Super light, with a sweet and nutty flavor these carrot cake collagen cookies are the best way to indulge while gaining some fuel too! Six grams of protein per cookie and topped with dairy-free cream cheese frosting these gluten-free cookies are a soft, tasty, dessert.
Skip the traditional carrot cake and opt for these collagen cookies instead... will anyone even notice the difference?
If you’re trying to blend the world of indulgence and goals, this is the way to do it (these vegan protein cookies and carrot mug cake help too!).
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, I truly believe that you shouldn’t deprive yourself of all the things all the time to get results.
Instead, I like to have my cake and eat it too.. just in a healthier form! That said, if you want a stunning dessert to bring to a gathering, this high protein cheesecake is a wonderful one.
You’ll fall in love with these protein cookies because they’re:
- Dairy-free and gluten-free
- Rich and indulgent
- High in protein for a cookie (6 grams)
- A super delicious dessert
Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you'll want to include more collagen!
Ingredients You’ll Need
If you have a well-stocked gluten-free pantry, you probably already have everything you need for these collagen cookies.
And one of the best parts is that these cookies use honey as a sweetener in place of coconut sugar or chocolate chips.
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 here as well as natural foods high in collagen to help keep you young.
Baking powder: gives the collagen cookies a nice, light, fluffy, texture.
Cinnamon & nutmeg: classic spices when it comes to carrot cake and what gives these protein cookies their nutty flavor.
Egg: you only need one but I don’t think flax egg will work for this recipe, so keep it regular.
Avocado oil: I haven’t tried to use coconut oil here so if you do, make sure to measure it as a liquid and not a solid and know it might shift the texture a bit.
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.
Honey: these collagen cookies are sweetened only with honey! It makes them a great choice for kids.
Shredded carrot: make sure to grate the carrot as fine as possible.
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.
Frosting Options
I like to frost these carrot collagen cookies with dairy-free cream cheese frosting. This makes it so the cookies are much more like carrot cake.
However, you can eat them without frosting or use a dairy-free buttercream if you wish.
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.
Important Teaching Tips
The cookies are super soft coming out of the oven so be careful.
Line your baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone cookie sheet, it makes it so that the cookies don't stick.
Make sure they are fully cooled before frosting them or the frosting will run. However, don't frost them until you're ready to serve them.
The cookies do taste best at room temperature though and know that because of the collagen powder, they're not as soft as they are just cooled.
Protein powder cannot be used in place of collagen powder.
Toppings and Variations
I personally top these 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 in 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 dairy-free caramel sauce.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Collagen Cookies
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).
Choosing Collagen Powder
It’s no surprise that these carrot protein cookies are made with collagen powder!
All the protein without the bloat.
I use collagen powder for amping up protein and boosting gut health.
Learn about the difference between collagen and bone broth as how to increase protein intake.
Honestly, as a busy mom collagen powder just makes it easy to eat more protein and not feel like I’m living off chicken and eggs.
And more protein means more energy, more natural beauty, and feeling your BEST.
Plus, in recipes like this, you can sneak protein into your kids as it’s one of the purest sources.
Easy to mix, this collagen powder adds a protein punch to anything you pair it with. Made from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows there are no pesticides, hormones, or filler agents. Just put collagen protein. Use code mamabear10 to save money on your next order.
Other Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Recipes You’ll Love
- High protein peanut butter cookies
- Almond butter protein cups
- Peanut butter protein cups
- Peanut butter vanilla protein bars
- Chocolate chip protein muffins
Carrot Cake Collagen Cookies (Gluten-free)
Video
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Gluten-free Baking Flour
- 1.5 tbs Gluten-free Baking Flour
- 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.
- Because of the collagen powder, they do get a bit crunchy after a day.
- Make sure they are fully cooled before frosting them or the frosting will run. Try not to frost them until the day you're serving them though.
- They firm up in the fridge, if making them in advance, heat them slightly, let them cool, and then frost them. They firm up a bit if stored too long and taste best at room temperature.
- Protein powder cannot be used in place of collagen powder.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Jennifer
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
Haha thank you! Glad you liked them!
Sharina
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
Right?1 Frosting just makes life better:D
Lisa
These cookies were a delicious way to sneak more collagen into my day.
fitasamamabear
Hehe what i strive for!
Addison LaBonte
I love baking with collagen! These were easy, healthy, warmly spiced and delicious!
fitasamamabear
It's just such an easy way to get in more protein!
jennifer f
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
Haha it's my "I put that sh*t in everything" thing lol
Nicole
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
It's a nice way to get more in!
Vladka
They are genial, I love the carrot flavor, and they are guilt free!
fitasamamabear
wahoo!
Liz
This was such a creative way to use collagen! The cookies turned out great. Will make again!
fitasamamabear
Haha I totally put it in everything!
Erica
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
I literally put it in anything, ohh drizzling the frosting is a wonderful idea!!
Shar
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
Even better when the kids think it's a hit!
Tasha
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
So happy you loved them!
Jane
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
Ahh you'll be hooked forever now!
Iris
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
Glad you liked them, that friend is a keeper haha
Shantel
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
Happy you enjoyed them!
Glenda
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
Isn't it lovely when it makes the house smell devine?