Snacks

March 14, 2021

Healthy Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts

Made with three types of chocolate and infused with mint, these Healthy Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts are the perfect protein packed snack or breakfast! Each donut is 67 calories and you'd never guess they are refined sugar-free.

Tyler and I live in an older apartment complex in an older neighborhood in central Utah, so there's not a ton of young married couples our age. However, over the 18 months we've lived here, we managed to make some friends that live just down the street!

Hailey is a newly graduated nurse and her husband works from home, so I actually get to see them more than I thought. One day, Hailey texted me and asked if we could hang out. She had just gotten her donut pans back from her sister and wanted to try a new donut recipe! As an avid foodie and food blogger, I agreed without hesitation!

To be honest, I was a little skeptical at first about the whole "baked donut" thing. But after trying a vanilla glazed donut recipe, I was sold. I immediately went home and bought my own donut pans to write my own recipe!

Since St. Patrick's Day is around the corner, today's special recipe is mint chocolate flavored. BUT! Homemade donuts are more addicting than you think, so these donuts are special Healthy Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts! Just to give you an idea of how these compare to the classic Krispy Kreme Glazed Donut, THREE of my donuts have the same amount of calories as ONE Krispy Kreme Donut!

A Mint Chocolate Protein Donut with a bite out of it

Ingredients you'll need

  • Dark Chocolate Kodiak Cakes mix: I found this particular mix at Walmart and got so excited! It adds another element of chocolate to the donuts, as well as a source of whole grains and plant-based protein.
  • Chocolate whey protein powder: I love this brand because it's so affordable - like you can't get quality protein powder in bulk for that price anywhere else. I keep some on hand for recipes like this, as well as delicious protein shakes. If you don't have protein powder on hand, it's well worth the investment!
  • Stevia: a natural, calorie-free, plant-based alternative to regular granulated sugar. I buy mine in bulk from Walmart for a great price and use it all the time.
  • Cocoa powder: provides a rich, chocolate flavor to compliment the sweet mint.
  • Almond milk: creamy and full of vitamins with less calories than traditional milk. However, any milk will work!
  • Pumpkin puree: a healthier substitute to butter and oil without sacrificing moisture. You can also use equal amounts of applesauce!
  • Liquid egg whites: provide a boost of pure protein to the homemade donuts!
  • Large egg: to help bind the wet and dry ingredients, as well as keep the donuts moist.
  • Mint extract: the perfect touch for these Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts! Be careful, it's very potent, so a few drops go a long way.
  • Green food coloring: not required but definitely helps with visually seeing the "mint!"
  • Lily's Mint Chocolate Chips: helps keep these chocolate protein donuts refined sugar-free while adding another source of mint! They are so delicious.
  • Chocolate sprinkles: totally optional but sprinkles make everything better! Please note that technically adding sprinkles does add refined sugar to the recipe, but the amount is so small you can't really count it!

Expert tips for homemade donuts

Before making the donut batter, you need a good donut pan! I love this one from Amazon because it's nonstick, the perfect size, and you get two pans for one great price!

Just like most other baking recipes, mix the dry ingredients, mix the wet ingredients, then mix both bowls together. Your batter should be thick enough that you'll want to avoid spooning the batter into the donut pan ;)

Here's where a good home-baker's trick comes in: homemade piping bags! I don't have any on hand (I'm not really an avid baker), but if you do have some, now is a great time to use one.

To make a homemade piping bag, spoon the batter into a sandwich-size ziploc bag, then cut a small hole in one of the bottom ends.

In my experience, the bag expands once the batter starts to squeeze out, so start with a smaller slit that you think. It's not very fun to have too big of a slit and make a mess of your donut pan!

Baked Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts topped with a green mint icing and chocolate sprinkles

Once the batter is finished, gently press the chocolate chips into each donut, then bake in the oven. Remove the donuts onto a cooling rack after baking.

The icing is simple: whisk together the Stevia, egg whites, 3-4 drops of green food coloring, and a three drops of mint extract until smooth and runny.

To finish the donuts, dunk the top of each donut in the prepared icing, place on a cooling rack to drip, and garnish with chocolate sprinkles.

Keep reading for the recipe video!

Why you'll love these mint chocolate baked donuts

If the pictures haven't convinced you yet, let's take a look at the nutritional profile of THREE of my homemade donuts and compare them to ONE Krispy Kreme Donut:

(3) Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts

  • Calories: 201
  • Fat: 6g
  • Carbs: 15g
  • Sugar (natural): 4.5g
  • Protein: 18g

(1) Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Donut

  • Calories: 190
  • Fat: 11g
  • Carbs: 22g
  • Sugar (added): 10g
  • Protein: 3g

A Mint Chocolate Protein Donut with a bite out of it

If you need a simpler comparison, my donuts have half as much fat, half as much sugar, and six times the protein! Yes, there is a time and a place for our favorite indulgent desserts, but now you can have three donuts instead of one AND the donuts are made with more wholesome ingredients. Win-win!

Each donut also has a source of whole grains and three types of chocolate: chocolate Kodiak Cakes, cocoa powder, and Lily's mint chocolate chips. Yum!

Frequently asked questions

Can I make these donuts gluten-free?

I have not tested these donuts with gluten-free mix, but I think a gluten-free pancake mix would work.

Can I make these donuts vegan?

Because this recipe calls for an egg, egg whites, and whey protein powder, I don't think it would be successful to substitute any of these ingredients. There are plenty of vegan homemade donuts on Pinterest that you can add mint extract to!

Can I make these chocolate protein donuts without Kodiak Cakes?

Possibly, but this has not been tested and there will be many changes to the recipe, which could result in a less-than-par homemade donut. See the above gluten-free question for options.

If you can't find the Dark Chocolate Kodiak Cakes but you can find the regular mix, try adding an additional two tablespoons of cocoa powder, a tablespoon of milk, and expect to have leftover batter.

Please leave a comment below if you try any of these options!

How long will these donuts last?

Store in an airtight container for up to three days at room temperature. I do not recommend freezing, nor do I think these donuts will last that long!

Baked Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts topped with a green mint icing and chocolate sprinkles

Since you love healthy chocolate baking recipes, be sure to also check out my delicious Fudgy Triple Chocolate Banana Bread!

I can't wait to hear what you think about these Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts! Please leave a star rating and review below so other readers and myself know how you liked them! Then make the recipe again and tell all your friends because these Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts are life changing!

Made with three types of chocolate and infused with mint, these Healthy Mint Chocolate Protein Donuts are the perfect protein packed snack or breakfast! Each donut is 67 calories and you'd never guess they are refined sugar-free.

Author:

Brooke Harmer

Prep:

25

min

cook:

15

min

total:

40

min

servings:

12

Ingredients

For the Donuts

  • ¾ C Kodiak Cakes Dark Chocolate pancake mix
  • ½ C chocolate protein powder
  • 6 Tbsp Stevia
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 6 Tbsp almond milk
  • ⅓ C pumpkin puree
  • ¼ C liquid egg whites
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • ⅛ tsp mint extract
  • ¼ C Lily's Mint Chocolate Chips (or sugar-free chocolate chips)
  • Chocolate sprinkles (optional)

For the Mint Icing

  • 1 C Stevia*
  • 2 Tbsp liquid egg whites
  • 3 drops mint extract
  • 3 drops green food coloring

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set out your donut pans.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the Kodiak Cakes, protein powder, Stevia, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, pumpkin, egg whites, egg, vanilla, and mint extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together until smooth.
  4. Spoon the donut batter into a ziploc bag and snip off one of the bottom ends. Pipe the batter into each donut tin just below the top of the center stem. Tap the donut pan on the counter to smooth out the batter. Press six chocolate chips into each donut and put any excess chocolate chips back in the bag (or eat them!).
  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes on the center rack of the oven. Let cool in the pan for no more than 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  6. To prepare the icing, whisk together all icing ingredients in a small, shallow bowl. Add drops of green food coloring one at a time until you reach the desired color. Dunk the tops of the donuts in the icing, then place back on the cooling rack to drip. Garnish with chocolate sprinkles.

Notes

*If you want more of a traditional icing, use 1 cup of powdered sugar.

Nutrition facts are a calculated estimate of one donut, including icing but not including sprinkles.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 donut / Calories: 67 / Fat: 2.1g / Saturated Fat: 0.9g / Carbohydrates: 6.8g / Fiber: 1.9g / Sugar: 1.5g / Protein: 6g