Apple Cinnamon Protein Coffee Cake

I always find it hard to say what my FAVORITE recipe is. There are just too many great ones to choose from, plus it is usually highly dependent on my mood and hunger level. 

That, of course, was before this creation: Apple Cinnamon Protein Coffee Cake. Sure, it's a mouthful for a recipe title, but believe me - you will want mouthful after mouthful of this delicious and guilt-free coffee cake!

This coffee cake is great for an on-the-go breakfast, but you can also dress it up and serve it for a brunch party. I recently made this for a few girlfriends that came over for brunch and it was a hit! While this cake may seem like an indulgence, it is packed with protein (14 g per slice!) making it far healthier than any other morning pastry. The apples help to keep this coffee cake incredibly moist which is usually hard to achieve when baking with whey protein. What really makes this coffee cake is the walnut streusel topping! It is the perfect finishing touch to this healthy breakfast treat. 

I love that this is such a simple baked good. I know some of my other recipes can take a little more effort with muffin tins or donut pans but with this you literally mix everything in one bowl together and dump it into a single cake pan. 

 I've recently switched up my training and I'm almost exclusively training at 6am everyday before work. I forgot how much I love that burst of endorphins before work, not to mention how focused I am all morning. I don't eat breakfast prior to lifting (I actually prefer weight training fasted first thing!) but I do have my coffee with collagen and MCT oil following. This coffee cake is perfect to have with my coffee after a hard morning workout!

Well, now that the secret is out and you know what my favorite recipes is I hope you give this a try! 

Psst! This recipe uses True Nutrition Cinnamon Bun Whey Protein and I can't recommend this protein enough. I really do stand by their products and I know I'm getting a high quality protein powder at an extremely affordable price. Want to give it a try? Use the code 'MYENG' at checkout for 5% off your entire order!

Apple Cinnamon Protein Coffee Cake

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Bake Time: 25-30 minutes

Servings: 10 slices

Ingredients: 

• 3 scoops True Nutrition Cinnamon Bun Whey Protein (3/4 cup)
• 1-1/4 cup gluten free all-purpose flour (I used Gluten Free Baking Flour but typical all-purpose flour will work as well)
• 2 tbsp coconut palm sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 medium green apples, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
• 2 egg
• 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tsp vanilla

Walnut Streusel Topping

• 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp coconut palm sugar
• 1 tbsp butter

Baking Accessories:

• 9 inch cake pan

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare cake pan by greasing with coconut oil or butter. Set aside.
2. Toast walnuts by spreading them out on a baking sheet and placing in oven for 5-10 minutes. Be sure to keep a close watch on them so not to burn!
3. In a small bowl combine the remaining streusel topping ingredients. Cut the butter into very small pieces and then add to the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until the butter has formed into small balls and is well coated. If necessary use fingers. Add toasted walnuts and continue to mix. Set aside.
4. In a mixing bowl combine your dry ingredients: whey protein, flour, coconut palm sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
5. In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl with hand mixer, combine your wet ingredients: greek yogurt, eggs, applesauce, melted butter and vanilla. Mix at medium speed until well combined. Add dry ingredients and mix and medium speed until incorporated. 
6. Fold apples into batter with a spatula until apples are evenly mixed in.
7. Pour batter into greased pan. Sprinkle walnut streusel topping on top of the cake. Bake for 25 - 30 mins or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Be sure not to over bake the cake since there is whey protein in the batter and it could easily become dry and rubbery. Allow to cool 10 minutes before slices. Serve warm or store in air-tight container for later. 

Nutritional Information (1 slice):

210 calories - 13.5 g Protein, 23.5 g Carbohydrates, 6.7 g Fat

Coffee Cake Protein Muffins

Yum

I can't believe I'm belated on my OWN blog birthday but...

My Engineered Nutrition is 1 year old! Happy 1st Birthday to my website!

(As of May 5th...shh)

This first year of blogging flew by. I want to take a moment and say THANK YOU (yes, YOU reading this!) for supporting my little blog. I have been completely overwhelmed by the support I have received from my fun little side hobby. What started as a way for me to track my recipes has developed into a true passion of mine. I have been continuously motivated to keep creating new, fun, simple and most importantly, healthy, recipes to share with you. 

Looking back at this first year, here are some fun facts about My Engineered Nutrition.

• My Engineered Nutrition had over 33,000 page views!!
• The most viewed recipe on my site (6,348 views?!) were my Sweet Potato Stacks
• The second most viewed recipe (1,877 views) was my very first post, BBQ Chicken Pizza with Cauliflower Crust
• I posted 62 recipes within the first year of my blog!

To celebrate My Engineered Nutrition's 1st birthday, I've created a SUPER delicious muffin: Coffee Cake Protein Muffins! I have to say, I think these may be my best ever baked recipe. 

In fact, my boyfriend has told me that these are the best thing I've ever made. Mind you, he has tried all 62 of those recipes (and all failed attempts) I created within the first year, so that is a pretty loaded compliment to say the least. 

I'm using True Nutrition Cinnamon Bun Whey Protein, as well as greek yogurt, to make these protein packed while also low in fat! These are fantastic for an on-the-go breakfast in the morning when you are running short on time, and obviously even better with a large mug of coffee! They are soft and fluffy like a good muffin should be, but are so much healthier than your standard sugar loaded muffin!

Coffee Cake Protein Muffins

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Bake Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 9 muffins

Ingredients: 

• 2 scoops True Nutrition Cinnamon Bun Whey Protein (60 g)
• 1 cup gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour (regular flour would work as well)
• 2 tbsp coconut palm sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup Greek yogurt 2%
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 1 tsp vanilla

Crumb Topping

• 1 tsp coconut palm sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour (regular flour would work as well)
• 1/2 tsp butter

Baking Accessories:

• Muffin tin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare muffin tin by greasing with coconut oil or butter (instead of using liners). Set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine the dry crumb topping ingredients. Cut the butter into very small pieces and then add to the dry ingredients. Mix with a fork until the butter has formed into small balls and is well coated. Set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl combine your dry ingredients: whey protein, flour, coconut palm sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
4. In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl with hand mixer, combine your wet ingredients: greek yogurt, egg, applesauce and vanilla. Mix at medium speed until well combined. Add dry ingredients and mix and medium speed until incorporated. 
5. Spoon batter among 9 muffins. Top each each an equal amount of the crumb topping. Bake for 15 mins or until a toothpick inserted into muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool 5 minutes in tin before removing. Serve warm or store in air-tight container for later. 

Nutritional Information (1 muffin):

125 calories - 10 g Protein, 17.5 g Carbohydrates, 1.7 g Fat