This Protein Cookies Recipe is easy to make in one bowl with only 5 ingredients. They are soft, chewy, packed with 6 grams of protein and have no added sugar.
Other high protein treats we love include these chocolate protein cookies and no bake protein cookies.
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These protein cookies are such a versatile crowd pleaser, I have been making them since 2012.
You’ve probably noticed the abundance of protein cookies flooding grocery stores aisles. While they advertise tons of delicious sounding options, they’re filled with weird ingredients, aftertaste, and a hefty price tag!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- High in protein: Each protein cookie recipe contains just 92 calories and 6 grams of protein.
- Easy to make: All you need is a one bowl and 5 simple ingredients.
- Saves money: This protein cookies recipe uses everyday pantry ingredients that are affordable.
- Tastes delicious: Of course they won’t taste like regular cookies but they taste delicious!
- Perfect for meal prep: It’s a perfect grab-and-go meal for healthy breakfast, post-workout snack, healthy dessert, or as an addition to lunchboxes.
Ingredients for Protein Cookies
Here is the breakdown of 5 simple ingredients you will need to make these protein cookies.
- Bananas: Use overripe bananas as they’re sweeter. Choose bananas with lots of brown spots or almost entirely brown for the best results. Here is a quick tutorial how to ripen bananas faster.
- Peanut butter: I prefer to use organic smooth peanut butter with no salt or other additives added. However, any peanut butter, including crunchy peanut butter, will work.
- Oats: I recommend to use only rolled oats or old-fashioned oats. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you or some you cook for has celiac disease.
- Protein powder: I use unflavored whey protein powder (this one is pretty close to the one I have pictured) or vanilla whey protein powder. I recommend using a brand with minimum ingredients, preferably organic and grass-fed.
- Chocolate chips: While optional, I love their addition to cookies. You can use semi-sweet, dark, or even sugar free chocolate chips like Lily’s. I like to use mini ones for more even distribution.
How to Make Protein Cookies
Here is a quick overview how to make protein cookies. They are so simple to whip up in less than 20 minutes! You can also find full recipe card below.
- Mash bananas: In a large bowl, add peeled bananas and mash with a fork.
- Make the dough: Add the protein powder, oats, peanut butter and mix well until thoroughly combined. The dough consistency should be fairly runny and will depend on the type of oats, peanut butter and ripeness of bananas used.
- Add chocolate chips: If you’re using them, add now and stir.
- Shape and bake the cookies: Use a measuring cup or small scoop for even-sized cookies. Protein cookies don’t spread, so you can shape them now. For smaller cookies, bake for 12 minutes. For larger cookies, try 14 minutes.
Recipe Tip
Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes before enjoying.
What Is the Best Protein Powder to Use?
While some recipes, like these protein bars, work better with plant based protein powder, you have to use whey protein powder in this protein cookie recipe. Vegan protein powders contain very absorbent ingredients like peas, rice, which leads to dry cookie results.
I recommend using a whey protein powder like this one from Organic 17 or Levels. I prefer plain protein powder not to overpower the flavor of cookies, but flavored protein powder also works. Just know your cookies will be sweeter and sugar count may change.
Tips for Best Results
- Don’t use quick oats: Technically quick oats will work in this protein oatmeal cookies recipe but because they are more finely milled, they tend to dry out the cookies. I avoid them, if possible.
- Frozen bananas: This cookie recipe is a great way to use up old bananas. Just be sure to thaw them first.
- Use whey protein powder you like: This is critical as it will affect the flavor of the cookies a lot, so don’t use protein powder you’ve bought, didn’t like, and are trying to use up. Been there, done that.
- Don’t over bake the cookies: They continue to cook and will firm up while cooling down. Baking cookies for too long results in dry cookies.
Variations
- Flavored protein powder: The easiest way to adapt the flavor of these protein cookies is with flavored protein powder like chocolate protein powder. Substitute 1:1 with unflavored protein.
- Cacao nibs: For true no added sugar cookies, add 3-4 tablespoons of cacao nibs. They will add crunch but not sweetness.
- Spices: Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, or ground ginger.
- Nuts or seeds: Add in 2-3 tablespoons of crushed nuts like pecans, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- Dried fruit: Add 2-3 tablespoons of finely chopped dried dates, cranberries, blueberries, raisins, or apricot.
- Citrus: You can use fresh citrus zest like lemon, lime, or orange zest.
- Coconut: 1-2 tablespoons of shredded coconut flakes will add flavor and texture. You can also toast them for extra layer of flavor.
How to Store and Freeze
Store: You can keep baked protein powder cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
You can enjoy them cold or warmed up in the microwave for a few seconds.
Freeze: Bake and cool cookies completely to avoid them becoming soggy from trapped extra moisture inside the container. Then transfer cookies to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
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.
FAQs
While many popular brands like Quest or Lenny and Larry’s might claim to be healthy, on closer inspection you may see that they are also filled with sugar, processed oil and less than desirable ingredients.
By making your own cookies with protein powder at home, you have complete control over the ingredients. These cookies are packed with whole foods, clean ingredients and contain only 11 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fat and 4 grams of sugar.
Peanut butter is an integral part of these protein cookies. However, if you’re unable to consume peanut butter, you could try this recipe with other nut butter like almond butter or cashew butter. Also tahini or sunflower seed butter is an option too. A few readers have successfully used PB2 powder instead but I haven’t tried.
Unfortunately nothing I am aware of. Bananas are an integral part of this recipe. Any extract like orange or lemon extract will help mask their flavor though.
First, I don’t recommend this substitution due to these powders being too absorbent. However, if you want to experiment with vegan protein powder, I recommend using 1/2 the amount, to begin with. You can then naturally boost the protein with additions like chia seeds and other high-protein nuts or seeds.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes to Try
- Healthy peanut butter cookies
- Almond flour chocolate chip cookies
- Sugar free oatmeal cookies
- Healthy banana oatmeal cookies
- Healthy cookie dough
More Protein Recipes to Try
Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 2 scoops (60 grams) unflavored whey protein powder
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter unsalted
- 2 tablespoons chocolate chips any, I used mini
- Cooking spray I use Misto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 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.
Video
Notes
- 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.
- Flavored protein powders: You can use vanilla whey, just make sure you buy unsweetened one.
- Can I use plant-based protein powder? No. It contains very absorbent ingredients like peas, rice, which yields dry cookies. For that reason, I don’t recommend the substitution.
- Can I use previously frozen bananas? Yes. Just make sure to thaw them before using.
- Can I use quick oats? You can technically, however due to them being more finely milled, they tend to dry out the cookies, so I avoid them.
I’ve made these cookies many times. I’ve even made a double batch and given them for gifts to those older family member who don’t want anymore “stuff” in their house. EVERYONE loves them! Especially the health crazed individuals. I don’t care for them, but only because I don’t like bananas, so I make your regular oatmeal cookies, w/o bananas. But these cookies, are fast, easy, and taste great. (They’re never around long enough to freeze)
It’s a wonderful recipe but not sure how much each ingredient will be and how many cookies it will fetch
At the very top of page there is Jump to Recipe button which will take you to a full recipe card.
Taste: great!
Texture: like licking the floor of a Budgie’s cage.
Very dry for me unfortunately, but great with the addition of some natural yoghurt.
Adding an egg might make it better (for non Veegs of course).
Thank you so much
It was incredibly yummy🥰🥰🥰🥰
So glad you enjoyed it!
Looking for a way to make these a little richer and chewier. How would they be if I added a T of melted coconut oil?
Well, butter and sugar will do that. 🙂 Jokes aside, not much you can do without butter and sugar. 1 T of coconut oil will not do much, and more will make cookies softer.
Hello! Just an update… I’ve made these 3 times this week. I just love them!
My tweeks:
Not big on chocolate so I sub’d raisins.
Added cinnamon & vanilla.
Added chopped walnuts and 2T shredded coconut along with the 1T coconut oil (melted)
These have been great post workout, for breakfast or when I’m famished at work.
Thank u!!!!
Thank you for sharing all your experiments with us, Nicole. Glad you enjoy the cookies this much!
I’m not vegan, so what would happen if I add 1 egg?
I think it would be okay, the only worry would be that the ratio of dry to liquid might be off though. Let us know how it goes if you try!
I don’t know what science is behind how these come together with just 4 ingredients->but, they were so easy and good! Mine were a little dry, maybe because I used quick oats. Overall, a good and quick recipe for an easy on the go breakfast cookie.
Awesome!
I love your recipes I have tried many! They help towards dieting and also eating healthy thank you so much for sharing them. My son is wanting more protein in his diet to build up muscles so the protein cookies will be another ideal snack for him rather than paying out loads for high protein shop bought snacks. The protein recipes are better for me too due to getting to an age where I need to build up lost muscle too x
Glad you are enjoying the recipes Kath and glad to support you on your healthy eating journey!
I keep these in the fridge at all times. They are great ice cold. If I’m starving from running around doing errands, on the go, I grab one instead of a piece of candy or a potato chip. For my brothers birthday I made a double batch and put in a gift box. He raved, said they were his favorite. Easy to make, great taste, a great healthy choice!! I add walnuts.
What a nice gift for your brother! So glad you are enjoying them as a healthy snack!
I LOVE these!! In just a few weeks, they’ve become one of the foods I HAVE to have in the house at all times. I eat one when I get up, before working out, and then try hard to limit myself to only 2 or 3 more throughout the day. Thank you for the recipe. I’m looking forward to exploring your blog for more healthy ideas, particularly high protein ones.
So glad to hear they are a hit Valerie!
Hey,
how long can the cookies endure out-of-fridge temperatures you would say?
Could I take them for work around 7:00 and eat them around 13:30 or would they be all mushy by then?
That should be fine but if you have an ice pack to put in your to go lunch pack, that would be best!