Kidney Diet Tips

How to Bake with Whey Protein Powder

Whey protein powder, ever heard of it? If your albumin level is not within goal, it may be one of the protein supplements that your dietitian recommends. You’ve probably heard about adding it into applesauce or making a protein shake. But have you ever explored baking with whey protein powder?

Protein powders usually have a scoop for measuring inside the container. Size varies depending on the manufacturer. Most scoops measure around 1/3 cup and contain anywhere from 20 to 30 grams of protein per scoop. When baking with whey protein powder, if the recipe calls for a “scoop” of protein powder, use the measuring scoop provided by the manufacturer. If the recipe calls for “cups”, use a standard dry ingredient measuring cup to measure.

A simple rule of thumb when adding whey protein powder into a baked good recipe is to substitute 1/3 of the flour with whey protein powder. Here are a few examples:

  • For a recipe with 1 cup all-purpose flour, use 1/3 cup whey protein powder + 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • For a recipe with 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, use 1/2 cup whey protein powder + 1 cup all-purpose flour

When mixing the batter, do not over mix. Fold the ingredients together until just incorporated. Over mixing will result in a tough, dense product. Not a baked good you’ll enjoy. Spray your baking pan with a non-stick spray because whey protein powder causes the ingredients to stick to the pan.

Whey protein powder tends to make baked goods drier. To combat this, use a lower oven temperature.  Instead of 350° F, set the oven temperature to 325° F. This will help prevent the baked goods from drying out during baking. Another tip is to preheat the oven before placing the pan of batter inside.

For more information on whey protein powder read “Whey Protein Powder and the Dialysis Diet” on DaVita.com.  You’ll find that the article has links to DaVita.com recipes utilizing whey protein powder.

To get started try this easy High Protein Cookies recipe from DaVita dietitian Amy in Texas. With several 5-star ratings it’s sure to be a hit. Substitute whey protein powder for some of the flour as recommended above in one of these easy baked recipes.AppleZucchiniBread_0220DaVita_SmallLemon Berry Bread SmallMuffinsApple_DaVita-Small

 

Have fun adding whey protein powder to your baked good recipes to increase the protein content. Enjoy!

Carisa Ishimaru, RD, LDN

Carisa Ishimaru, RD, LDN

Carisa has been a registered dietitian for over 20 years. She is currently a Renal Dietitian for a Home Program which allows patients to do their dialysis at home via Peritoneal Dialysis or Home Hemodialysis. She is passionate about providing research-based information in a practical, easy to use format. Carisa enjoys cooking and baking healthful foods for her family and friends.