Sick and tired of the classic protein shakes? You may not know of any other ways to use protein powder, but the truth is that protein powder is actually a surprisingly versatile ingredient. You can bake and cook with protein powder, using it like any other ingredient in your pantry. All it takes is the right knowhow!

Creative Ways to Use Protein Powder

Before you look for protein powder alternatives, check out the recipes below. You’ll find that they’re brilliant ways to make delicious shakes, and they’re the perfect way to use protein powder creatively.

Minty Heavy Hot Chocolate

Looking for the perfect warm drink to enjoy on a cold day? There are few things better than chocolate milk, unless of course you double down on the delicious by adding mint into the mix. With the recipe below, you can make the perfect cup of mint hot chocolate, thickening it with a bit of protein powder to make it absolutely delicious!

• Ingredients
• Preparation

• 2 cups of whole milk
• 1/2 scoop of chocolate-flavored protein powder
• 1 tablespoon Cocoa powder
• 1 candy can

Place the milk on the stove in a saucepan, turning the heat to medium to avoid burning the milk. Once the milk is warm, add in the cocoa powder and begin to stir. Stir until the cocoa powder is thoroughly mixed, and heat it until it nearly boils. Pour the milk into a mug and mix in the protein powder. Mix until there are no lumps. Reheat the milk if necessary.

​Crush the candy cane into small pieces, and drop them into the cocoa. Let them sit for a few minutes before drinking.​

Protein Cheesecake

Looking for the perfect warm drink to enjoy on a cold day? There are few things better than chocolate milk, unless of course you double down on the delicious by adding mint into the mix.If you’re a fan of cheesecake, you’re going to LOVE this recipe! You can cut the fat by using fat-free cream cheese, avoid sugar by using Stevia, and overdose on protein by scooping vanilla-flavored protein powder into the mix. You’ll get a delicious, creamy consistency, and you can serve the cheesecake with a crust made of either graham crackers or whole wheat flour.

• Ingredients
• Preparation

• ½ cup of cream cheese (fat-free for a low fat dessert)
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
• Milk
• Stevia
• Crackers (graham or whole wheat)

To begin, use a fork to mash the cream cheese. Mix until it is nice and creamy, adding in a tablespoon or two of milk to expedite the process. Once the cheese is creamy, mix in the protein powder. This will dry out the creamy consistency, so add a bit more milk to prevent it from drying out too much. Add in Stevia for sweetening, and serve on the cracker crust.

Bonus: Use fruit jam or preserves as the perfect topping!

Recipe courtesy of: http://www.bodybuilding.com​

Healthy Pancakes

Looking for a way to start your day off right? This delicious breakfast food is loaded with protein, and will give you all the nutrients you need to get your metabolism firing on all cylinders for the rest of the day. It may not be the tastiest breakfast ever, but you’ll get used to it in time. Who knows, you may even come to prefer it!

• Ingredients
• Preparation

• ½ cup of dry oats
• 3 eggs
• ¼ cup of milk
• 1 scoop of protein powder (vanilla is best)
• Stevia
• Peanut butter (optional)

To begin, place the oats in the blender and grind until you have oat flour. Mix the oat flour with your protein powder and Stevia. Crack the eggs and use ONLY the whites, and mix the milk into the whites.

Pour batter onto hot griddle, and cook like regular pancakes.

Enjoy!​

Recipe courtesy of: http://www.bodybuilding.com​

Protein-Rich Oatmeal

There’s nothing like a hearty bowl of oatmeal to start the day off right, but adding protein powder into the mix will make it even heartier! It will increase the protein content of the oats (a fairly protein-rich food already), give it delicious flavor (with cocoa-flavored protein powder), and even thicken it up a bit. After a bowl of this, you won’t need to eat for hours!

• Ingredients
• Preparation

• 1 cup of oats
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut
• 1 scoop of Vital Whey Cocoa Protein powder
• ¼ cup of raisins
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon

Place the oats in a saucepan, along with two cups of water. Bring the oats to a boil before adding the milk into the pot, and stir slowly to ensure that the mixture doesn’t burn. Add a pinch of cinnamon into the pot, along with a few drops of vanilla extract for flavor.

​Once the oatmeal is cooked, take it from the stove and mix in the shredded coconut, raisins, and protein powder. Mix well and enjoy!

Protein shakes may be a convenient way to take, it doesn’t mean that they’re always the best option. Try these 4 unusual ways to use protein powder in your diet and you will never be sick of shakes anymore.