Interview With Andrea’s Protein Cakery

Thanks for being with us today Andréa. Your site, proteincakery.com is packed full of healthy, tasty, protein-packed recipes and nutritional information. Tell us about how you got started with Protein Cakery.

Thank you for having me, Adam! I started protein baking about a year ago. I was already lifting, and a big fan of the raw vegan blog Fragrant Vanilla Cake by Amy Lyons. I kept a vegetarian diet (and still do), and I was enjoying making recipes from that blog as a clean cheat every week.

A bodybuilder friend suggested I try protein baking, and I started looking for recipes. I found Protein Pow and was amazed at what can be done with cheap protein powder! I also found many other protein recipes online, but I still wasn’t finding the recipes I was looking for. Even though I wanted to bake with protein powder, I was still very much influenced by the natural, vegan foods in the raw vegan desserts.

I wanted recipes with less dairy and using more of the ingredients I had come to enjoy. So I started creating my own recipes. Lots of them! Since I felt quite grateful for the recipes I found online and how much that positively impacted my life, I thought I should pay it forward and put my recipes out there also. And Protein Cakery was born!

You credit Protein Pow, along with Fragrant Vanilla Cake as being inspirations for your own site. We recently did an interview with Anna from Protein POW. Why do you feel so many people are warming to cooking with protein supplements?

I think it is largely due to social media. We are inspired by all the fit physiques we see, as well as all the healthy food options. Protein baking is a part of that. The internet and social media have really made the lifestyle accessible.

This shift towards a healthier culture, and advancements with supplements, along with the vast amount of recipes available online from yourself and others really makes it easier for people these days to enjoy a healthy diet. Do you find your friends and family enjoy your recipes, even if they aren’t gym goers themselves?

Absolutely! My dad has become my biggest fan. He was never interested in healthy food or exercise, but last year he was diagnosed with lung cancer and he quickly changed his tune! He is consistently surprised at how much he enjoys my recipes. In fact, I am working on an e-book of his favorite recipes of mine (all new, unpublished recipes) to raise money for cancer research. We are excited about the project, and hope to raise lots of money for the cause!

I also have friends who aren’t gym goers but like to keep a healthy diet, and they are enjoying the recipes, too. All of my friends volunteer to be taste-testers for me!

Do you believe that a person can eat healthy without having to sacrifice taste?

Yes, of course! Fresh, natural ingredients make the tastiest meals! I love to incorporate fresh fruit, unsweetened nut butters, and healthy fats like avocado or coconut butter in my recipes.

Several years ago I started to eat more clean foods, and once I got away from the artificial junk, I began to better taste and appreciate the delicious flavors in healthy, natural food. I’m hoping to spread the word by creating these recipes!

I thought you’d say yes haha! As is evident by your blog recipes. Your blog is very successful, largely due to the great content you put out. How difficult is it for you to come up with ideas for your blogs?

Thank you. It isn’t difficult at all! I can’t keep up with my list of recipe ideas. I find inspiration everywhere, and I have lists of recipes waiting to be made! I also encourage readers to write in with recipe makeover suggestions. But really all I have to do is spend a few minutes on Instagram or Pinterest, and I’m completely inspired!

What are some of the biggest challenges about taking a traditional recipe, and packing it with protein?

If it something that I haven’t seen before, like my all-natural, gelatin-free Protein Marshmallow Fluff, it takes a lot of research and experimenting. I spent hours looking at vegan marshmallow recipes to avoid using gelatin. Then even more time reading about how to use agar powder in recipes.

Then I looked up protein marshmallows to see if anyone else had given it a go. And then I started experimenting with the ingredients I wanted to use. It’s all fun and interesting to me, but sometimes a recipe can take quite a bit of time to create!

How do you ensure that the end result still tastes great, when having to sacrifice the sugar and fat?

Since my goal is to keep the grams of carbs low, I typically only add carbs that will sweeten a recipe. For example, I don’t add oats or oat flour unless it is an oat-specific recipe, like my Honey Oat Protein Bread. For cakes and muffins, I prefer to use sweeter carbs like fruit. This keeps the macros great, while maximizing sweetness! And I’m not afraid to add healthy fats to my recipes if they need it!

What is your favourite type of protein to use in recipes?

Do I have to pick only one? The great thing about baking with protein, is we have so much choice. From micellar casein, to whey protein concentrate or isolate protein powder. Then we have the vegetable proteins.

I’ve been loving Warrior Blend vanilla protein powder for baking lately. It is a pea protein blend, and works really nicely with egg whites for protein pancakes. It makes a simple basic cake, too. But I also love how creamy a good whey protein can be for recipes like Protein Fudge.

Of all the recipes you’ve made, which is your favourite?

That’s a tough question, but I think I have to go with Aunt Chubby’s Protein Cheesecake. It is based on a family recipe, and was one of the first protein recipes I created.

I’ve used the same cheesecake base in other recipes, as well, like my Sopapilla Protein Cheesecake Bars, which have amazing macros!

Are there any foods you’ve not been able to recreate with a healthier, protein packed alternative as of yet?

There are many things I haven’t explored yet, like flaky pastry dough and hard candy.

Much like myself, you love leg day! A lot of women who work out are scared to even stand near the weights section, in the fear they’ll turn into the She Hulk. What would you tell women who want to workout and get fit, but do not want to develop a muscular physique?

I would tell them to educate themselves! When combined with the right food plan, lifting (heavy) weights gives the beautiful, curvy, toned body they are most likely looking for.

I think many women are still misinformed, thinking lifting heavy will result in giant muscles. And I think others aren’t ready to commit to an appropriate food plan.

Lifting heavy plus eating too much will make a woman look a little thicker, but that is an issue of diet, not weights! In my experience, weighted exercise is what defines the overall shape of the body, while diet defines the leanness.

I would also add that it is quite empowering to be able to push some serious weight in a leg press! One of the reasons I love leg day!

Supplement companies will market specific protein powders as being ‘the best protein powder for women’, as if it’s different than regular whey protein. What are some of the biggest supplement scams you’ve seen?

To be honest, I don’t pay any attention to ads like that. I skip right by those pages in the magazines! But I’m not bothered by the idea of “women’s protein powder” if there are actually some added supplements that are gender-specific.

I think as consumers we need to educate ourselves to make the best choices. And if a woman wants to buy pink boxing gloves and drink whey from a pink canister, that’s cool. My boxing gloves are black, but to each her own!

The recipes you feature on your site look so awesome. It’s like cheating, but it’s not! What are people’s reactions like when they see the types of food you can make, that are macro friendly, but appear to be ‘cheat’ food?

Thank you! People usually do a double-take. “Wait, what? This has protein? Low-carb? Really?” And then they take another piece! I often bring desserts to parties and end up gaining lots of new fans!

When you were younger you say you weren’t overweight, but would be made fun of for ‘not being as slim’ as your class mates. I come from a similar position. I was overweight as a kid, but never really bullied for it. These people who used to pick on you, if you still stay in touch with them now, are they concerned with their health and appearance?

I don’t stay in touch with any of them any more. But I hope they have also come to find healthy relationships with food and have a positive body image.

You used to attend weight watchers. Did you find this helpful or more gimmicky?

Back then I found it quite helpful! The daily worksheet had boxes that you checked off for each serving. Two fruit servings, three vegetable servings, two dairy, etc. It provided me with a balanced approach to eating, which was what I was looking for.

Growing up, my mom always provided us with balanced meals. But when I started spending more time out of the house, I really didn’t know what I was doing. Weight Watchers was a great help.

I don’t think I would enjoy their ‘simplified’ program now because I like measuring and understanding the calculations. But if it works for others, that’s great!

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see people make when first starting to experiment with protein baking?

All protein powders are not equal! Generally speaking, whey proteins and plant proteins cannot be substituted for one another in baked goods. I think many people fail to realize this, and end up making rubber cakes!

Also, protein recipes tend to stick to their baking pans like nothing I’ve ever seen before! I have a lot of glass bakeware, so I line it all with parchment paper. I also have some silicone bakeware, and that’s great, too.

Are there any absolute no no’s to cooking with protein?

Don’t over-bake a recipe that uses whey protein! Over-baked whey becomes dry and rubbery. No bueno!

What are your favourite supplements to use, not only when baking, but to help you make the most of your time in the gym?

I like creatine, beta alanine, and BCAAs. A trainer friend recommended them for me, and I have been happy with them. I would encourage others to do some reading and consult a professional to be sure they are making the best personal choices.

What recipe would you recommend a beginner to baking with protein should try first?

For someone who has never baked, I would say start with the protein fudge recipes. No baking required! And for bakers, I would recommend any of the cookie recipes, since they are all pretty simple!

How do you find the motivation or inspiration to keep coming up with new recipes?

Well, I need to eat, so there’s the motivation! I don’t eat meat, so I need protein supplements daily to reach my protein goals. And I love my protein cakes!

But also, the tremendous amount of positive feedback really motivates me to do more and work harder. Hearing people on social media rave about my recipes definitely fuels the fire!

Talk us through the process for coming up with a new recipe. How many attempts does it take from idea, up until it goes live on the website?

Most recipes work out the first time, because I start with a working recipe and make some substitutions. For example, once I realized the Peanut Butter Protein Cookie recipe worked, it was easy to create the Chewy Chocolate Protein Cookie recipe. They have similar building blocks, but different flavors.

Instead of peanut butter, I used almond butter. Instead of vanilla plant protein, I used chocolate plant protein.

Some recipes are new creations for me, a wishful hope that a given set of ingredients will turn into something delicious! These recipes could take several tries to get right! With experience I’m learning how the different ingredients react. So if a cake comes out too dry or too dense, I know how to fix it. And if I don’t know how to fix something, I look it up! I often go through several iterations before a new recipe is blog-worthy!

I’ve recently tested and reviewed a ton of protein snacks. From protein cookies, to protein crisps. What is your favourite protein snack to go ahead and buy from a store (and that doesn’t require you to make it yourself!)

I guess I’m a bit picky with my protein snacks, because other than a couple of protein bars, I really don’t buy any! I find that some “protein” snacks have more grams of sugar than protein. That, to me, isn’t a protein snack. That’s a sugar snack, with a hint of protein. I love Quest bars, though, and I’m excited to try their new Quest Chips!

Do you prefer baking your own protein food as opposed to buying protein bars, snacks and other protein ‘treats’?

I like store-bought protein bars for the convenience and to switch things up, but I feel like the options are limitless with protein baking! I definitely bake more than I buy.

What projects have you got coming up for the rest of 2014?

I have a give-away coming very soon! I’ve been excited and grateful to see the following growing so much recently, so I’m going to do a give-away in appreciation! Not a sponsored give-away, just me giving away some of my favourite bakeware and product samples.

And as I mentioned earlier, I’m working on a recipe e-book to raise money for cancer research. I’m planning to have it ready by September 1, and 100% of the proceeds for the first 3 months will go directly to cancer research.

After that, a portion of the proceeds will go to the cause indefinitely. There will be 20+ new recipes in the e-book, all high-protein and all-natural like the ones on my blog. I think it’ll be a great way to get more people protein baking, and to raise money for a cause that affects so many of us!

Where can our readers follow you?

The recipe blog: www.proteincakery.com

Instagram: @proteincakery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/proteincakery

Twitter: www.twitter.com/proteincakery

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/proteincakery

And look out for me on Youtube, as I have a couple of videos in the works!

Thanks for your time Andréa, do you have any final words for our readers?

Thank you so much for having me! I just want to make sure your readers know that they can eat delicious food and have the physique they work so hard to achieve! With so many recipes out there, the options are really limitless to create food that you love, and that your body will love! 🙂

Over To You

If you want to spice up your diet, and pack your treats with protein, you’ll find a ton of easy to follow recipes from Andrea. When you know the do’s and don’ts of protein baking, it becomes a breeze. You can use my protein discount codes along with our cheap supplements discount codes to get stocked up on all the essentials.

If you want to share any of your protein recipes with us, then please get in touch on twitter & facebook. We can feature your recipe right here on the site!