Mocha Protein Cake with Protein Dalgona Frosting (Unbelievably Sugar Free)

A rich Mocha Protein Cake topped with a Protein Dalgona Coffee Frosting! An easy, healthy and low calorie Chocolate Coffee Protein Cake made with whole wheat, Greek Yogurt and sweetened with protein powder. The perfect protein packed dessert with a caffeine bump and chocolate taste in one!

“This is amazing!” “If someone likes coffee they will love this!” That’s what my roommate said when he tried this – and he is not even as big a coffee fan.

Okay so my roommate actually actually had a slice of this protein cake even before I did, and his reaction was quite instantaneous so I was even more excited to try it.

Definitely has all the rich coffee flavor with that chocolate in each slice of this protein cake. I was quite taken aback to be honest! 

I think what really impressed me though was that protein powder Dalgona coffee as a frosting. I had tried a protein Dalgona coffee last year when it was trending, and kinda got excited and impressed with myself here when I thought of using it as a protein cake frosting.

And even more impressed that it held through the shoot!

What you need for Mocha Protein Cake:

This chocolate mocha protein cake is a healthy dessert recipe that has all the coffee chocolate flavor but, sugar free and low fat with barely any butter!

• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• Chocolate Protein Powder – this replaces part of sugar in this recipe and is the key to what makes it a high protein cake. I use Quest Nutrition’s Chocolate protein powder – it’s a  whey-caesin blend and works best for baking.
• Vanilla Protein Powder to replace the rest of sweetener.
  I recommend ProteinWorld Slender Blend or Whey for this recipe to keep it sugar free; Use the code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount.
  Another option would be Quest.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder or Cacao Powder
• Instant Coffee – I used ProteinWorld new Slender Coffee – it has a thermogenic blend in it that helps boost metabolism and even has some protein in there. The code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount here too.
• Non-fat Greek Yogurt another protein-packed ingredient!
• Almond Milk for a slightly low calorie and healthy recipe; No buttermilk needed here
• An Egg
• And an Egg White
• Just a bit of softened butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda
• A bit of salt

A Protein Dalgona Frosting

For good high protein chocolate coffee cake with a twist, I used a high protein dalgona coffee as frosting!

Simple ingredients here as well:

• Instant Coffee; The ProteinWorld Slender Coffee here as well with the same discount code (HAYLSKITCHEN)
• Vanilla Protein Powder in place of sugar; ProteinWorld Whey here.
• Boiling Water

How to make Chocolate Coffee Protein Cake

This chocolate protein powder cake not only has simple ingredients, but is also really easy to make. 

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line 2 round 8” cake pans with parchment paper

2. Combine most dry ingredients in bowl: whole wheat pastry flour, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

3. Beat the softened butter and vanilla protein powder in a large bowl using a hand mixer until it’s completely mixed. This should take about 30 seconds.

4. Add all the remaining wet ingredients and beat again: Greek Yogurt, almond milk, egg and egg white.
   If butter hardens, microwave 10 seconds until smooth.

5. Add the flour mixture to the wet mix and fold together. DO NOT OVER-MIX the batter or the cake will be too dense at the bottom.

6. Divide and pour the mixture into the prepared baking pans.

7. Bake for 20-22 minutes. A tester inserted into the center should come out dry – no crumbs or batter.

For an 8 x 8” baking pan, bake for about 25-30 minutes.

For a 9 x 13” pan, double the recipe and bake for about 25-30 minutes again, but start checking early.

For the Protein Dalgona Coffee Frosting

The healthy protein powder Dalgona frosting is the most easy part of this protein mocha cake recipe.

1. Add the instant coffee, protein powder and boiling water to a bowl

2. Whisk or whip on high using a hand mixer for about 3-4 minutes

If you don’t have a hand mixer, try a stand mixer, milk frother or regular whisk; The last two would take longer.

Assemble Protein Layer Cake

This chocolate coffee layer protein cake looks fancy, but is actually easy to assemble!

Invert one mocha protein cake layer on a surface, spread hald the of the dalgona protein coffee frosting over it, place the second later on top, and spread the rest of the frosting on top.

If you want, make some extra frosting and spread it along the sides too.

Tips for this Chocolate Coffee Protein Powder Cake Recipe

• Use softened butter
  You want to be able to beat the butter and protein powder together. If you just took it out of the fridge, microwave it for about 7-10 seconds.

• Use room temperature Yogurt, Milk and Eggs
  Microwave these too for about 5 seconds if you took them out of the fridge, otherwise they will make the butter harden.
  If the butter does harden, microwave the wet mix about 5-10 seconds till smooth.

• Don’t overmix the batter!
  Make sure you gently fold the dry mix into the wet to combine them.
  If you over-mix it, the protein powder and gluten from whole wheat flour will make it tough, dense and gummy.

• Let the cake cool completely before frosting
  Or the protein coffee frosting will melt on the cake!

• Use boiling water for the protein coffee frosting
  Room temperature, warm or cold water won’t give the thick spreadable texture.

Make ahead and store Chocolate Mocha Protein Cake:

Another great part about this mocha protein cake recipe is that you can make in advance for a party, and even store leftovers!

You can keep the mocha protein powder cake out at room temperature (on the countertop) for a day – as long as it has no frosting. A few hours if it has the frosting.

Store any leftover cake in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

To freeze this protein chocolate coffee cake, slice it, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, and place the pieces in a freezer-safe zipper bag. They keep in the freezer for a few months.
You can even store the whole cake itself!

Alternate Ingredients for Healthy Mocha Protein Powder Cake Recipe

I strongly recommend using the ingredients and brands I recommended to get the perfect Mocha coffee protein cake, but here’s some alternatives to try. I haven’t testing them all, so I can’t say how your cake might turn out.

• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 gluten free baking flour
• Greek Yogurt: Applesauce, Banana or Pumpkin Puree or coconut yogurt for a dairy free option
• Almond Milk: Any other milk
• Butter: Softened Vegan/Light Butter or Coconut Oil

Other Protein Powder Frosting recipes for an extra High Protein Cake

For an extra rich peanut butter flavor, try my protein peanut butter frosting.

And for an extra high protein cake frosting, go for the Greek yogurt protein powder frosting from this Protein Gingerbread Cake.

Or maybe a classic protein powder cream cheese frosting.

More Simple Protein Cake Recipes

• (Better than Others’) Oreo Protein Cake
• Simple Vanilla Protein Cake with Oat Streusel
• The Best Protein Carrot Cake Loaf you’ll Ever Have!
• Protein Coffee Cake with Streusel
• Protein Carrot Cake Cheesecake – Sugar Free & Gluten Free
• Protein Banana Cake with Vanilla Protein Frosting

More Quest Protein Powder Baking Recipes:

• Double Chocolate Protein Loaf with Nutella (No Yeast)
• The Best Low Calorie Protein Brownies (Low Fat)!
• Amazing Keto Chocolate Protein Muffins with Coconut Flour
• Extremely Easy Chocolate Chip Protein Skillet Cookie
• Flourless Black Bean Protein Brownies (Low-fat)

Mocha Protein Cake with Protein Dalgona Coffee Frosting (Unbelievably Sugar Free)

5 from 1 vote

Print recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time8 minutes mins

Cook Time22 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Servings: 8 slices

Calories: 147kcal

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

A rich Mocha Protein Cake topped with a Protein Dalgona Coffee Frosting! An easy, healthy and low calorie Chocolate Coffee Protein Cake made with whole wheat, Greek Yogurt and sweetened with protein powder. The perfect protein packed dessert with a caffeine bump and chocolate taste in one!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, 80g, see post for sub
• ⅓ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, 1 scoops, 30g, Whey-Caesin recommendation below
• ⅓ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, or Cacao, 40g
• 1½ Tbsp Instant Coffee
• ½ tsp Baking Powder
• ½ tsp Baking Soda
• ¼ tsp Salt
• 3 Tbsp Softened Butter
• ⅓ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, 1 scoops, 30g, recommendation below
• ⅔ cup Almond Milk, or other, room temperature, 150ml
• ½ cup Non-fat Greek Yogurt, room temperature, 112g
• 1 Egg, room temperature
• 1 Egg White
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Protein Dalgona Coffee Frosting:

• 3 Tbsp Instant Coffee
• ½ scoop Vanilla Protein Powder, 15g
• 3 Tbsp Boiling Water

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line bottom of 2 8” round cake pans with parchment paper; Spray sides with cooking spray.
• In a bowl, combine whole wheat pastry flour, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat together butter and vanilla protein powder using an electric hand mixer or paddle attachment until combined.
• Add milk, Greek yogurt, egg and egg white and beat again.
• Add dry mix to wet and fold using a large spoon or spatula.
• DO NOT OVER-MIX or the cake will be tough because of the protein powder and gluten from the whole wheat flour.
• Bake on center rack for 20-22 minutes.
• A tester inserted into the center will come out clean and top springy to touch.
• Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Frosting:

• Add coffee, protein powder and water to a bowl and whip on high speed using a hand mixer, stand mixer or milk frother.
• Whip for about 3-4 minutes, scraping down the sides if needed.
• Spread half mixture on one cake layer, place second layer on top, and spread remaining frosting on top.

Notes

• Nutritional information is calculated using products recommended below.
• See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.

Product Recommendations:

• Quest Nutrition Chocolate Milkshake Protein Powder
• ProteinWorld Slender Blend
  • Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 30% off your order
• ProteinWorld Whey Protein Powder
  • Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 30% off your order

Nutrition:

• Servings: 8 slices | Serving size: 1 slice with frosting
• Calories: 147kcal
• Fat: 6.1g | Saturated fat: 3.5g
• Carbohydrates: 13.9g | Fiber: 3.4g | Sugar: 1g
• Protein: 11.2g