Oreo Red Velvet Protein Cake is truly the best healthy indulgence for Valentine’s Day! A high protein, low fat, low sugar and low calorie mashup of Red Velvet, Cookies and Cream and Cake in one.
Jump to RecipeMy husband just said this might be his most favorite among all the cakes I’ve baked. And this is A BIG deal considering how much he loved my Better than Sex Cake and the Protein Chocolate Log Cake.
But for real – just think about it; A moist high protein red velvet cake with a high protein cream cheese filling, and a high protein oreo frosting. And then you’ve got more crushed Oreos on top. I really don’t think you can say no to something like this. It really is the definition indulgence.
Just a warning, it’s absolutely delicious, so make yourself a promise that you’re actually going to share it with you Valentine for Valentine’s Day 🙂
Ingredients for Oreo Red Velvet Protein Cake
This Oreo Red Velvet Protein Cake is really an indulgent treat, but made with healthy and basic ingredients.
- Chocolate Protein Powder needed for a high protein cookies and cream red velvet cake and also replaces the ‘sugar’.
I used Whey-Casein Chocolate protein powder from Quest Nutrition. - Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe. Quest Nutrition whey-casein again here.
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Hot Water
- Unsweetened Applesauce
- Some Lemon Juice
- A bit of Melted Butter
- Baking Soda
- Vanilla Extract
For the Red Velvet Poke Cake FIlling
- Reduced Fat Cream Cheese
- Vanilla Protein Powder; This is the source of sweetness to make a sugar-free cookies and cream poke cake filling; I used Quest Nutrition’s Vanilla protein powder
- A bit of Unsweetened Almond Milk
Black Cocoa Protein Frosting Layer
- Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
- Chocolate Protein Powder – I used whey-casein from Quest.
- Black Cocoa – This is the one I used. Another recommendation is this one from The Cocoa Trader.
- Stevia Sweetener
- Vanilla Extract
How to make Cookies and Cream Red Velvet Cake with Protein Powder
This cookies and cream red velvet cake is made with protein powder and has a cream cheese filling, but is actually super easy! Here’s what it takes:
- Whisk all wet ingredients in a bowl – Hot water, applesauce, lemon juice, melted butter vanilla extract, red food color.
Use hot water – it’s needed!
Use melted butter so that it mixes well into the healthy red velvet poke cake batter.
- Whisk dry ingredients – flour, coconut flour, chocolate protein powder, unflavored protein powder, cocoa powder and baking soda.
- Add dry mix to wet; Whisk until just combined.
Don’t over-mix or cake will get tough!
- Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener.
Use stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have healthy, sugar free red velvet protein cake.
Assemble and Bake:
- Pour batter into baking pan.
- Add sprinkle streusel on top.
- Bake for 25-30 mins.
- Stop baking when tester/knife comes out just dry, but moist.
Don’t over-bake the cake or it will get tough.
Make Filling:
- When cake is baking, Make the cream cheese filling: Mixing the softened cream cheese, milk and vanilla protein powder.
- WHEN CAKE IS STILL HOT, Poke holes in cake (use rounded end of wooden spoon/spatula) not too close or too far – 1” ish apart.
- Pour filing into holes immediately.
- Place in fridge for 4 hours to chill.
Frosting:
- Make frosting: Whisk yogurt, protein powder, black cocoa powder and vanilla in a bowl.
Don’t add too much yogurt in the topping; It will come together; Just continue to mix. - Spread frosting on cake and slice into 12 delectable portions.
How to store Red Velvet Oreo Poke Cake
Store red velvet oreo poke cake in an airtight container. It should keep in the fridge for upto 4 days or freezer for 2-3 months. Don’t forget to thaw frozen cake before eating.
Alternatives for Healthy Oreo Red Velvet Cake:
I recommend making this healthy oreo red velvet cake with the ingredients and brands recommended, but here’s some alternatives for you can try:
Options for the Red Velvet Protein Cake:
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: Use All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour in the same amount by weight not cups.
- 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar or coconut sugar (this won’t be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Mashed Banana or Pumpkin Puree
- Melted Butter: Melted Coconut Oil or Dairy Free Butter
- Lemon Juice: Apple Cider Vinegar or White Vinegar
- 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular brown sugar or powdered sugar (this won’t be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)
Protein Cream Cheese Filling Options:
- Reduced Fat Cream Cheese: Regular cream cheese
- Almond Milk: Regular milk or lactose-free milk or any other milk
- Protein Powder: Use granulated sugar and vanilla extract, but also reduce the milk to 1½ Tbsp
Oreo Protein Frosting Options:
- Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
- Stevia Sweetener: Use regular sugar, but the cake won’t be sugar free anymore
More High Protein Poke Cake Recipes:
More High Protein desserts with Oreo Red Velvet Vibe:
Oreo Red Velvet Protein Cake – The Best Healthy Indulgence
Ingredients
- ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp Chocolate Protein Powder (Whey-casein), 80g
- ⅔ cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour, see post for subs, 80g
- ¼ cup Unflavored Protein Powder, 22g, see post for subs
- ¼ cup Coconut Flour, 28g
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 20g
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1½ cup Hot Water, 360ml
- 1 cup Unsweetened Applesauce, 240g
- 1 Tbsp Melted Butter, 14g
- 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Lemon Juice, 20ml
- 1 Tbsp Liquid Red Food Color, 15ml
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Filling:
- ¼ cup Reduced Fat Cream Cheese, Softened, 56g
- ¼ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-casein, 22g
- 3 Tbsp Unsweetened Almond Milk, 45ml
Frosting:
- 1 cup Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt, 225g
- ⅓ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 30g
- ¼ cup Black Cocoa Powder, 22g
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
- Stevia Sweetener (worth 1½ tsp sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 8” cake pan or baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk chocolate protein powder, unflavored protein powder, flour, coconut flour, cocoa powder and baking soda.
- In a large bowl, whisk together hot water, applesauce, butter, lemon juice, red food color and vanilla.
- Add dry mix to wet, and gently fold until just combined.DO NOT OVER-MIX or protein powder will make the cake dense.
- Pour batter into pan.Bake for 25-30 minutes.A tester inserted into the center should come out clean but moist.
Filling:
- In a bowl, mix softened cream cheese, milk and protein powder until smooth.
- When cake is still hot, poke hole in cake(using rounded end of wooden spoon) using about 1” apart.
- Pour filling into holes (fill completely), and let cool completely.
- Place in fridge about 4 hours.
Frosting:
- In a bowl, combine yogurt, cocoa powder, protein powder, vanilla and stevia sweetener.
- Spread over cake.Slice into 12 pieces.
Notes
- Nutrition details are calculated using products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose Mix (Unflavored) Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Chocolate Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Weirdo Good Black Velvet Cocoa Powder
- The Cocoa Trader Black Cocoa Powder
- Servings: 12 slices | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 129 cal
- Fat: 3g | Saturated fat: 1.8g
- Carbohydrates: 12.6g | Fiber: 3.8g | Sugar: 2.5g
- Protein: 13.6g
Hi, can you please suggest a substitute for applesauce as it is difficult to source in my neighborhood
Hi Aadya!
I would say use mashed banana or pumpkin puree! You might get a tiny bit of that flavor, but otherwise it works perfectly well.
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Just made this for me and my girl last night! Tasted like the real thing but EVEN better, if you haven’t tried this recipe you NEED to it’s so so good!
So glad you both loved it!
WOW!! This was the most moist protein dessert I’ve ever had, let alone cake honestly. I have a hard time when it comes to protein powder yogurt because I don’t love the flavor, but the ratio of all the ingredients made it taste so good. I also added in chocolate pudding mix which really gave it a good frosting flavor. The cake isn’t overly sweet and pairs perfectly with the frosting. Gonna crush some Oreos on top and have me some cake!
Omg gitl YESS <3
I really found this to be the softest ive made, and definitely using this base recipe more.
10/10 agree with you about the pudding mix!
Cant wait to see what you try next
I love anything Oreo, and this did not disappoint! Mine turned out fudgy like a gooey brownie, and I’m not mad about it! 🥰😍I crushed one Oreo thin on my piece and it was divine. Would make again! Do it!
OMG same, anything Oreo for me is a must! Really glad you loved it 🙂
made it and its amazing‼️🥰
Thanks Mel! Can’t wait to see what you try next 🙂