delivers 20+ grams of protein - no protein powder needed!
High Protein Desserts Without Protein Powder
This delicious Cottage Cheese Lemon Ice Cream is the perfect blend of creamy cottage cheese & zesty lemon. And you can prep it ahead of time!
Lemon Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Try this creamy, cinnamon-spiced custard drink sweetened with honey! It works with any meal or as a nutrient-packed snack!
High Protein Custard Drink
Blueberry Frozen Cottage Cheese Bark is a tasty snack or refreshing dessert that can be whipped up in 15 minutes and kept in the freezer!
Frozen Blueberry Cottage Cheese Bark
Vibrant blueberries & creamy cottage cheese make these homemade popsicles taste like blueberry cheesecake and a perfect summertime treat!
Cottage Cheese Popsicles
Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies are fudgy & delicious. Gluten-free, sweetened with only maple syrup (can be vegan, dairy-free).
Black Bean Brownies
Whipped Cottage Cheese Lemon Mousse is made with three simple ingredients and makes a high-protein snack as well as a delicious dessert!
High Protein Lemon Mousse
A filling breakfast or delicious snack this cottage cheese smoothie has 20+ grams of protein and tastes like classic Strawberry Cheesecake!
High Protein Smoothie without Protein Powder
This brownie batter chocolate hummus is the perfect healthier dessert for a crowd! Plus, it’s completely vegan and refined sugar free.
Recipe: Eat with Clarity
Brownie Batter Chocolate Hummus
Recipe: Eat with Clarity
If you’re looking for quick and easy high protein and gluten-free snacks, these Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect choice.
Recipe: The Cooking Foodie
Cottage Cheese Cookies
Recipe: The Cooking Foodie
Rich, creamy high-protein chocolate mousse made with silken tofu—a dairy-free treat to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
Recipe: At My Table
Tofu Chocolate Mousse
Recipe: At My Table
Here’s how to make the viral hard boiled egg chocolate pudding. It’s rich, creamy and packed with protein.
Recipe: Eating Bird Food
Hard Boiled Egg Creamy Chocolate Pudding
Recipe: Eating Bird Food
This flourless black bean chocolate cake is going to surprise you. It’s a delicious, moist, chocolate cake that’s completely flourless and gluten-free. You can also make it dairy-free with a simple swap.
Recipe: The Peasant's Daughter
Black Bean Cake
Recipe: The Peasant's Daughter
Quick, flavorful, and packed with Greek yogurt and peanut butter goodness, these cups are the ultimate satisfying snack. Keep your energy levels stable with these irresistible Greek yogurt peanut butter cups.
Recipe: Lindsay Pleskot
Greek Yogurt Cups with Magic Chocolate Shell
Recipe: Lindsay Pleskot
when it comes to chocolate treats, these 4-Ingredient Chickpea Chocolate Truffles take the cake. Made with just 4 simple ingredients, these truffles are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, and are packed with protein, which means that these sweet treats will make you feel good from the inside out.
Recipe: Kale Junkie
Chocolate Chickpea Truffles
Recipe: Kale Junkie
Easy vegan baked cheesecake with hazelnut crust and a creamy tofu vanilla filling. It’s smooth, perfectly sweet, gluten free and refined sugar free.
Recipe: Early Brawd
Tofu Baked Cheesecake
Recipe: Early Brawd
Creamy vegan chocolate tofu cheesecake with a sweet and salty peanut butter pretzel crust. Absolutely to die for & almost no bake!
Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen
Vegan Dark Chocolate Tofu Cheesecake
Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen
This frozen chocolate yogurt is delectably rich and creamy without the indulgence! It’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup and has a deep chocolate flavor from cacao. With each bite you’ll get a refreshing dose of tangy chocolate that’s good until the last drop.
Recipe: The Fit Peach
Greek Yogurt Frozen Ice Cream
Recipe: The Fit Peach
These protein peanut butter cheesecake cups are the perfect mid-day treat or dessert! These protein-packed treats are so easy to make!
Recipe: Carmyy
Protein Peanut Butter Cheesecake Cups
Recipe: Carmyy
These no-bake high protein cheesecake jars come together quickly, easily, and with five ingredients! 30 grams of protein per serving.
Recipe: Carmyy
Protein Cheesecake Jars
Recipe: Carmyy
These Vegan Chickpea Protein Cookie Dough Bliss Balls are the perfect healthy plant based snack.
Recipe: Avocado Skillet
Chickpea Cookie Dough Balls
Recipe: Avocado Skillet
These chewy 6-ingredient Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies are protein-packed and loaded with plenty of peanut butter and minimal sugar.
Recipe: The Almond Eater
Chickpea Cookies
Recipe: The Almond Eater
This 3 ingredient Cottage Cheese Fudge is a rich, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth treat packed with 4 grams of protein.
Recipe: iFoodReal
Cottage Cheese Fudge
Recipe: iFoodReal
This four-ingredient homemade strawberry smoothie bowl is high in protein, healthy, and super refreshing. Top with your favorite granola for the perfect healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Recipe: Healthful Blondie
Strawberry Smoothie Dessert Bowl
Recipe: Healthful Blondie
These peanut butter Greek yogurt bites are the perfect treat with a smooth and creamy yogurt center and a crisp layer of chocolate on the outside.
Recipe: Eating Bird Food
Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Bites
Recipe: Eating Bird Food
A totally foolproof recipe for a super delish, not to mention paleo-friendly panna cotta with a blueberry sauce on top.
Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta with Blueberry Sauce
This Vegan Lemon Posset is a simple, refreshing silken tofu dessert complete with a rich, custard-like consistency.
Vegan Lemon Posset
These protein balls without protein powder are the perfect snack to fight off hanger! They are made with 8 simple ingredients and ready in 10!
Recipe: Joy to the Food
Protein Balls without Protein Powder
Recipe: Joy to the Food
Light Chocolate Cheesecakes: decadent, fudgy cheesecake with less than 150 calories! Perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day! Because, chocolate.
Recipe: The Recipe Rebel
Light Chocolate Cheesecakes
Recipe: The Recipe Rebel
Cottage Cheese Dessert bowls with 29 grams of protein and all your favorite sweet toppings. These are quick, easy, and customizable.
Recipe: Oh Snap Macros
High Protein Dessert Bowls
Recipe: Oh Snap Macros
Fudgy brownies with more protein and less sugar. Cottage cheese brownies are a healthier sweet treat that taste delicious.
Recipe: Real Life Nutritionist
Cottage Cheese Brownies
Recipe: Real Life Nutritionist
Greek yogurt and peanut butter create a delicious base for bananas, chocolate, and peanuts to freeze for a quick summer snack.
Recipe: Evolving Table
Chunky Monkey Frozen Yogurt Bark
Recipe: Evolving Table
Simple 7-ingredient, plant-based shake made with protein-rich whole food ingredients and NO protein powder. Creamy, chocolaty, naturally sweetened, and just 1 blender and 5 minutes to prepare.
Recipe: Minimalist Baker
Protein Powder Free Chocolate Protein Shake
Recipe: Minimalist Baker
If you tried any of these High Protein Desserts or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!)
Meg says
The Cheesecake Jars Look SO good!! Thanks for the list! Going to try a few soon!