No-Bake High-Protein Cakes
Three easy sweet treats that take the cake
No matter where you go, an enticing slice of cake will eventually show up in front of you whether you like it or not.
Maybe you’ll see it because someone brought it into the office.
Maybe you’ll spot it in the coffee shop while grabbing your coffee.
Or maybe you’ll eat it at your friend’s birthday party, where slices usually get passed around like a hot potato.
The sight of it is inevitable, and so is the temptation.
Even if you’re more of a pie person like me, the allure of cake can surprisingly reel you in every once in a while.
In those moments, what do we usually tell ourselves?
“One slice of cake won’t hurt me!”
While that’s technically true, it’s also true that the weight scale might not agree, which becomes clear when seeing an increase of 2 pounds compared to your previous weight the next day.
I don’t like surprises like this, so I make plans to avoid them.
One of those plans comes in the form of these high-protein cakes made with one secret ingredient: dessert shells.
They’re the perfect base for making high-protein cakes because:
They’re usually 40-60 calories per cake
Have a similar texture to real cake
Requires only making frosting and adding toppings.
Today, I’m going to show you three ways I use them to make high-protein treats in minutes. Here are the options:
Chocolate Yellow Cake
Lemon Cream Cake
Strawberry Shortcake
With these options, I’m confident it will take more than a little cake temptation to get you off track on your fitness journey.
They’re delicious, decadent, and most importantly, they don’t feel like you’re dieting.
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Here are a few notes regarding the recipes:
You can usually find dessert shells near the deli section of your grocery store.
Use a good-tasting protein powder that you’ve tried before in each recipe.
Refrigerate the protein frostings for 15-20 minutes for improved texture.
Whip the protein frosting with a hand mixer or a blender to give it a lighter texture.
Chocolate Yellow Cake
28G Protein Per Cake | 284 Calories | 5 Minutes | 1 Serving
Ingredient List
2 dessert shells
1 tsp cocoa powder
2-3 tbsp light or fat-free whipped topping
2 tbsp 1% milk
2 tbsp zero-calorie sweetener
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
Add the protein powder, cocoa powder, and zero-calorie sweetener to a bowl. Pour in the milk and vanilla extract and stir well.
Add the whipped topping to the bowl and mix until well combined.
Spread half of the frosting on top of the hole of the dessert shell.
Turn the dessert shell upside down so the hole is facing down and press it against the top of the frosting.
Coat the top of the other dessert shell with the rest of the frosting Then it’s time to eat!
Lemon Cream Cake
29G Protein Per Cake | 299 Calories | 5 Minutes | 1 Serving
Ingredient List
Filling
2 dessert shells
1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/2 scoop non-fat Greek yogurt
2 light laughing cow wedges or 2 tbsp light cream cheese
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp zero-calorie sweetener
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp lemon extract (optional)
Cooking Instructions
In a bowl, combine the laughing cow wedges and protein powder. Mix for a few minutes until smooth and well combined.
Add the Greek yogurt and stir until fully incorporated.
Add the zero-calorie sweetener, lemon juice, and extracts. Stir until the sweetener fully dissolves and the frosting is smooth.
Spread half of the frosting on top of the hole of the dessert shell.
Turn the dessert shell upside down so the hole is facing down and press it against the top of the frosting.
Coat the top of the other dessert shell with the rest of the frosting. Then it’s time to eat!
Strawberry Shortcake
18G Protein Per Cake | 190 Calories | 5 Minutes | 1 Serving
Ingredient List
Filling
1 dessert shell
3 strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
3 tbsp light whipped topping
1 egg white
1 1/3 tbsp zero-calorie sweetener
1/3 tsp sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
In a bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, whipped topping, egg white, pudding mix, vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp of zero-calorie sweetener.
In another bowl, add the sliced strawberries and top with 1 tsp of sweetener. Mix with the strawberries until the sweetener dissolves.
Spoon 3/4 of the Greek yogurt cream you made in step 1 in the middle of a plate. Place 1 dessert shell on top.
Add the rest of the cream on top of the shell. Top the cream with the strawberries. Now it’s time to eat!
Don’t forget to check out the archive here for other gourmet high-protein recipes.
Eat Well,
Marcus Matkins
I'm more of a pie guy myself, too. I've "bulked" on pumpkin pie quite a few times in my day :D That said, I've tried something very similar to the chocolate yellow cake and can confirm it tastes incredible.