Protein Cookie Recipes That Taste Better Than Grandma’s Originals
It’s our favorite childhood memory: a whiff of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. These treats taste equally great but are loaded with muscle-building protein!
Nothing complements a glass of milk like a cookie. If you’re watching your waistline but still crave dessert or a late-night treat, try recipes that cut back on carbs and fat and amp up the muscle-building goodness. Delicious and good for you? That’s the way these cookies crumble.
I used Lean Body for Her Whey Protein Isolate in Natural Vanilla, but any whey protein blend will work. For the butter, I typically use Smart Balance, but you can substitute butter, ghee, or any buttery spread suitable for baking.
Are The Protein Cookies Keto Gluten Free Vegan
For vegan protein cookies, simply choose a plant based protein powder and optional dairy free chocolate chips.
The high protein cookies are gluten free and naturally flourless as long as the protein powder you use does not contain gluten.
To make keto protein cookies, use a keto protein powder and low carb nut butter such as macadamia butter. Sweeten the cookies with granulated erythritol or stevia.
How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
STEP 2: In a large bowl combine the oats, protein powder, maple syrup, peanut butter, chia seeds, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and water. Fold in the chocolate chips. Let the batter set for about 10 minutes for the oats to absorb the liquid. The consistency should look like a thick oatmeal like the below picture.
With a cookie scoop, scoop out the protein cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet .
Bake for 6-8 minutes until they puff up and are shiny on top but not quite brown. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cooling rack. Repeat for the remaining dough.
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Dietary And Flavor Variations
- Make them vegan! Swap out the egg for either a flax egg or a chia egg.
- Add chocolate chips Make chocolate chip protein cookies by folding through 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
- Oatmeal protein cookies Fold through 1/2 cup of rolled oats and sprinkle a tablespoon of oats on top of each cookie.
- Chocolate protein cookies Add 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and use chocolate protein powder.
- Birthday cake cookies Fold through 1/2 cup of sprinkles!
How Do You Add Protein To Baked Goods
Among the options for increasing the protein level of baked goods are:
Read Also: Best Weight Gainer Protein Powder
Are Protein Cookies Healthy
The market is saturated with packaged protein cookies these days. Brands such as Lenny & Larrys, Munk Pack, NuGo, Atkins, BHU Fit, and Quest come in an array of flavors like chocolate, lemon, oatmeal raisin, and birthday cake.
While the store bought cookies are packed with protein, that does not necessarily mean all of the options are good for you. Some cookies contain more added sugar than protein, and others include artificial sweeteners, palm oil, or white flour.
Making your own healthy protein cookies at home allows you to control what ingredients to include and lets you skip the processed ingredients or hard-to-digest gums or sugar alcohols.
The homemade protein cookie recipe has no flour, more than three grams of fiber, and up to twenty grams of protein for just 200 calories in a large cookie.
Leftover protein powder? Add it to these Baked Oats
How To Make Protein Cookies:
- Mx th oatmeal nd protein wdr.
- Blend the peanut butter, coconut l, dt nd wtr untl u gt a mth mxtur.
- Add th tml nd rtn wdr t th mxtur.
- Sh the dough into mll balls b hnd, then press them flat nt a lt.
- Place in the frdg for 60 mnut so th k can hrdn.
Yu n store th k n a ntnr fr u t 7 days.
Nt tht th nutritional information rfr t a single cookie.
Browse our site for more recipes you would love: keto | gluten free | grain free | low carb recipes:
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What Is A Good Substitution For Protein Powder When Baking
The protein powder is what helps give these cookies a protein boost. KaChava, the protein I used also has carbs and fat, so if you dont want that, you can use whatever kind you like. Just note it will change up the calories/macros some.
I understand that not everyone likes protein powder or uses it. Some substitutions that you can use for protein powder are:
- flour coconut, whole wheat, almond, oat flour, or whatever kind you like!
- oats you can always add more oats to help absorb the liquid
I havent tried these, so I am not sure if they work. You will have to play around with it some until you get the consistency you like. Again, just note this will change up the macros and they probably wont have as much protein!
Coolin Down On The Cookie Sheet
Remove the tray from the oven, dont touch the cookies yet.
They are ultra-soft, and thats normal! These cookies need to cool down for 20 minutes on the cookie sheet.
They will firm up and harden gently, so dont touch them. They are very fragile when out of the oven.
After 20 minutes, the cookies should be crispy and ready to transfer to a cooling rack.
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Can I Swap The Peanut Butter For Something Lower In Fat
ABSOLUTELY NOT. I repeat, do NOT swap the nut butter for something such as peanut flour or almond flour. The nut butter is the basis of his recipe and you absolutely can NOT omit it.
Coconut Sugar: coconut sugar is a lower glycemic sweetener that is derived from the coconut. If you so must, you can likely get away with swapping coconut oil for brown sugar, but we havent tested this.
Cocoa Powder: make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder so that there is no added sugar!
Eggs: The eggs in this recipe not only add protein but also act as a bind for your cookies.If youre looking to omit or swap the eggs, I suggest finding a whole different recipe that is made without eggs altogether!
Check out some of our favorite vegan cookies: .
Protein Powder: Weve made this recipe with both a plant-based protein powder as well as a whey protein powder and they both work.
Our recommendation? Whey protein powder takes the gold medal here because it leaves your protein cookies with the best texture.
Storing And Freezing Tips
Make Ahead: Prepare the protein cookie dough and freeze it for up to 3 months, then thaw before shaping and baking. You can also pre-scoop and shape the cookies before freezing.
Storing: The baked peanut butter banana oatmeal cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.
You can enjoy these oatmeal protein cookies cold or warmed up in the microwave for a few seconds, first. I love one cold in the summer with healthy frappuccino recipe!
Can I freeze protein cookies? Absolutely. You can freeze these for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
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Recipe Tips And Tricks
Because there are so many different types of protein powders and they do not all act the exact same way in recipes, some types of protein powder may require more nut butter if your dough is too dry or more protein powder if its too wet.
Dont want to use protein powder for the cookies? Feel free to substitute an equal amount of oat flour for the protein powder. Or experiment to find the ideal amount of coconut flour or almond flour to use as a substitute. If using coconut flour, you will need much less.
If using honey, agave, or pure maple syrup instead of sugar, you may need to add more protein powder, a little at a time, to achieve a cookie dough texture.
Most importantly, be sure to use a protein powder that you already know you like!
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Protein Cookiesan Easy Healthy Treat
These cookies are soft, chewy, and taste reminiscent of an old-fashioned peanut butter cookie.
Theyre sweet enough for dessert but wholesome enough to qualify as an acceptable post-workout snack. I couldnt choose which occasion I preferred them for more, so I opted for both.
- In addition to the peanut butter and eggs, the majority of the protein in these cookies comes from the use of whey protein. I use this brand of vanilla whey protein powder.
- If you are in the market for a chocolate protein cookies recipe, I think these cookies would be delicious made with chocolate protein powder too.
- I havent tried a plant-based protein powder yet, but a few readers have reported that pea protein powders have yielded delicious results. If you decide to play around with the recipe and test it out, Id love to hear how it goes!
These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies are naturally gluten free, as the whey protein and coconut flour replace the wheat flour.
If youve never purchased whey protein powder and arent looking to , you can check out my original Protein Cookies, which are made with peanut butter, quinoa, and banana.
They are more reminiscent of a healthy muffin-like cookie than an ooey-gooey peanut butter cookie but are still a yummy, relatively high-protein option.
Recommended Reading: High Protein Meals For Muscle Gain
How To Make 6oz Protein Cookies
These protein cookies are very easy to make, but there are a few key steps that I need to highlight for you.
To start, were going to mix everything together in a bowl except our protein powder.
This is going to leave us with a very wet batter, which may not seem like what we want, but trust me.
Once that is all mixed together, were going to add the protein powder in LAST.
This is a trick I learned when I was making my Protein Cookie Dough Sandwiches. If you add the protein powder in first, youre gonna end up with a significantly different end-product. Adding it last acts as a thickener, so were able to turn that sticky batter into a workable cookie dough.
At this stage, youll be left with a dough ball thats roughly 6oz. Mine weighed in just under that, but thats because I ate a small piece.
Hey, no judgement this protein cookie is safe to eat raw!
Now refrigerate the protein cookie dough for one hour.
I know, waiting is the worst. But, if you do not chill this cookie dough, youre not going to end up with a thick cookie. Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookie from spreading too thin, and it actually helps to develop the flavors even better.
After an hour, well form the cookie. I wanted my protein cookie to be nice and tall so I formed it into an oval, similar to my Half-Pound Protein Cookie.
If you want the cookie to be a little bit less tall and resemble a traditional cookie, form the cookie dough into a ball instead.
How Do You Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies
First: preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Second: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 2 large mashed bananas, your peanut butter, egg, vanilla extract, and honey .
Third: Add in oat flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and hemp seeds and whisk until everything is combined.
Fourth: Add in the oats, peanuts, raisins, and chocolate chips and gently stir the batter together with a rubber scraper.
Fifth: Scoop out the cookies on the baking sheets in about 2 tablespoon drops. Lightly shape or press down the cookies and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown on the bottom and edges of the cookies.
Sixth: cool the cookies on a wire rack and enjoy!
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Selecting A Protein Powder
There are a variety of protein powders that you can add to your cookie recipe, including whey protein.
However, if you follow a vegan diet, youll want to choose a plant-based protein powder. These can also help build muscle, but youll need a blend of plant proteins like pea and rice protein to make sure you get all the necessary amino acids.4,5
Other Flours: Coconut Flour & Almond Flour
In my original attempt at this protein cookie, I utilized only coconut flour . The cookie came out great, but coconut flour tends to have an overpowering taste. If you have a nut allergy and cant use almond flour, leave that out of the recipe and double up on the coconut flour as I did.
The cookie will come out great, but youll be able to taste the coconut flour. When you use only a small amount like the recipe calls for, you cannot taste it at all .
I use coconut flour because it is super absorbent and helps hold the structure of the cookie while still being low in calories. If you cant do coconut flour for any reason you can likely just replace it with more almond flour. The final result will be a little bit different, but it shouldnt be detrimental.
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How To Pick The Best Healthy Peanut Butter:
Not all peanut butter is the same! When we buy a peanut butter we look for 3 things:
Some of our favorite places/brands of peanut butter are Costco , Crazy Richards, Spread the Love, Whole Foods Brand, and Trader Joes
A Cookie For Any Occasion
The delicious protein cookie recipes above put a healthy spin on traditional cookies. You dont need pounds of butter and sugar to make yummy treats. By using healthy ingredient alternatives you can easily make a snack that tastes good and does good for your body.
Plus, you can add protein powder to these cookies to help supplement your protein intake. This vital macronutrient can help support muscle development to improve your fitness. Now, thats a piece of dessert you can feel good about snacking on.
Learn More:
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Why Should You Make Protein Cookies
I love peanut butter cookies, and these flourless peanut butter cookies with protein powder are my new favorite post-workout breakfast cookies.
They are chewy keto protein cookies loaded with healthy fat, plant-based protein, and no added sugar. They keep your blood sugar stable for hours and avoid any sweet craving during the morning.
They are moist in the center with delicious, crispy edges and a wonderful peanut butter vanilla flavor.
Plus, these protein cookies are naturally:
How To Make Lauras Delicious Chocolate & Hazelnut Protein Cookies
My favourite protein cookie must be Chocolate Hazelnut. It tastes just like Nutella with a gooey centre and studded with white chocolate chunks that are added just as they come out of the oven warm. These are high in protein from the vanilla vegan protein powder and whole chopped hazelnuts, which are combined in the mixture before baking. This recipe should make six chunky cookies in total, perfect for sharing.
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How Long After A Workout Should I Eat Protein
There is some varying research to suggest when exactly is the best time to consume protein after a workout.
Some experts recommend eating protein after your workout within 45 minutes for optimal muscle recovery and gains.
However, some research suggests that waiting even up to a few hours to consume protein after a workout can still be effective .
Largely, research continues to point to the benefits of consuming a protein-rich meal or snack within 30-60 minutes of exercise for optimal results. After all, the body is most suited to utilize protein and repair muscle fibers during the first hour after exercise.
How To Make Protein Cookies In Your Own Oven At Home
For all those who are regulars in the gym know just how important a good diet is to achieve your desired fitness goals. Trainers would often have told you how a very significant amount of your progress is diet dependent. This means that it is essential to consume the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. A fitness aimed diet can constitute extremely bland and tasteless foods. You almost reserve all cravings for that one cheat day at the end of the month or week. What if you could make a protein filled delectable that we all love cookies? In this article, we will teach you how to make protein cookies in your own oven.
It is worth mentioning that it is not essential for you to be seasoned in the kitchen. Learning how to make protein cookies is easy, quick, and leads to great results.
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Should I Combine Carbs Or Fat With Post
After exercise, in addition to repairing muscle tissue, the body works hard to replenish glycogen stores. Fueling the body appropriately is necessary to encourage this process. Consuming just protein after exercise would help the muscle fibers repair but would leave the bodys glycogen stores depleted.
The bodys glycogen stores are used as the primary fuel source during exercise and the way to replenish these stores is by consuming carbohydrates. Certain exercises will cause the body to utilize more glycogen, which means the body will need more carbohydrates after the workout. For example, in intense endurance exercise, the body uses more glycogen than in weight training.
Ultimately, regardless of the type of exercise youre doing, consuming both carbohydrates and protein afterward can help optimize protein and glycogen stores.
You already know how much protein you should consume after a workout, but you might be wondering how many carbs you should have in addition. A good rule of thumb is to consume a ratio of 3:1 carbs to protein. Therefore, if your post-workout fuel contains 25 grams of protein, you should also aim for 75 grams of carbohydrates.
However, keep in mind that how much whey protein per day, and total carbs, might vary depending on your needs and goals.