This easy Protein fluff Recipe is ideal for serving as a post-workout breakfast and refueling your protein intake without sugar. With 30 grams of protein per serving, this dessert-like breakfast bowl will fill you up for hours!
Protein powder is the best way to not only add plant-based protein to your diet but also all the amino acids needed on a vegan diet, like I did in my Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, Protein Powder Mug Cake, Protein Powder Oatmeal.
Here I am sharing a protein breakfast recipe, also known as protein fluff. It tastes like a dessert with all the benefits of wholesome, nourishing ingredients to start the day right!
The recipe is naturally:
- Vegan
- Low-carb keto-friendly
- Gluten-free
- Grain-free
- Dairy-free
What’s Protein Fluff?
Protein fluff is a healthy low-fat, low-carb protein snack or breakfast to eat after a workout with a similar texture to marshmallow fluff minus the sugar.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Protein Powder– You can use any protein powder brand. We tested the recipe with plant-based protein powder: pea protein powder and almond protein powder. Feel free to use a chocolate protein powder to make a chocolate protein fluff.
- Peanut Butter Powder – We used PB2. This adds a lovely peanut butter flavor to the fluff, extra proteins without the saturated fats from regular peanut butter.
- Unsweetened Almond Milk or any non-dairy milk you love, including coconut milk, oat milk, etc.
- Sweetener of Choice – You can use an unrefined liquid sweetener like maple syrup or a crystal sweetener like sugar-free erythritol for a low-carb option.
- Xanthan Gum or psyllium husk – this is the magic ingredients that turn the recipe into a fluffy texture. You can swap this by ground psyllium husk – jump to the recipe below for measurement – both work with different ratios.
How To Make Protein Fluff
It’s very easy to make a protein fluff at home. All you need is a food processor or high-speed blender. So first, make sure you have a food processor to make this recipe.
The key to making a good fluff with protein powder is to measure the ingredients carefully. Too many ice cubes make the recipe icy, too much protein powder makes the mixture too thick, and finally, too much gum turns the fluff into a slime. Trust me; this doesn’t taste good at all, so measure everything carefully before you start.
- The first step is to process all the ingredients – except the xanthan gum – on the high-speed setting for about 1 minute. You may need to stop the food processor or blender, scrape down the sides of the bowl and repeat until the mixture is thick and frothy like a protein shake. I personably use a Vitamix and use the tamper tool to push the ingredients next to the blade without stopping the process.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum and blend/process again on the high-speed setting for at least 30 seconds. The mixture will grow in volume and gets fluffy. If after that time it’s not fluffy enough, add up to 1/4 teaspoon of gum, always processing 30 seconds on high speed after each addition until the texture is to your liking.
- Sometimes, fluff can be too slimy or too liquid. If too slimy, it means you added too much xanthan gum. You can correct that by adding almond milk. If too liquid, increase the amount of xanthan gum. After each addition, always process on the high-speed setting for 30 seconds to combine.
Serving
You can serve your protein fluff plain as a delicious, refreshing breakfast bowl or add some toppings below for extra flavors and texture.
- Fresh berries
- Chopped peanuts
- Sliced almonds
- Peanut butter
- Almond butter
- Chocolate chips
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you can’t freeze protein fluff simply because it’s made of ice cubes that have been blended and melted. To avoid bacteria proliferation, it’s not recommended to freeze a defrosted product, even water. Also, in terms of texture, the fluff will harden strongly in the freezer and won’t get its fluffy texture back when defrosted.
You can replace the xanthan gum with ground psyllium husk, the result in texture is slightly different, but some people with IBS symptoms prefer husk to xanthan gum, so it’s a great swap.
More Protein Powder Recipes
Below I listed more recipes with protein powder.
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Protein Fluff
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz Ice Cubes - equivalent 2 cups
- ¾ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
- 1.4 oz Chocolate Protein Powder - equivalent 1 scoop
- 2 tablespoons PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter - or more protein powder
- 1/2-3/4 teaspoon Xanthan Gum - or 2 teaspoons of ground psyllium husk
- 1 tablespoon Sweetener of Choice - maple syrup or sugar-free erythritol if low-carb
To serve – optional
- 1-2 tablespoons Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips
- 1 teaspoon Peanut Butter (Unsalted)
- 1 teaspoon Chopped Peanuts
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender, Vitamix-style (you need the tamper attachment for this recipe, otherwise, use a food processor): add ice cubes, almond milk, protein powder, powdered peanut butter, and sweetener of choice.
- Blend/process on the high-speed setting for about 1 minute, stopping the food processor if needed to scrape down the sides of the bowl or use the blender tamper attachment to push down the mixture next to the blade to encourage blending. Repeat until all the ice is processed into a creamy mixture.
- Stop the food processor/blender and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (or 2 teaspoons of ground psyllium husk), and process/blend 30 seconds on high speed until it turns into a fluffy mixture. Add the extra 1/4 teaspoon of husk/gum if the mixture doesn't fluff as much as you like. But watch out! Adding too much of these ingredients turns the mixture slimy, and some people may find it difficult to digest. If too slimy, add more almond milk to compensate.
- Serve immediately, don't store in the fridge or freezer.
Hi!
This sounds great. Do you think agar powder could work in place of the xantham?
It might work though I haven’t tried. I did try psyllium husk powder, though, if you have some.
I make a similar version every night! My secret ingredient is Simply Delish Pudding – 12 grams. Also salt! At least 1/4 tsp of a high mineral salt.
I love the idea of waiting to add the xantham gum until after and I need to try it with psyllium husk! Thank you!
However, the one suggestion I must make, is instead of blending the peanut butter powder, to actually add it as a dry topping at the end! It’s sooooo yummy to have the dry texture contrasting the smooth protein fluff! Ahhh so good! I also like to add cacao nibs and puffed rice cereal on top too!
Oh! And two more tips: I always put my bowl in the freezer when I start the process – it helps the fluff keep its perfect texture for longer. And I like to blend for at least 4-5 minutes. It totally makes a difference!
Ahhh so fun to see this recipe on the web! Love it!!! Thanks for your tips!
I love all your suggestion thanks so much for sharing with me! Carine