Soft in the center with lightly crisp edges, these Easy Protein Peanut Butter Cookies taste like the classic treat, just packed with protein. Naturally gluten-free, they’re an easy, indulgent cookie you can whip up fast for snacks or dessert.
"I love how soft and delightful these protein cookies are! Thanks for including the tips, it saved me! Definitely making these again." -Sharina
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 20 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 7
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 201 kcals and 8 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Peanut butter, vanilla protein powder, egg, chocolate chips, and honey.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, flourless, and paleo-friendly depending on your protein.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: They’re soft, flourless, and basically a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie that happens to be high in protein.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
As if you needed an excuse to use up the homemade, no oil peanut butter you have on hand. Let’s be honest, peanut butter goes with everything (especially in peanut butter chocolate bark). But if you’re in a sharing mood, these chocolate chip protein cookies are the way to go.
Indulge a craving and fuel up; these cookies will soon be one of your favorites- along with these Snickerdoodle protein cookies. I can honestly say that it’s okay to have a cookie every day, especially crumbled on top of a cookies and cream protein shake. When you’re eating protein cookies, of course! Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Quick prep: Ready to bake in just 5 minutes and made in one bowl.
Fudge-like texture: Thanks to the protein powder used, there's a soft but fudgy-like center to the peanut butter cookie with protein powder.
Versatile: Dress these up to celebrate or enjoy them as is, they work as a healthy snack or dessert.
Ingredients and Substitutions
If you have well-stocked gluten-free pantry staples, you’ll already have everything you need to make this recipe, as well as these no bake protein cookies.
- Vegan protein powder: The kind you choose will affect the flavor and texture of the easy peanut butter protein cookies. The recipe has been tested with both vegan protein powder and beef protein powder.
- Natural peanut butter: You need the oils from natural peanut butter for this recipe to work, and make sure to use a fresh container. The hard stuff on the bottom of an old container won’t mix well. Love peanut butter? Hang on to these protein peanut butter cups and these gluten-free peanut butter recipes, too.
- Chocolate chips: I use mini chocolate chips as they are distributed more evenly and make for tastier bites, like in this protein chocolate chip mug cake. Make sure to use paleo chocolate chips as you need them.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Chocolate peanut butter: Making these high-protein peanut butter protein cookies into a chocolate indulgence is as easy as switching to a chocolate-based protein powder.
Birthday cookies: Replace the chocolate chips with funfetti sprinkles and sprinkle some extra on top, too. Use any extra for this funfetti protein mug cake.
Almond butter swirl: Replacing the peanut butter with an almond or almond hazelnut butter makes for an easy, delicious twist.
How To Make Easy Protein Peanut Butter Chocolate
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Whisk together the egg, peanut butter, oil, and honey until smooth.
Step 2: Add in the remaining ingredients.
Step 3: Mix until everything is combined (it will look dry).
Step 4: Portion the cookies out onto a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
Step 5: Let cool on the tray. Enjoy!
Expert Tips To Make It
Beef protein works best for this protein cookie recipe (learn more about what is beef isolate protein, and why I made the switch). The result is a chewy but soft peanut butter cookie, even more delicious paired with gluten-free peanut butter pancakes.
If you make this recipe with a vegan protein powder, know that a regular pea protein works best (not a fermented protein), and you'll need to add 1 tablespoon of honey to the batter. The end result is a cookie that's delicious but a bit drier.
Storing: Store leftover gluten-free protein cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 days. Stored like this, they'll remain soft and slightly delicate. You can store them in the fridge for longer (up to a week), but they do firm up a bit, especially those made with vegan protein powder.
I haven't tried freezing these cookies yet because they never last that long. If you do, make sure to separate layers with sheets of parchment paper and let them come to room temperature before enjoying.
Easy Protein Peanut Butter Cookies FAQs
Yes, you can bake with protein powder. Protein powder, like most things, can be baked safely. As it is not “raw” and has already been dehydrated, baking protein powder will not ruin it or destroy its benefits.
Protein cookies become dry when a drier protein powder, like vegan protein powder, is used and not enough liquid is added to the batter. If using a vegan protein powder, you need to add a bit more nut butter and dairy-free milk to the protein cookies. You also want to make sure that you don't overbake the cookies. Remove them from the oven when they look slightly done.
Protein cookies don't need to be refrigerated and will stay fresh if stored on the counter for up to two days. However, they will also remain very delicate. When stored in the fridge, they thicken up a bit.
More Protein Powder Recipes You’ll Love
If you tried this Easy Protein Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Easy Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tbs Vanilla protein powder Beef protein was used
- 1 Egg
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ cup Peanut butter runny
- ¼ cup Chocolate chips
- 2 tbs Oil
- ¼ teaspoon Baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Whisk together the egg, peanut butter, and oil until smooth.
- Add in the remaining ingredients.
- Mix until everything is combined (it will look dry).
- Portion the cookies out onto a baking sheet and press them down slightly with a fork.
- Bake for 13-14 minutes and remove from the oven. They won't look done.
- Let them cool cool on the tray.
Notes
- You’ll need to shape the cookies a bit when you portion them out onto the baking sheet.
- If you're using vegan protein powder, the batter will look a bit dry when mixed. If using a fermented protein, you'll need to add some dairy-free milk.
- Life is easier when you line the baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone cookie sheet.
- Make sure to press the cookies down slightly, they do rise up a bit.
- When the cookies come out of the oven, they won’t look done, and they’ll be extremely delicate. Let them cool fully on the pan before moving.
- 1 tablespoon of honey is optional, but use it if your protein isn't overly sweet.
- If made with beef-based protein powder they come out AMAZING. Crisp exterior, light, almost fugy center.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Liz says
I'm always looking for more ways to add a little protein into my diet and these cookies are the perfect way to do it!
fitasamamabear says
Right? The little stuff adds up!
Karen Kelly says
My teen daughter is all about the protein and loves cookies so I made these for her to pack in her lunch. She loved them and wants to prep them for her again next week!
fitasamamabear says
Double win! I love when that works out!
Gina says
Love how soft and fluffy these are and 7g of protein in a cookie is amazing!
fitasamamabear says
Right?! The little protein hits add up!
Melissa says
I've been looking for a good protein cookie recipe for a while and this one is a keeper! Thank you!
fitasamamabear says
Wahoo!!
Sharina says
I love how soft and delightful these protein cookies are! Thanks for including the tips, it saved me! Definitely making these again.
fitasamamabear says
Happy to hear you loved them1