We’d be lying if we told you the following desserts are healthy—they’re desserts, after all. But we’re all about balance, and the occasional sweet treat always has its place on our table. Instead of cutting the category from your diet altogether, look for a nutrition boost in the protein department. It’s an essential macronutrient for muscle building and repair and helps your body produce important hormones, plus it keeps you satisfied between meals and can help prevent a sugar crash. Read on for 26 high-protein desserts to end your meal on a sweet note, including tiramisu affogato, pecan pie brownies and the biggest peanut butter cup you’ve ever laid eyes on.
26 High-Protein Desserts That’ll Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Bring on the peanut butter
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Published Feb 28, 2024
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. The World’s Biggest Peanut Butter Cup (11g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
When it comes to the timeless combination of peanut butter and chocolate, more is more. Let it come to room temperature before slicing and run your knife under hot water first to avoid cracking. Then, set this high-protein dessert on the table and wait for the impending fanfare.
2. Peanut Butter Freezer Pie (13g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 4 hours
- Why I Love It: make ahead, no bake, crowd-pleaser
Believe it or not, the entire thing comes together without turning on the oven. This is a pie best served with a tall, cold glass of milk. (You know, for more protein—wink wink.)
3. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars (12g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly, no bake
Another no-bake high-protein dessert, these portable bars combine all of our favorite snacks in one. They’re salty, sweet, crunchy and smooth in every bite. Oh, and they only require eight simple ingredients to come together.
4. Peanut Butter Cream Pie with Raspberry Meringue (11g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser,
This decadent pie looks like a fairytale and tastes like nostalgia. Be still our fifth-grade hearts. We won't tell if you substitute store-bought pie crust, but the homemade, all-butter dough is a real game-changer if you have the time.
5. Caramel Almond Cake (12g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
The crunchy, sugary almond mixture magically transforms into a sweet, caramelized crust during the final 15 minutes of baking. Frosting need not apply.
6. Vegan Spiced Blueberry Breakfast Cake (10g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
You can thank whole grain spelt flour for the filling nature of this fiber-rich, high-protein dessert. (It packs a whopping ten grams of the latter in each serving.) It’s sweet but not too sweet, and equally tasty for breakfast or dessert.
7. Chocolate Glazed Espresso Cheesecake (15g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 5 hours
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Whether your idea of a pick me up is chocolate or coffee, here’s proof that you never have to choose. The crust is made with chocolate cookie crumbs, instant espresso powder flavors and filling and a milk chocolate glaze gilds the lily.
8. No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake (10g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 30 minutes (includes chilling)
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no bake
Goodbye, fussy water bath. Hello, creamy, dreamy cheesecake. This high-protein dessert recipe comes together with 30 minutes of prep and an overnight trip to the fridge, but little more effort than that.
9. Slow Cooker Oreo Cheesecake (13g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, slow cooker recipe
Thanks to your trusty Crockpot, a restaurant-level cheesecake is easy to replicate at home. The low-and-slow method ensures silky results, while the airy whipped topping and crushed Oreos will reel in the picky eaters.
10. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies (7g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Cookie sandwiches trump regular sandwiches every time. You can make the simple peanut butter cookies ahead, then fill them with your favorite store-bought jelly or jam as you eat them, so they stay crispy.
11. Lemon Curd with Whipped Cream (8g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
This versatile, elegant treat can be served on its own, crowned with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, or as the filling to a pie or tart. (You can even freeze it so you have a high-protein dessert on deck for whenever a craving strikes.)
12. Sweet Potato Pots de Crème with Toasted Marshmallow Fluff (9g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
Behold, our favorite way to eat vegetables. These cuties have all the flavor of a pumpkin pie without the trouble of a crust. Plus, you get to whip out your blow torch for the marshmallow crème topping.
13. Muffin Tin Lemon Meringue Tarts (15g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
And here we thought our muffin tin was only good for making, well, muffins. The trifecta of crisp sugar cookie crust, glossy mascarpone filling and fluffy meringue is *chef’s kiss*.
14. Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze (7g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
If we’re being honest, we’ll never pass up something that involves cream cheese glaze, but the lightly spiced, melt-in-your-mouth cake is just as delightful. Egg whites in the batter are the key to the cake's light-as-a-cloud texture.
15. Coconut Rice Pudding with Rhubarb Compote (8g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
The luxurious rice pudding contains three types of milk (whole, coconut and sweetened condensed) for an extra rich texture, while the tart rhubarb compote balances out the sweetness. Top each serving with toasted coconut flakes to up the tropical ante.
16. Black-and-White Pudding (10g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Finally, a high-protein dessert for people who simply can’t choose between vanilla and chocolate. (TBH, you shouldn’t have to.) Greek yogurt offers both tang and protein to every spoonful.
17. Thai Iced Tea Panna Cotta (9g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
The sweet, creamy custard tastes just like Thai iced tea, but you’ll want a spoon instead of a straw for this version. To achieve the subtle ombré effect, let the tea-flavored layer of panna cotta partially set before adding the vanilla layer on top.
18. Nutty Chocolate Ganache Tart (9g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
It may look fancy, but this six-ingredient masterpiece is as simple as can be. Thanks to the buttery crust starring mixed nuts and brown sugar, it's gluten free to boot. Finish it with a flourish of flaky salt.
19. Pecan Pie Brownies (31g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The indulgent, sticky pecan topping will keep your guests from realizing you used boxed brownie mix. Egg and pecans are the secret to this high-protein dessert's filling qualities.
20. Avocado Chocolate Mousse (26g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Who knew dairy-free milk and chocolate could do all *this*? The mousse is vegan, gluten free and downright decadent. Puffed quinoa, flaky salt, Aleppo pepper flakes and a drizzle of quality olive oil act as crunchy, classy finishing touches.
21. Blackberry Panna Cotta Tartlets (6g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Pastry cream? Not today. Instead, the shortbread cookie crusts are filled to the brim with gelatin-based panna cotta infused with fresh blackberries. Feel free to substitute raspberries or blueberries, if you feel so inclined.
22. Rainbow Cookie Icebox Cake (11g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, no bake
Any dessert that doesn't require us to turn on the oven is one after our own heart. The cake should ideally be assembled and refrigerated for one to three days before serving, but if you're pressed for time, an overnight chill will do.
23. Peanut Butter and Jelly Blondies (24g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Your favorite sandwich—in cookie bar form. “The key to getting a good swirl on top is to pipe on the jam,” recipe creator Erin McDowell advises. “But if you don’t have a piping bag, you can put the jam in a zip-top plastic bag, cut off one corner and then make big, swirly swoops all over.”
24. Chocolate and Salted Peanut Crepe Cake (11g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
A crepe cake is an easy way to reel in compliments from your guests (or roommates) without too much effort. Need more convincing? According to the recipe creator, Kristina Cho, the crepe layers taste like the leftover milk from a bowl of Cocoa Krispies.
25. Tiramisu Affogato (12g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling)
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-please
Two Italian classics, one Insta-worthy dessert. Sour cream in the cream layer not only stabilizes the high-protein dessert, but it also infuses it with delightful tanginess.
26. Raspberry Tiramisu (7g Protein)
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no bake
The vibrant pink finish is nothing but a dusting of freeze-dried raspberries that have been powdered in a food processor. This is enough to wow any dessert lover, but a smattering of fresh berries or a sprinkle of lemon zest would be equally tasty.
