Can You Bake with Plant Protein Powder? Tips and Recipes for Success

Article at a Glance:

• Adding protein powder to baked goods such as cookies and muffins is a great way to boost your protein intake and create healthier sweets.
• There are some considerations and adjustments you’ll need to make to your recipe when adding protein powder.
• LiveComplete Nutrimatch protein powder blends flawlessly into baked goods with some simple tweaks to your recipe. 

Protein powders are an excellent addition to a healthy diet. They can help increase quality protein intake and fill in the gaps of whole foods. Plant-based proteins are gaining popularity as many people are swapping animal proteins for a plant-based eating pattern. 

When you think of protein powder, you may initially think, protein shake, and although protein shakes can be a quick and convenient way to increase protein intake on the go, these powders are also a great addition to baked goods. Adding protein powder to cookies, pancakes, or muffins can help increase satiety, boost muscle-building power, and increase essential amino acid intake. 

In this article, we’ll review how to easily include plant-based proteins into baking, plus a few simple sweet recipes. 

Can You Bake with Plant Protein Powder?

The short answer is, yes! With the right proportions and techniques, you can easily include plant-based protein powder into your baked goods. 

In fact, swapping standard dry ingredients for protein powder can boost that food’s nutritional value and keep you fuller, ultimately eliminating cravings. If you’re used to baking with whey protein powder, there are a few differences to consider when using the plant-based alternative. 

• Plant-based protein powders tend to absorb more moisture and can result in a drier texture. You may need to increase the liquid ingredients in your recipe to retain moisture and a lighter texture.  
• They may have an earthy taste, but this can be masked simply by increasing the sweetener. 
• You may need to increase the amount of baking powder or soda to enhance the rise of your baked goods. 

Choosing the Right Plant Protein Powder for Baking

• Pea protein – provides a mild flavor and smooth texture. It works great for muffins, pancakes, breads, and cookies. 
• Brown rice protein – easily digestible and best for protein bars and brownies. 
• Hemp protein – high in fiber and omega-3s. This protein powder works well with recipes that involve nutty flavors like banana bread or granola bars. 
• Protein blends – tend to be versatile in various baked goods and create a smooth texture.

Tips:

• Look for unflavored or mildly flavored options.
• Avoid powders with additives or sweeteners that might affect the flavor of the recipe.
  

Tips for Baking with Plant Protein Powder

1. Substitute wisely: Don’t replace all the flour — try swapping ¼ to ⅓ of the flour with protein powder.
   
2. Adjust liquids: Plant protein absorbs more liquid than whey protein powder or other baking dry ingredients — increase the liquid (e.g.,milk, oil, or applesauce) slightly.
   
3. Combine with moisture-retaining ingredients, such as mashed banana, pumpkin, and yogurt.
   
4. Include binders in your recipe: Ground flax, chia, or psyllium husk can all help improve texture.
   
5. Mind the flavor: Plant protein can be earthy or nutty — balance with natural sweeteners or spices such as honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, or ginger.
   
6. Lower baking temps slightly: Helps prevent drying out.
   

Baking with LiveComplete NutriMatch Protein Powder

LiveCompletes NutriMatch protein powder is a plant-based blend engineered to achieve a 96.2% match to human muscle. 

Not only does LiveComplete’s protein powder provide a superior amino acid blend, it also blends beautifully in baked goods! You can mix it smoothly into batters and doughs while avoiding clumps. 

Like any protein powder added to baked goods, LiveComplete protein can add some density to the mixture. However, there are some simple tips, tested by our expert recipe team, to help you create light and fluffy baked goods using LiveComplete protein powder. 

• Increase baking powder or soda by about 15-20%
• Add about a tsp of apple cider vinegar or ½ tsp of cream of tartar
• Avoid opening the oven door while baking 
• Use the correct size pan and fill about 2/3rds with batter 
• Let baked goods fully cool before removing them from the pan

Easy Plant Protein Baking Recipes

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies:
  • Make a flax “egg” by mixing 2 Tbsp flax meal and ½ cup water
  • Then mix with 1 cup oats (blend into flour texture), 1 ½ cups almond flour, ½ cup unflavored LiveComplete protein powder, 1 tsp baking powder, ¼ tsp salt, dash of ground cinnamon, dash of ground nutmeg,  ½ cup peanut butter, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 tsp vanilla extract, ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips
  • Roll into balls and bake at 350°F for 17-20 min.
• Date Sweetened no bake granola bars
  • Dates, almond butter, LiveComplete protein powder, cacao nibs, pecans, pepitas, chia seeds, flax meal, and oats 
    
• High-Protein Strawberry Blintzes
  • Whole wheat flour, LiveComplete protein powder, white beans, soy milk, and maple syrup 

LiveComplete Takeaways

Substituting a portion of dry ingredients in your baked goods with plant-based protein powder is a great way to increase their nutritional value, make them more filling, and increase your daily protein intake. With a few simple tweaks to your recipe, you can create protein-packed, yummy treats your whole family can enjoy!