Super easy and high protein Fruitcake Donuts with no sugar added are perfect for Christmas! Healthy fruit cake donuts use protein powder for sweetness, but have all the spiced flavor and dried fruits you’d expect in this treat.

Its actually been a year since I had anything fruitcake themed – the last was that protein pancake mix fruit cake loaf I’d made at the end of 2021. But I guess it does make sense since the whole fruitcake thing comes around Christmas time.

Anyway, another variation recipe here instead of a classic fruitcake – since those usually have a lot of added sugar and butter and what not. This is a clean recipe and funky coz its protein donuts!

Ingredients for High Protein Fruitcake Donuts

Very simple and clean ingredients here for these high protein fruitcake donuts; No sugar added, and very little fat too!

Here’s what you need:

Vanilla Protein Powder – This adds in sweetness, so this protein doughnut recipe has no added sugar; I used Quest Nutrition Vanilla Protein Powder.
Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb high protein fruit cake donut. I used a whey-casein blend from Quest Nutrition.
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
Almond milk, or any other reduced fat milk, at room temperature
Egg also at room temperature
Melted Butter
Spices: Ground Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves and Ginger
Baking Powder and Baking Soda

And for the dried fruits and nuts for the fruitcake effect:

Dried Cranberries, Cherries, Apple and Pineapple
Chopped Pecans

Some Tips For Baked Fruit Cake Donuts with Protein Powder:

This recipe for healthier baked fruit cake donuts made with protein powder is really easy, but here’s some tips to get it perfect!

Use room temperature eggs and milk;
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 protein powder will make your doughnuts tough, dense and gummy.

Make sure your mixture has enough moisture in it. The vanilla protein powder is extremely absorbent and if the wet ingredients are too little, the donuts will be dry and tough. The mix should be like a slightly thick brownie batter.
Add a splash of milk if mixture is too dry, coconut flour if too wet.

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 fruitcake doughnuts without sugar.

Be sure to grease the donut pan so the doughnuts come off easily.

How to store Protein Fruitcake Doughnuts?

These no-sugar protein fruitcake doughnuts keep really well at room temperature, in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

Keep fruit cake protein donuts on the countertop for 2 days or about 5 days in the fridge.

To freeze homemade fruit cake doughnuts, let them freeze individually on a baking sheet and then transfer them to freezer safe zipper bags. They should keep up to 2 months.
Thaw to room temperature before eating.

Alternate Ingredients for Healthy Fruitcake Donut Recipe

I made these low calorie, low fat and sugar free healthy Fruitcake donuts with the ingredients and brands listed above, but here’s some options to try:

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour in the same amount by weight not cups
Unflavored Protein Powder: ¼ cup more Flour, but also skip the Greek Yogurt
Almond Milk: Regular milk
Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
Dried Cherries/Cranberries/Pineapple/Apple: Any other chopped dried fruit
Pecans: Chopped Almonds or Walnuts

More Healthy Protein Donuts for Christmas Season:

More Festive Protein Powder Dessert Recipes: