A soft, moist vanilla cake that looks and tastes indulgent — but boosted with high-protein ingredients like Greek yogurt, protein milk, and light cream cheese. Perfect for birthdays, gatherings, or a guilt-free treat.
Servings & Timing
- Servings: 12 large squares
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 30–35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients List
For the High-Protein Vanilla Cake
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or 1 cup flour + ½ cup vanilla protein powder)
- 1 scoop vanilla whey or casein protein (optional for extra protein boost)
- 1 cup protein milk (Fairlife recommended)
- ¾ cup Greek yogurt (full-fat or 2%)
- ¾ cup sugar (or ½ cup sugar + ¼ cup erythritol)
- ½ cup melted butter or coconut oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
High-Protein Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 oz light cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup Greek yogurt, strained (for thickness)
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1–1½ cups powdered sugar (or powdered sweetener)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Make the Cake Batter
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13 baking pan (or line with parchment).
- In a bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, Greek yogurt, protein milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Stir gently until combined (don’t overmix).
- Pour into the baking pan and smooth the top.
2. Bake
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool fully before frosting.
3. Make the Protein Frosting
- Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy.
- Add Greek yogurt and mix again.
- Add vanilla, protein powder, salt, and powdered sugar.
- Whip until thick, creamy, and smooth.
- Spread generously over the cooled cake — thick like in your photo.
Additional Notes
- Protein powder makes the cake slightly more dense — Greek yogurt helps keep it moist.
- For extra vanilla flavor, add ½ teaspoon butter vanilla extract.
- Frosting can be doubled for an ultra-thick top layer (like your image).
Dietary Info
- High-protein
- Can be low-sugar (use erythritol/powdered sweetener)
- No heavy cream required
Flavor Tips & Variations
- Add lemon zest for a lemon-protein cake.
- Add sugar-free white chocolate chips for extra fun.
- Swap vanilla for almond extract for bakery-style flavor.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Greek yogurt → skyr
- Butter → coconut oil
- Protein milk → regular milk
- Light cream cheese → full-fat
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate Version: Add ¼ cup cocoa + chocolate protein powder.
- Birthday Cake Version: Add sprinkles + vanilla whey.
- Cinnamon Roll Version: Swirl cinnamon sugar into batter.
Storage
- Fridge: 4–5 days
- Freezer (unfrosted): 2 months
