Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

April 26, 2022

Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

These protein copycat Hostess cupcakes are gluten-free, dairy-free, and low in sugar with added protein from collagen powder! Even though they're healthy, the hubby and kids said they taste just like the original. I'm just happy to skip all the artificial additives of the packaged kind ;)

Did you know? A review of 11 studies mostly in women found that taking 3–10 grams of collagen per day for an average of 69 days led to improved skin elasticity and hydration. (source)

Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

Collagen recommendations

I use and love LIV Body Marine Collagen because it's flavorless, highly bioavailable, and rich in Type I collagen which we need most. You can use my code NOEXCUSES for 20% off all LIV Body products! Of course, another brand can work too, but quality is important. 

If you want to make these without collagen, I would suggest adding one-quarter cup of pure pumpkin or unsweetened applesauce plus one-quarter cup dairy free yogurt to moisturize. The amazing thing about collagen is that it makes baked goods more moist! For this reason, I cannot recommend using another protein powder in this recipe. 

Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

Flour recommendations

I personally used gluten-free baking flour in this recipe, but you can also use all-purpose flour, cake flour, cassava flour (Paleo), fine oat flour, sorghum flour, spelt flour, or whole wheat flour. I cannot recommend coconut flour or almond flour in this recipe because you really want a nice fine texture. 

Sweetener recommendations

For these cupcakes, I used pyure organic stevia blenda sweetener that's twice as sweet as sugar with no aftertaste. Feel free to use whatever calorie-free sweetener you like, be it erythritol, monk fruit, allulose, or baking stevia. If using a sweetener that measures 1:1 like sugar, you may need twice as much to get the desired sweetness. If using concentrated drops, check the brand-specific conversion chart!

Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

Other ingredients

This recipe calls for egg whites, but you can also use one whole egg, or a vegan egg replacer for egg-free. It also calls for dairy-free yogurt, but nonfat plain Greek yogurt works well too! Just make sure whatever brand you use has some protein and not too much added sugar.

The avocado oil can also be swapped for melted coconut oil or buttery spread. I don't recommend subbing applesauce here as you want some fat for a tender texture. Lastly, the vinegar helps with the tenderness of the cupcakes. You can use distilled white vinegar, natural rice vinegar or cider vinegar.

Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

Cream filling

For the cream filling, all you need is dairy-free whipped topping (I used Cocowhip), powdered sweetener (I used Lakanto powdered monk fruit), and pure vanilla extract. If your whipped topping isn't thick enough, add a couple tablespoons of cornstarch or tapioca starch.

Chocolate ganache 

For the ganache, you can use sugar-free or dairy-free dark chocolate as needed. The only other ingredient is milk! You can use unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, rice milk, oat milk, dairy milk... whatever you like.

Here's the printable recipe for these Protein Copycat Hostess Cupcakes! I hope you'll rate or comment below if you try them :)

This post contains affiliate links and is sponsored by LIV Body.

 

star




Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Blog

HEALTHY KUNG PAO CHICKEN (GLUTEN FREE)
HEALTHY KUNG PAO CHICKEN (GLUTEN FREE)

March 11, 2023

This Healthy Kung Pao Chicken has become one of my favorite stir-fry recipes! It's got crunchy almonds, tender chicken pieces, and colorful vegetables - all in a savory, lightly sweet sauce with a subtle kick of Sichuan pepper. This recipe is gluten-free and actually not very spicy. All of my kids loved it! And it's surprising how wonderful almonds and celery are in this dish. You've gotta try it!

View full article →

CHOCOLATE GLAZED PROTEIN DONUTS (DAIRY FREE)
CHOCOLATE GLAZED PROTEIN DONUTS (DAIRY FREE)

March 07, 2023

These Chocolate Glazed Protein Donuts are protein-packed and macro-balanced for the perfect sweet breakfast or snack! Each tender chocolate cake donut is covered in a rich chocolate glaze (and sprinkles if you're feeling "extra"). I love that they're low in sugar, gluten-free, and dairy-free! You can easily make them vegan by swapping the egg whites for a vegan egg substitute.

View full article →

CHICKEN SHAWARMA & MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES
CHICKEN SHAWARMA & MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES

February 22, 2023

This Chicken Shawarma & Mediterranean Vegetables has been on repeat for meal prep - it's so flavorful! Think spiced crispy chicken thighs with savory roasted vegetables, satisfying couscous, and dill yogurt sauce. This recipe can be made dairy-free using plain unsweetened coconut yogurt, or gluten-free using quinoa instead of the couscous. For vegan, you could try marinating tofu in the spices, olive oil, and lemon! However you make it, I hope you enjoy!

View full article →

Get my FREE meal prep guide!

Get family-friendly recipes, nutrition tips and faith-based inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.