These fudgy whey protein brownies are made with just 6 simple ingredients, and they bake in just 20 minutes. This healthy protein snack is great for meal prep, too!
Recipe Summary: Whey Protein Brownies
- ✅ Recipe Name: Whey Protein Brownies
- 🧑🍳Equipment Needed: Square baking pan, kitchen scale, mixing bowl.
- 🕒 Ready In: 35 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 9 (easy to scale)
- 🍽 Calories: 177cal per brownie
- 💪🏼 Protein: 12g per brownie
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Unsweetened applesauce, almond butter, protein powder, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, salt
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, contains dairy and nuts
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: These whey protein brownies are rich, chocolatey, and fudgy, with no flour needed. They're made with just six simple ingredients and are baked in only 20 minutes for an easy high protein dessert or healthy snack. Great for meal prep!
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Like our protein powder banana bread, these gluten free protein brownies are a great make-ahead high protein snack!
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Why This Recipe Works ✅
🍫 Whey protein gives the brownies structure without flour. Whey proteins set as they heat, which helps the brownies hold together. But whey can also create a firmer, more cake-like texture when baked, so the rest of the formula is designed to prevent that from happening.
🍎 Applesauce and almond butter work together to keep the texture soft and fudgy. Applesauce adds a generous amount of moisture, while almond butter contributes fat and richness. Together, they interfere with the firm protein network that whey can form during baking, helping prevent the brownies from becoming dry or overly cake-like.
The result is a soft, rich brownie with enough structure to hold together, but much less of the cake-like texture that whey protein can naturally produce.
Ingredients
For exact quantities and the products I recommend, scroll to the recipe card below.
Unsweetened applesauce: Adds moisture and helps keep the brownies soft rather than cake-like.
Almond butter: Adds richness and fat, which helps balance the structure-building effect of the whey protein.
Chocolate whey protein powder: Contributes much of the chocolate flavor and structure. Opt for whey protein concentrate, not isolate. Other types of protein powder would not work in this recipe.
Cocoa powder: Deepens the chocolate flavor. I use alkalized cocoa powder for its smoother, richer chocolate flavor.
Coconut sugar: Adds a little extra sweetness to balance the cocoa and protein powder. Coconut sugar is an unrefined, lower-glycemic alternative to white sugar, with a caramel-like flavor that works especially well in chocolate recipes.
Salt: Enhances the chocolate flavor.
If you'd like to make a more indulgent brownie with collagen powder (and real butter), see this recipe for super-fudgy collagen brownies.
Substitutions and Variations
Sweetener swap: Feel free to swap out the coconut sugar for granulated erythritol or your sweetener of choice. If you use a liquid sweetener like maple syrup or honey, you may need to bake the brownies for a few minutes longer.
Go nuts! Substitute the almond butter with peanut butter for peanut butter protein brownies, or use your favorite nut or seed butter.
Go bananas! Swap out the applesauce for mashed banana or canned pumpkin.
For chocolate chip protein brownies, add ¼ cup sugar free chocolate chips
Add ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans for aded texture and flavor.
How to Make Whey Protein Brownies
Step 1: Preheat oven to 325F (163C), and line an 8" square baking pan with parchment paper and/or spray it with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Mix applesauce and almond butter until combined well. It won't be smooth, but there should be no large lumps of almond butter.
Step 3: Add remaining ingredients, and mix well.
Step 4: Let the brownie batter sit for 5 minutes to allow the protein the hydrate. (It's worth the wait; skipping this will give you dry protein brownies!)
Step 5: Pour the brownie batter into the pan.
Step 6: Bake protein brownies for 18-20 minutes, just until firm. Let the brownies cool slightly in the pan, about 10-15 minutes.
Step 7: Remove the brownies from the pan and cut into 9 equal pieces (3 cuts each way). And enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use chocolate whey protein concentrate for this brownie recipe. Whey isolate will result in dry protein brownies.
Expect the brownies to feel firm to the touch when baked. The texture inside will still be soft and fudgy when you bite into them.
More Chocolate Protein Treats
✅ If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below. And tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!
These whey protein brownies are even better the next day. Make them today, and enjoy them all week!
Recipe
Whey Protein Brownies Recipe (Fudgy, High Protein)
Equipment
- oven thermometer highly recommended
- parchment paper
- kitchen scale highly recommended
- mixing bowl
- spoon
- rubber spatula recommended, to get all of the batter out of the pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup (222 g) unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup (128 g) almond butter
- 1 ¼ cup (135 g) chocolate whey protein powder
- 2 tablespoons (11 g) cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) coconut sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon (0.7 g) salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F (163C).
- Line an 8" square pan with parchment paper.
- Mix applesauce and almond butter until combined well.1 cup (222 g) unsweetened applesauce, ½ cup (128 g) almond butter
- Add remaining ingredients, and mix well.1 ¼ cup (135 g) chocolate whey protein powder, 2 tablespoons (11 g) cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons (18 g) coconut sugar, ⅛ teaspoon (0.7 g) salt
- Let the brownie batter sit for 5 minutes to allow the protein the hydrate.
- Pour batter into pan, and bake for 18-20 minutes, just until firm. (It will be firm to the touch, but the bite will still be soft!)
- Let the brownies cool slightly in the pan, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove the brownies from the pan and cut into 9 equal pieces (3 cuts each way). And enjoy!
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Andréa says
These brownies are a staple for me as a filling high protein snack. They're easy to make and stay fresh for the week. I sometimes add chocolate chips or chopped nuts. Love them!