Realistic Twix Protein Donuts with vanilla and peanut butter caramel donut layers, chocolate glaze, and actual shortbread too! Healthy copycat Twix donuts use protein powder and are sugar free and low fat too.

I’ve seen a bunch of Twix donut recipes online, but they all seem to be remakes of the candy in the shape of a donut. These Twix inspired donuts though are actual donuts!

A protein vanilla donut, protein peanut butter caramel donut, and chocolate glaze on top. Added in some shortbread biscuits to make it the closest I could get to the candy.

A good one for sure!

Ingredients For Twix Protein Donuts

These Twix candy inspired shortbread protein donuts are easy and healthy; Sweetened with protein powder and have no butter or oil.

Here’s the common ingredients you need:

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour – or a regular all purpose flour
Baking Powder
Unsweetened Applesauce – Makes these low fat protein donuts since it replaces the oil and butter usually needed.
Egg Whites

The Peanut Butter Protein Donut half:

Peanut Butter Powder, also known as Powdered Peanut Butter. I recommend Lakanto for a sugar free version (the code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount). Or you could use the one from PbFit too.
Peanut Butter Protein Powder needed for a high protein donut and also replaces the ‘sugar’. Vanilla Works too.
I used a whey-caesin blend protein powder from Quest Nutrition for this recipe. (Here’s the vanilla)
Be sure to use a protein powder sweetened with stevia or monk fruit if you want a proper sugar free protein donut recipe.

The Vanilla Protein Donut half:

Vanilla Protein Powder: Also the source of sweetness here. This one’s also Quest.
Coconut Flour

The Actual Shortbread part

Shortbread Biscuits!
If you want to keep it a bit healthy, I would recommend using Catalina Crunch sandwich cookies, but remove the cream center.

And Sugar-free Chocolate topping for the complete Twix look!

Sugar free Chocolate Bar or Chocolate Chips to make this a protein donut with no added sugar. I use the ones from Lakanto here (HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here too). Another option is Lily’s Bar or Chocolate Chips.
Coconut Oil so the chocolate is easier to melt and more smooth when you spread.

The individual steps/layers for Twix Protein Powder Donuts:

They may look a bit fancy, but these Twix shortbread protein donuts are actually very simple to make, and great for a dessert or breakfast.

Make peanut butter donut batter, and vanilla protein donut batter

Pour peanut butter batter into doughnut pan

Top with chopped shortbread biscuits

Spread vanilla batter over peanut butter batter

Bake donuts (and let them cool)

Melt chocolate (let cool a bit)

Spread chocolate on top of rounded (peanut butter half)

Tips for the perfect Copycat Twix Donuts

Grease the donut pan if it isn’t silicon.

Use room temperature egg whites and applesauce;
This is so the wet ingredients and dry ingredients can mix well.

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

Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I’d recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have sugar free protein donuts.

Make sure you have similar consistency in both donut batters – vanilla and peanut butter. Add some coconut flour if one is too wet, and milk if too dry.

Let the peanut butter cup protein doughnuts cool completely before spreading the chocolate topping on them.

How to store Twix Protein Doughnuts

These twix protein powder donuts keep well at room temperature, in the fridge or freezer.

Twix-inspired glazed protein doughnuts keep at room temperature on the countertop for 2 days and 5 days in the fridge in airtight container.

For a freezer friendly option, freeze the low calorie protein donuts individually on a baking sheet and then transfer them to freezer safe zipper bags. They should keep up to 2 months.

Thaw the donuts to room temperature and warm them in the microwave when it’s time to eat

Alternatives for Shortbread Protein Donuts

These twix inspired shortbread donuts work best with the ingredients and products (with the specific brands) I listed, but here’s some other substitutions you can try for this donut recipe:

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, with the same amount by weight.
Applesauce: Mashed banana or pumpkin puree
Peanut Butter Powder: Regular creamy peanut butter, but adjust the batter consistency with milk or coconut flour accordingly (see tips above).
Peanut Butter Protein Powder: Use a vanilla
Shortbread biscuit: Any other cookies. Catalina Crunch sandwich cookies (without the cream) are a good option.

More High Protein Copycat Twix Desserts?

More Gourmet Protein Powder Donut Recipes to Try: