These Collagen Cookies are light, soft, and packed with cozy carrot-cake flavor. Made with warming spices and topped with a dairy-free cream cheese frosting, each cookie rocks 6 grams of protein and is totally gluten-free.
"These cookies are a healthy twist on a classic favorite. Love the addition of collagen that actually tasted good! I'll make another batch of these this weekend! Thanks!" -Shantel
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 55 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 11
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 102 kcals and 6 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Gluten-free baking flour, grated carrot, collagen powder, eggs, avocado oil, seasonings, and honey.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Soft, lightly spiced, and secretly protein-packed, these carrot cake cookies taste just like the classic dessert you grew up loving.
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These collagen protein cookies give you everything you love about carrot cake in an easier, snackable form. They’re light, softly sweet, topped with dairy-free cream cheese frosting. I’ve served these to friends who fully expected “healthy cookies”… and not one person noticed they weren’t classic carrot cake cookies.
I truly believe you don’t have to deprive yourself to see results; learning how to blend indulgence with intention is the sweet spot. Recipes like these vegan protein cookies and carrot mug cake, help make that possible, so treats don’t feel off-limits. And when I need something more show-stopping for a gathering, this high protein cheesecake always gets the job done, proof that you really can have your cake and eat it too.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Allergy-friendly: These carrot cake protein cookies are dairy-free and gluten-free.
Tasty: With a soft base and topped with rich cream cheese frosting, these cookies are the perfect dessert.
Easy to make: No major kitchen skills needed, and the cookies come together with basic pantry staples.
Ingredients and Substitutions
If you have well-stocked gluten-free pantry staples, you probably already have everything you need for this collagen cookie recipe as well as these chocolate coconut cookies and lemon coconut cookies.
- Gluten-free baking flour: Make sure to use baking flour and not all-purpose flour, or the texture will be funky.
- Collagen powder: One of the cleanest sources of protein, you can learn more about how collagen powder differs from protein powder, as well as natural foods high in collagen to help keep you glowing. Use any extra to make these collagen pancakes. Know that protein powder can't be used here.
- Dairy-free milk: Any non-dairy milk, like unsweetened almond milk, will work in the protein cookies. We use homemade hemp milk the most, though.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Toppings and Variations
I personally top these collagen protein cookies with just cream cheese frosting. However, any of the below are fun switch-ups!
- Toasted pecans: Great to add to the batter or on top for an additional crunch.
- Carrot sprinkles: Fun for kids and great for Easter.
- Raisins: If you love raisins in your carrot cake, add them to the cookies. They give a fun, chewy texture.
- Drizzle: If these protein cookies are a full-on dessert, drizzle the cream cheese frosting or replace it with protein buttercream frosting or dairy-free caramel sauce with coconut milk.
How To Make Collagen Cookies
Step 1: Mix all the dry ingredients into one bowl.
Step 2: One by one, add in the wet ingredients and mix until thick and combined.
Step 3: Stir in the shredded carrot and mix well.
Step 4: Use a small trigger ice cream scoop to portion the protein cookies onto a silicone baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
Important Teaching Tips
Line your baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone cookie sheet, it makes it so that the cookies don't stick.
The cookies are super soft coming out of the oven, so be careful as they're delicate. Make sure they are fully cooled before frosting them, or the frosting will run.
After frosting the cookies, I sprinkle them with extra cinnamon or toasted pecans to make them look pretty. Though drizzles almond butter would be delicious as well.
Storing them: If making the cookies in advance, do not frost them The cookies taste best at room temperature and will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Once frosted, store them in the fridge for up to 5 days, but know that they firm up and won't be as soft.
Collagen Cookies FAQs
You may be able to use whey protein as it blends well; however, it hasn't been tested. Vegan protein powder can not be used for collagen, as it absorbs far too much liquid and will make the cookies ultra-dense.
For these collagen cookies, baking soda just wasn't needed. When added, the texture became too thin and crispy. With just baking powder, they come out lighter (keeping in mind that the powder is made up of some baking soda).
Yes, you can add collagen powder to baked goods. In fact, it's a great way to subtly increase your daily protein intake.
More Protein-Dessert Recipes To Try
If you tried this Carrot Cake Collagen Cookies Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Carrot Cake Collagen Cookies (Gluten-free)
Video
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Gluten-free Baking Flour
- 1.5 tbs Gluten-free Baking Flour yes, you need both
- ⅓ cup Carrot very finely grated
- ¼ cup Collagen powder
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 Egg
- ⅓ cup Honey
- 1 tbs Avocado oil
- 1.5 tbs Dairy-free milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahreheit.
- Mix all the dry ingredients into one bowl.
- One by one, add in the wet ingredients and mix until thick and combined.
- Stir in the shredded carrot.
- Use a small trigger ice cream scoop to portion the protein cookies onto a baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool fully before frosting.
Notes
- You do need both the ¾ cup and 1 tbs of baking flour for the recipe. I’ve tested just above and just below but this makes them have the BEST texture.
- Frost the cookies with dairy-free cream cheese frosting.
- The cookies are super soft coming out of the oven so be careful and let them cool as they're delicate.
- Because of the collagen powder, they do get a bit crunchy after a day so they're best freshly made.
- Make sure they are fully cooled before frosting them or the frosting will run.
- Use a high-quality collagen powder like Perfect Supplements for the best results. This is the only collagen I trust. Code mamabear10 will save you some money.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Glenda says
Mmmmm...those delicious Fall aromas! My house smells so good right now. I added 1/4 teaspoon ginger to your recipe and we are in carrot cake cookie heaven. Thanks so much for the easy recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Isn't it lovely when it makes the house smell devine?
Shantel says
These cookies are a healthy twist on a classic favorite. Love the addition of collagen that actually tasted good! I'll make another batch of these this weekend! Thanks!
fitasamamabear says
Happy you enjoyed them!
Iris says
I got a big thing of collagen from my friend and happened to stumble over this recipe on Pinterest. They were easy to make and yummy.
fitasamamabear says
Glad you liked them, that friend is a keeper haha
Jane says
I have a huge container of collagen from Amazon that I just started using in my coffee and thought I'd give this recipe a whirl. It was delicious, and surprisingly filling too. A great mid-afternoon snack.
fitasamamabear says
Ahh you'll be hooked forever now!
Tasha says
Made these cookies—light, sweet, and nutty. Amazing topping with dairy-free cream cheese frosting. Plus its gluten-free and packed with 6 grams of protein. Pure guilt free experience! Love them!
fitasamamabear says
So happy you loved them!
Shar says
Kids enjoyed these carrot cake collagen cookies as their after-school snacks. They are flavorful and decadent. Plus the frosting is addicting! So impressive!
fitasamamabear says
Even better when the kids think it's a hit!
Erica says
I always buy the big container of Vital Proteins at Sam's and just use it for coffee and smoothies, so when I saw this recipe I was intrigued. I never thought to try to put it in anything else?!? Put a little bit of almond milk in my cream cheese frosting and used it as a drizzle - these aren't going to last through the weekend lol
fitasamamabear says
I literally put it in anything, ohh drizzling the frosting is a wonderful idea!!
Liz says
This was such a creative way to use collagen! The cookies turned out great. Will make again!
fitasamamabear says
Haha I totally put it in everything!
Vladka says
They are genial, I love the carrot flavor, and they are guilt free!
fitasamamabear says
wahoo!
Nicole says
I always just added collagen to my coffee but wanted to try something different and these cookies were so good! The frosting really makes them.
fitasamamabear says
It's a nice way to get more in!
jennifer f says
Girl, you know I love the collagen you always sneak in -- I'm a fan too! These were delish and a a nice flavor change up from my typical chocolate or peanut butter cravings!!!
fitasamamabear says
Haha it's my "I put that sh*t in everything" thing lol
Addison LaBonte says
I love baking with collagen! These were easy, healthy, warmly spiced and delicious!
fitasamamabear says
It's just such an easy way to get in more protein!
Lisa says
These cookies were a delicious way to sneak more collagen into my day.
fitasamamabear says
Hehe what i strive for!
Sharina says
Dairy-free cream cheese on top of these cookies is a winner! Kids love to have these as afternoon snacks. So tasty and delightful. Thanks Shelby for this wonderful cookie recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Right?1 Frosting just makes life better:D
Jennifer says
These are so good! The carrot flavor really came through and I loved the tip about using a small ice cream scoop to get the cookies all the same size. Genius!
fitasamamabear says
Haha thank you! Glad you liked them!