I created this easy protein cookies recipe back in 2012. They are high in protein, contain no flour and make great before or after workout cookies aka snack. And a great late night couch snack without the guilt.
If you ended up on this recipe in the evening looking for a healthy treat, know you probably have all ingredients on hand to make the best protein cookies in the world! I promise store bought protein bars don’t come even close. Especially in nutrition.
How Do Protein Cookies Taste?
A million dollar question.
- Cookies are sugar free and naturally sweetened with banana
- Pleasant soft texture.
- Not crunchy outside like traditional cookie because no butter baked with sugar. But…
- Even kids love these homemade protein cookies.
What Are Protein Cookies Ingredients?
- Bananas
- Peanut Butter
- Oats
- Protein Powder
How Many Grams of Protein Is in a Cookie?
Recipe makes 12 small cookies or 12 large cookies. Each cookie contains 6 grams of protein. As well as 11 grams of carbs and 4 grams of sugar. Compared to a regular cookie, these are high protein and low sugar cookies. Just think about it!
How to Make Protein Cookies
1. Mash Bananas
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Spray with cooking spray.
- Mash bananas with a fork.
What type of bananas are the best?
Riper the bananas, the sweeter protein cookies.
- Ripe bananas – yellow.
- Very ripe bananas – yellow with brown spots.
- Going bad bananas – brown.
Can I use previously frozen bananas?
Yes. Every time I see banana gone bad, I stick it in the freezer. It gets even more ugly and brown in there. Thaw it and use.
2. Add Wet and Dry Ingredients
Add whey protein powder, oats and peanut butter.
What whey protein powder to use?
Quality Wise
I recommend whey with minimum ingredients, at least grass-fed, preferably organic.
Flavor Wise
- Unflavored
- Vanilla
- Cookie dough
- Peanut butter
- Chocolate
In reality, any whey protein powder will work. End taste will vary slightly depending on protein’s ingredients. I used unflavored whey.
Can I use plant based protein powder?
No. Whey protein powder is made from cow’s milk and almost melts with other ingredients. It makes protein powder cookie dough runny. Plant-based protein powder is made from peas, brown rice and other plants that absorb liquids like crazy. Please do not substitute as cookies will not work.
What oatmeal is the best?
You can use quick oats, rolled oats, old fashioned rolled oats. Please do not use steel cut oats.
What peanut butter to use?
I always buy organic unsalted peanut butter. It is cheap. No hydrogenated oils. Unfortunately peanuts are heavily sprayed with pesticides. You can use any for this time but please buy good for you peanut butter next time. I recommend organic or at least natural peanut butter without additives. Ingredients should be peanuts and maximum a bit of salt.
3. Make Protein Powder Cookie Dough
- Stir well with a fork to combine.
- Dough consistency should be runny.
- Riper the bananas, more liquidy the batter.
- Add chocolate chips and give a few more stirs.
4. Bake Cookies
- Spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheet.
- Cookies don’t spread, so shape them now.
- Bake for 12 minutes if you have 12 small cookies.
- Bake for 14 minutes if you got 10 large cookies.
5. Enjoy
- Cool on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
- Enjoy your cookies guilt-free!
Can I Freeze Protein Cookies?
Absolutely. If I have going bad bananas I use them all. I make these cookies or healthy banana muffins or healthy banana bread. Nothing goes to waste in this house.
Freeze cookies for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
More Protein Cookie Recipes
- Chocolate protein cookies – very similar in texture but all the chocolate!
- No bake protein cookies – perfect for summer plant-based peanut butter cookies.
Protein Cookies
Craving cookies? This tasty protein cookies recipe is so easy, you can make it right now. Hurry up!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: North American
Ingredients
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 2 scoops (60g) unflavoured whey protein powder*
- 1 cup rolled quick or old fashioned oats
- 2 tbsp peanut butter, unsalted
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips, mini
- Cooking spray (I use Misto)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line large baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper or silicone baking mat, and spray with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, mash bananas with a fork. Add whey protein powder, oats and peanut butter; stir well to combine (batter’s consistency will be runny). Add chocolate chips and give a few more stirs.
- Spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheet (cookies don’t spread, so shape them now) and bake for 12-14 minutes (depending on size). Cool on a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Freeze: For up to 1 month. The best way to defrost protein cookies is in a microwave. That way the moisture and softness is restored.
Notes
*You can use vanilla whey, just make sure you buy unsweetened one.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
So delicious and soft! And very easy and fast!
★★★★★
Thanks for the positive feedback Tiffany!
I just made these and they turned out better than I expected! I used Isopure unflavoured whey protein powder (just for reference); a nut butter I make myself with pecans, peanuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds; and added in cinnamon and spice clove to give it more of a “banana bread” kind-of feel. As per another comment Olena left, I used raisins instead of chocolate chips. They came out really nicely. The texture is almost bready, which is interesting, but definitely soft. I find the flavour was definitely from the spices and banana, but I was surprised the whey protein didn’t come through – which I am happy about. I should have added nuts, but I completely forgot when making the mixture. I think the crunch would have made them better. Final note – I love that this doesn’t require a food processor, but rather just a fork, a spoon, a bowl, and some force. Thank you!
★★★★
You are welcome Alex!
Do you think the “2 tbsp peanut butter” could be replaced with cocoa powder as flavoring?
Would I need to add water?
Maybe. Never tried.
So I tried this with Pumpkin instead of Banana. (Because it’s cheaper, already mashed, and way less sugar and carbs.)
Then I used Chocolate flavored whey vs unflavored.
It was gross!
I think it’s the lack of banana, which is very flavorful compared to pumpkin.
And the chocolate flavor whey. I don’t think unflavored would be much better though huh? Do you think? idk..
If you follow the recipe cookies will turn out great!
Hey I can’t eat whey but I made these with beef gelatin protein and it’s a great gluten free dairy free protein alternative (not vegan sadly) which also helps to get the cookie together! Worked really well for me. Love the recipe XXX thanks again
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Molly! Thank you for the wonderful review!
was a little flavorless but i added more bananas and it tasted amazing! super fast prep time and everyone loved them!
★★★★
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Nikita.
Hi. Some questions
1. Can I pack these cookies in sealed bags?
2. How long can they be stored?
3. Is there another ingredient that I can use as a banana substitute? (I don’t like bananas hahah)
4. Does it work if I use oatmeal?
Thank you!!
Hello.
1. Yes but I wouldn’t ship them.
2. Refrigerate for up to 1 week and after I would freeze.
3. No.
Yes.
My cookies dont seem to get that cookie texture. I baked for 20 min. Still very soft.
They never will because they are not made with butter and sugar. Your cookies are ready.
Love this recipe!
★★★★★
So happy to hear that!!!
How did you come up with 6g of protein per cookie?
If you put 2 scoops or 48g of whey protein in one batch of cookies, and each batch makes 12 cookies, wouldn’t it be 2 grams of protein per cookie?
Let me know if I’m wrong, or if I miscalculated.
48:12=4. Plus oats and PB contain protein too.
Thank you for reply. What kind of cooking oil is the misto spray?
So Misto is just a spray bottle and you can put any of your oil in it. I use avocado or olive. Just not coconut because it is solid. Isn’t it amazing?!
These cookies were excellent.
★★★★★
That is so amazing to hear! Glad you enjoyed my recipe!
I use this recipe when I’m craving something sweet. They always come out great and I experiment with lots of different mix-ins and so far every batch has been successful!
★★★★★
My batter is not runny at all, what can I add to make it thinner. Almondmilk or water?
You can thin it out with anything until picture like consistency. It should be runny though. What protein powder did you use? Whey or plant-based by mistake? Only reason it wouldn’t be runny. Or not ripe bananas…
What is 1 cup in grams
136 g
Has anyone tried it with an egg instead of peanut butter? Or applesauce instead of peanut butter?
I haven’t but that could work potentially…
I’m not big on bananas. Is there anything I can do to lessen the banana taste?
Bananas are crucial for this recipe. Maybe try my chocolate protein cookies where chocolate does lessen banana taste a bit.
I added orange essence and mused Peel, can’t taste the banana at all. Delicious!
★★★★★
I’ve made this twice with plant based chocolate protein powder. Tastes great & super easy. I got 15 cookies with large bananas. Might add walnuts next time
★★★★★
Delicious cookies, that easy to make. Thanks Olena for the recipe, im from Ukraine too(Odessa), next time i try to add some chocolate and raisins, have a nice day!
★★★★★
You are welcome, Sasha!:) Yup, when I’m out of chocolate chips I add pecans and raisins. Which works only for one of my kids but it’s not my problem.:)
This has become one of my favourites. I add a bit of unsweetened coconut, and a couple pinches of sea salt to counter the bitterness from the stevia in the protein powder I use. Next, I will try using tahini and chocolate protein powder for a chocolate halvah taste
★★★★★
These cookies are so quick to make and are really good. I like that you don’t add sugar, the bananas add the sweetness and the chocolate chips. I substituted tahini for peanut butter and they were awesome. Kept them in frig for quick high protein snack. Thanks!
★★★★★
Could I add baking powder to make them fluffier?
You can try a bit but I’m not sure that will work though. I tried with my protein pancakes and they didn’t taste good, and no fluff. These protein cookies are quite soft.
I just made them (without the baking powder) and they are amazing! I substituted with PB2 powder and no chocolate for less calories. AMAZING!
How much peanut butter powder did you use?
These protein cookies were very good.
★★★★★
How would you recommend changing the recipe around for more protein? Like if I double the protein would I just lessen the oats?
To do that, I would have to retest the recipe as adding extra protein change ingredients ratio and taste.
I made these cookies today and they tasted so good! However, I was wondering if you could recommend a way to make the cookies slightly less dense and softer in the middle. We made 9 cookies and they were relatively thick so this could be why they were so dense. Thank you!
I don’t think it’s possible just because of oats and no white flour with rising agents etc. I mean these are cookies but definitely without many qualities of real cookies. Make them smaller and maybe try adding some baking soda. 🙂
I just came across your recipe. I’m looking forward to trying it. My thought is to use Coach’s Oats, a Costco favorite of ours. Thanks for the recipe! Ttyl 🙂 Walter
Hi Walter. Yes, you can use Coach’s oats. Cookie’s texture might be more coarse but it’s OK. Enjoy!
would there be any changes for high altitude?
No. These are not traditional flour cookies.
Hey there! When you scooped the batter onto the baking sheet, did you press/flatten them or leave them as is? Or should the batter be loose enough that they spread on their own when spooned? Just want to make sure I get the consistency correct before i bake! 🙂
Just left them as is. You drop the batter, it is not thick you use ripe bananas.
Awesome recipe! I loved it mostly because how quick it is. I used vanilla isopure protein and PB2 and they turned out great. I will likely do a little less protein powder next time and a slightly shorter cooking time because they were just a touch dry. I also want to add some shredded coconut or maybe some nuts next time 🙂
Hi Olena, what a wonderful website you have 🙂 I dont know how you got it to be low calorie??? when i put the ingredients into my fitness pal the calories tell me its about 140 calories per biscuit 🙁
How many grams of each of the ingredients are in a cookie?
No idea, honestly. Just enjoy it! It’s already healthy!
Hi Stefanie. Thank you! You know, sometimes people enter wrong nutritional info for some ingredients so that could be why. I always check labels of my ingredients and other people’s already entered.
Hey Stefanie, PB2 is a great way to cut calories from the cookies since peanut butter is a large contributor. I followed the recipe exactly with Isopure Vanilla protein powder and two tablespoons of PB2 (mixed with water per instructions) and mine were less than 80 calories per cookie.
Just made these i used pumpkin spice protein powder added a tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice 2 tablespoons of coconuts and I grounded some walnuts and sprinkle them on top it was delicious i would share the photo but it wont let me
Great recipe, I added a few other ingredients, almond flakes, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, I also added some mini marshmallows my clients love them. thank you .
Great! Using my recipe for clients is an honour.:)
I made these for my boyfriend who’s into working out and having his daily dose of protein, and he absolutely loved these cookies! He was super shocked when i told him there was 6g of protein in EACH cookie. thanks so much for the recipe 🙂
You are welcome, Sum!:)
These cookies are amazing!!!! I used PC Soy Isolate Protein Powder (unflavoured) as my Whey Protein is chocolate flavoured and these taste absolutely fantastic. Thanks so much for this and all of your amazing recipes.
Really, they worked with soy protein? I tried to follow the recipe with plant-based protein powder and it didn’t work. I ended up adding way more liquid. But I know with whey they are amazing. Glad you liked them!
I too love these cookies. We use unsalted Almond Butter and they are awesome.
Hi just looking for a good protein cookie for my teenage son who wants to get in shape.He has a severe peanut butter/nut allergie and all the reciepies call for peanut butter any ideas.Thanks
Yes. You could replace peanut butter with coconut oil or any other fat.
We just made them and I absolutely loved these cookies! Great recipe. Just a question, as I might not always have protein powder on me, is there anything that could substitute for it?
Glad you liked the cookies. To answer your question, you probably could replace protein powder with almond flour (ground almonds) or hemp hearts but cookies won’t come out the same. Still good but different texture.
Hi I have read somewhere that whey protein gets destroyed on heating and I just wanted to check if the protein value is accurate and also if 6gm is per cookie or for the entire batch of cookies
6 gm is per cookie. Here is what I found: “Baking whey protein powder may denature its proteins, a process that changes the physical or chemical structure of the protein. Denaturation does not mean not nutritious. It simply means changed, and the change may be temporary or minimal.”
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/288537-can-you-bake-with-whey-protein-powder/#ixzz2Z5PFSm5M
How long will these cookies stay good if not refrigerated? My husband was wondering if they could be shipped.
Hi Laura. I would say in an airtight container, for up to a week, 10 days…
Hi. I plan to use sweetend and flavored protein powder with salted peanut butter. That is what I have. Your thoughts?
It’s perfectly fine in terms of taste and baking. Just the cookies will be sweeter and nutritional info will change. 🙂
These sound delicious but unfortunately I HATE bananas! Could I substitute them for anything? Also I was thinking adding flaxseeds to the mix?
You can definitely add flax seeds but unfortunately bananas is what makes these cookies.
I love this recipe, I changed the peanut butter to PB2 and added sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and almonds to give some crunch. Thanks for the recipe
Hi Olena ! I have so much weight to lose & am so happy to have found your blog.
I love your recipes and your right, dieting & no carbs is not the answer. I also have two kids, I want to lose the weight to be around for them, I also want to teach them how to eat healthy. Thank you, Ellen
Hi Ellen. I’m so glad to hear that. Yes, you should do it for yourself and your family. And to be healthy is actually pretty easy and the best feeling in the world. So, go for it!