Soft, fluffy, lightly golden, and packed with protein, these baked cottage cheese donuts are an easy homemade treat. The creamy vanilla glaze adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Yield: 6 donuts
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 15–18 minutes
Total Time: About 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 cup (225g) cottage cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (100g) oat flour
- ½ cup (50g) vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp (30ml) milk
- 1 tbsp (14g) melted butter
For the Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp (30ml) milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
Lightly grease a 6-cavity donut pan with nonstick spray or a little melted butter.
2. Blend the Cottage Cheese
Add the cottage cheese and eggs to a blender or food processor.
Blend for 30–45 seconds, until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
This step is important because it gives the donuts a smooth texture without visible cottage cheese curds.
3. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together:
- Oat flour
- Protein powder
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
Mix until evenly combined.
4. Add the Wet Ingredients
Pour the blended cottage cheese and egg mixture into the dry ingredients.
Add the vanilla extract, milk, and melted butter.
Gently stir with a spatula until you have a thick, smooth batter.
Do not overmix.
5. Check the Batter
The batter should be thick but soft enough to spoon or pipe into the donut pan.
If it feels unusually thick, add 1 extra tablespoon of milk.
6. Fill the Donut Pan
Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with one corner snipped off.
Pipe the batter evenly into the 6 donut cavities, filling each one about ¾ full.
Smooth the tops with a spoon if needed.
7. Bake
Place the pan in the preheated oven.
Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the donuts are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean.
Don’t overbake them, as protein powder can make baked goods dry.
8. Cool the Donuts
Remove the pan from the oven and let the donuts cool for 5 minutes.
Carefully transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before glazing.
🍦 Make the Vanilla Glaze
9. Mix the Glaze
Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to a small bowl.
Whisk until completely smooth.
For a thicker glaze, add a little more powdered sugar.
For a thinner glaze, add milk ½ teaspoon at a time.
10. Glaze the Donuts
Dip the top of each cooled donut into the vanilla glaze.
Lift it out and allow the excess glaze to drip back into the bowl.
Place the donuts on a wire rack and let the glaze set for 10–15 minutes.
11. Serve
Once the glaze has set, your cottage cheese protein donuts are ready to enjoy.
They are best served fresh with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk.
💡 Tips for Perfect Donuts
- Blend the cottage cheese very well for the smoothest texture.
- Don’t overmix once the flour is added.
- Don’t overbake—the donuts should remain soft inside.
- Let the donuts cool completely before glazing.
- If your protein powder is very absorbent, you may need an extra tablespoon of milk.
🥛 Storage
Store glazed donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For the best texture, let them sit at room temperature for about 10–15 minutes before serving.
