Many of the vanilla protein powders we have been unlucky enough to try just taste artificial. It's not a pleasant experience. Of course, we love them just as much as you do.
This is why we've given ourselves a mission to find the 6 best tasting vanilla protein powders of 2024. There is a clear winner here. We shall stick it in position one, but any one of these protein powders is decent.
We know that you probably don't want to be reading tons and tons of words before we get to the reason why you're here - to find out the best vanilla protein powders on the market.
So, we will just dive right into our list. If you read a bit after this, you'll learn how we chose the best protein shakes. Plus, we throw in a healthy dose of extra bits and pieces so you really can benefit from that vanilla goodness.
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Not only this, but protein powder can also lead to faster muscle repair.
#1. Huge Whey Vanilla Milkshake
Right at the top of the list, we've got to put the Huge Whey Vanilla Milkshake. We've tested a lot of vanilla protein powders to put together this page for you, and we think this one is, by far, the best. It isn't just us saying that either. There are loads and loads of reviews that agree.
For starters, the flavor is out of this world. The team at Huge have really managed to nail the whole actually tasting like vanilla thing. This isn't a cheap vanilla taste either. It has a premium quality to it. It is the sort of thing that you'll enjoy drinking, rather than something that you feel you need to drink just to build your muscles.
While it is marketed as a milkshake, we see no reason why you couldn't mix it up and bake with it, or something similar. We like it as a milkshake, and you'll always catch us with this one at the gym when we are in the mood for something vanilla tasting.
Enough about the flavor, though. This is a protein powder. This means that it actually needs protein and, you know what? It does. Each serving contains a whopping 25g of high quality whey protein. No filler. Your body will love it. Oh, and it is just 130 calories per serving too, so no awful weight gain or bloated feeling either.
It is one of the most affordable protein powders on the market, especially when you consider the quality of the ingredients. Each bottle you buy comes with a free protein shaker too, which offers value for money and it is so convenient too. You can visit the official product page by clicking here.
Yeah. We have five more options to discuss, but when it comes to vanilla protein shakes, this one is just so far ahead of the pack.
#2. Ancient Nutrition Protein Powder
Yes. That is real bone broth, so this isn’t going to be a protein powder for the vegetarians or vegans out there. It is also vanilla flavored and, for something that is effectively soup, it tastes surprisingly good. It doesn’t really taste like bone broth, which is nice. We’ve had bone broth before, and we were not fans at all.
We do want to point out that while this is marketed as a protein powder, it is so much more. Because it is bone broth, the Ancient Nutrition Protein Powder is loaded with all sorts of nutrients, including collagen, that can benefit your health as a whole. Although, this does come at the cost of slightly less protein than some of the other options here. You get just 20 grams of protein per serving, with 100 calories per serving.
We don’t really see this as a protein powder for those who are working out regularly. There just isn’t enough protein there, and we don’t think the bone broth will go down too well when you are just about to workout.
It feels somewhat ‘heavy’. However, it could go down a treat for those that want to have an overall improvement to their health, especially those who may have a couple of issues with their gut health. Still, it might be worth looking into for some of our readers who want something a bit different.
#3. Dymatize IS0100 Hydrolyzed Protein Powder
If one product comes close to the first in our list, then it has to be this option from Dymatize. However, we do feel that it is let down slightly by the overall vanilla flavor. It is a decent flavor, and far superior to 99% of the other options on the market.
However, it is marketed as a gourmet vanilla taste, and we don’t think it is quite there. Still, it does taste good, and can be a viable alternative if you can’t go hold of the first option.
The Dymatize ISO100 Hydrolyzed Protein Powder is 100% whey protein. It has 25 grams of protein per serving, plus 5.5 grams of BCAAs to really help take your workout sessions to the next level. So, you do get everything that you really need in the package. Plus, it is low in fat and sugar, which means that it is naturally low in calories too. So, you won’t be piling on the pounds.
On the other hand, it is a bit more on the expensive side, considering the bottles it comes in aren’t that big. So, it doesn’t quite offer the same value for money that the Huge Supplements option does.
#4. Nutribiotic Rice Protein
Rice protein is one of the few options on the market for vegan bodybuilders, since almost everything else is whey protein, or milk-based. We looked long and hard, and the Nutribiotic Rice Protein may be the best option for vegans, although it is nowhere near the best option overall.
The flavor of the Nutribiotic Rice Protein is pretty decent. Well, as good as it can be. However, we want to point out that this isn’t really the fault of the vanilla here. Rice protein rarely tastes good as it is. Mix this with a good plant-based milk and you’ll be fine.
It will taste just like drinking a vanilla milkshake (although, you might want to add a dash of sweetener to the mix).
The problem some of you may have, however, is the fact that it isn’t really marketed as a product for bodybuilders. It is meant for vegans who may wish to supplement their diet with a little bit of extra protein. You’ll only get 12 grams of protein per serving, so you might need to double your serving to get any real value here. This will push the cost up. But, as a vegan vanilla protein powder, we doubt you’ll do much better than this.
#5. Maxler 100% Golden Whey Protein
If you want something vanilla tasting, but a little bit different, then the Maxler 100% Golden Whey Protein is worth looking into. It has a vanilla ice cream flavor. This means that you don’t get the 100% pure vanilla extract flavor, but you do get that creamy taste that so many people love.
However, we do want to point out that it does taste a bit more like artificial flavoring than some of the other options here, and we have no doubt that this is down to the fact that Maxler have tried to replicate the vanilla ice cream flavor.
The Maxler offers 24g of protein per serving. Not too bad at all. As it is a whey protein, it is fast absorbing. You’ll also find that it is loaded with BCAAs as well.
We do think that it is a bit on the expensive side, although many Maxler products are. It is also not ideal for those that want a properly vanilla taste. But, there is a reason why thousands and thousands of people have used and reviewed this product, so it might be worth looking into if the Huge Supplements protein powder doesn’t fly with you.
#6. Vega Organic All-in-One
The Vega Organic All-in-One Vegan Protein Powder isn’t marketed toward those working out, but it does work. As it is pea protein, it doesn’t taste brilliant on its own, but mix this with some plant-based milk and it tastes alright. Perhaps not as great as the rice protein option earlier, but it is passable.
The reason why we are recommending this one is because it is an all-in-one drink. It is for those who are losing weight, or want to supplement their diet with a few extra nutrients. You do get some good stuff in here. This included 20 grams of protein per serving, and loads of vitamins and minerals. It is surprisingly affordable too, considering all the vegetables and fruits that have gone into this blend.
We do want to point out that it only works as a shake. This is one of the rare vanilla protein powders that you can’t use in other ways, which some of you may hate.
How We Chose the Best Vanilla Protein Powders
So, now you know what we think the best vanilla protein powders are, you probably have the burning question - how did we come to this conclusion?
Well, we didn't just pluck these ideas out of thin air. We tested them extensively, read product reviews, and went through tons of information on the ingredients. This is how we know these are the best products around, and why the Huge Supplements powder is at the top of the pack.
Let's go through it all, shall we?
Taste
Since this whole page is about protein powders that taste like vanilla, a whole lot of our focus was on the actual taste of the product. We want it to actually taste like vanilla.
As we said right at the start, most products that claim to taste like vanilla really don't. We suppose this is because it is insanely hard to replicate the taste of vanilla perfectly, while also loading all that protein in there. Oh, and vanilla is quite an expensive ingredient, so most companies really cut back on it. As a result, you end up with something that tastes artificial. We hate that.
All the products we've included on this page are the best of the best. They taste tremendous. Not all of them are able to ditch a slight artificial taste, but this is as close as you'll get to a proper vanilla tasting protein powder.
Protein Content
It's a protein powder so, y'know, it actually needs to have protein in it. We like products that hover around the 25g of protein per serving mark. It is the sweet spot, which is why we put the Huge Supplements protein powder in the number one spot.
We actually pay special attention to the ingredients here. There should be no filler. No filler. It's a protein powder, after all. You want to get bang for your buck. We love only whey protein powders. Whey tastes better as it is essentially flavorless, so it gels with the vanilla well. Whey protein is also better absorbed by your body, which means you'll get a lot more benefit from it.
User Reviews
As much as we trust our own judgment on products, we like to take on board a range of different opinions. We read user reviews so we know what other people think of the vanilla protein powders. If the reviews are very positive, then fantastic. We know that it is probably a product that we can recommend. If the reviews tend to trend toward the negative side of things? Well, that product ain't on our list, even if we tended to have a decent experience with it.
Reading proper user reviews is the only way to get a good overview of the supplements that you can buy.
Price and Value
A protein powder can be tremendous, but if it is vastly more expensive than every other product, we can't recommend it. We know protein powders can be expensive, which is why want to ensure that you get bang for your buck.
When we are analyzing protein powders, we weigh up the quality of the product versus the price. We expect a lot more from expensive protein powders. We also love it if a bit extra is thrown in to sweeten the deal. That's why we recommended the Huge Supplements protein powder. It comes with a free shake bottle each time you buy it. Oh, that and the fact the product is great.
Why We Love Vanilla Protein Powder
Well, other than the fact we love vanilla, right? You probably already know why you love vanilla protein powder, which is why you are here. Still, it probably won't hurt to share our reasons, will it?
Versatile Flavor Profile
Vanilla is a very delicate, but recognizable flavor. We are going to be honest with you - no matter how much you love vanilla, you'll get bored of it when you're consuming regular protein shakes. It happens with all flavors. However, this is where vanilla is great.
The vanilla flavor goes with anything. We will give you a few ideas on what you can cook up with some decent vanilla powder. All you need to know is that you're not going to be limited. You are not going to constantly be forced to drink shakes.
Smooth and Creamy Texture
Protein powder, when mixed properly, is ever so smooth and creamy. It is a dream to drink. Well, that's assuming that you've purchased a quality protein powder, which you should have done if you selected it from this list. The subtle hint of vanilla just adds to that smoothness.
Helps with Muscle Growth and Recovery
Obviously, this is the main reason why people pick up any sort or protein powder, vanilla flavor or otherwise.
If you know even the slightest bit about bodybuilding, you'll know that protein is everything. Protein is the building block of every process in your body. This includes your muscles.
Loading yourself up with protein can help to speed up this process as you'll be giving your body the tools that it needs to thrive. Those that regularly take protein powder before their workout sessions have faster muscle growth.
Not only this, but protein powder can also lead to faster muscle repair. This means that you can workout more often, and you'll have far fewer injuries.
If you're planning on heading to the gym regularly, then you really do need to have a quality protein powder with you.
Ways to Use Your Vanilla Protein Powder
One of the cool things about buying vanilla protein powder is that you're not really all that limited on how you can use it. The world is truly your oyster and, if you don't want to get bored, you can try to incorporate it into as many dishes as you want.
We've seen people use their vanilla protein powder in all sorts of ways. Remember - vanilla protein powder doesn't need to be consumed as a shake, even though that's how most people will use it.
Let's share some ideas.
Add to Smoothies or Shakes
Yes. This one might have been incredibly obvious to most of you. Most of the time, if somebody is consuming protein powder, they'll have it as a shake. It is the easiest way to prepare it, after all. That doesn't mean that you can't get experimental, though. In fact, we encourage it. The vanilla flavor works so well.
You can add a serving of protein powder to whatever smoothie or shake concoction you come up with. For example, we love to make a good fruit smoothie before we head to the gym. We then throw some vanilla protein powder in there and, voila, you've got a decent smoothie. Go crazy with how you mix things up. You'll love how much the vanilla taste can make everything better. Plus, you're getting protein. That's always good.
Incorporate into Baked Goods
Want to give a bit more oomph to your baking? Get some protein powder in there. Make those brownies, cakes, cookies, etc. protein options. A bit healthier, plus a new way to enjoy your protein.
You'll need to tinker with your baking recipes a little to make sure that things don't go wrong when you use protein powder in them. However, we are positive you'll have no issues finding all sorts of recipes online made especially for this.
Use in Your Coffee
OK. So, you're not going to get a whopping amount of protein powder into your coffee. It would have a rather hideous texture if you did that. However, you can squeeze a spoonful of protein powder into your coffee. We do that regularly.
Not only does it mean you'll get a bit of extra protein in your diet for next to no effort at all, but you'll make that coffee taste better.
We see vanilla flavor protein powder as a decent replacement for sugar. It's much healthier.
The Bottom Line
We know we threw a lot of information at you here, but we genuinely do love vanilla protein powder, and we want to make sure that you buy the best vanilla protein powder on the market. Not just in terms of flavor, but in terms of the protein content and the overall benefit it'll have on your muscle growth and repair.
While we have mentioned six different vanilla protein powders here, we highly recommend the Huge Supplements option. It is not only one of the most affordable on the market, but the best. Check it out. If you're anything like us, you wouldn't want any other supplement. You can buy it from the Huge Supplements website, or pick it up on Amazon.
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