Cookie Dough Protein Bar Recipe

These cookie dough protein bars are a soft, chewy protein bar loaded with healthy fats and clean ingredients (just like these low calorie protein balls). They're a delicious way to step up your snack game and have healthy snack options on hand (along with the recipes in the Strong and Sweet Protein Guide for serious cravings).

Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, they can be made vegan or paleo depending on your protein powder. Not to mention that they freeze perfectly. If you love the cookie dough flavor, make sure to whip up these cookie dough protein overnight oats and dairy-free protein cookie dough, too.

Ingredients and Substitutions

If you have well-stocked gluten-free pantry essentials, chances are you already have the ingredients you need to make these homemade cookie dough protein bars.

• Vanilla protein powder. The kind of protein powder you choose will alter the texture and the flavor of the protein cookie dough bars. Since there's not a ton of sweetness, make sure you enjoy your protein powder.
• Cashew butter: Any nut butter will work in this recipe; however, cashew butter gives the cookie dough bars a more indulgent, silky feel. It's a nice swap in these Gingerbread protein bars, too.
• Tapioca flour: This is what helps hold the bottom layer of the protein bars together so that you can actually keep them at room temperature without having them fall apart. Arrowroot powder or cornstarch should work fine here, too.
• Date sugar: This is what I had on hand and love using because it's paleo-based. The amount you need with vary on how sweet your protein powder is. Any other powdered sweetener (coconut palm sugar, cane sugar, stevia, etc.) can work.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Flavor Variations

Below are some tasty ideas to create "new" protein bars with the same base. Know that if you love the cookie dough flavor, you'll also enjoy this high-protein cookie dough smoothie too.

• Crunch: If you want some additional texture, add some chopped pecans to the mix or even just pressed into the top.
• Festive: Around the holidays, sprinkle some crushed candy canes on top for a hint of peppermint and a festive look (you'd also love these baked oats without banana).
• Nut butter: Though the bars use cashew butter, almond, hazelnut, or regular no oil peanut butter is just as delicious too.
• Drizzle: Adding on a dairy-free chocolate glaze or coconut milk caramel sauce is always delicious and a fun way to make protein bars into dessert.

How To Make Cookie Dough Protein Bars

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.

Step 2: Mix until sticky.

Step 3: Line an 8x3 pan and press the protein bar mixture down until smooth. Pop it in the freezer to set.

Expert Tips

Different protein powders will alter the texture of the homemade protein bars (and recipes like chocolate protein donuts). This recipe was originally made with a vegan fermented protein powder, which means that the base of the bars thickens and firms up very well and doesn't go soft at room temperature.

Below are the steps to tweak the texture based on protein powder.

• Vegan protein powder (not fermented): Add 1-2 tablespoons of almond flour to the mix to help them bind a bit better. Learn more about almond flour vs almond meal.
• Collagen powder: This doesn't tend to hold together very well, so you'll want to add some extra nut butter along with some coconut flour. Learn more about what collagen powder is.
• Beef protein powder: This is what I use now (learn why I choose beef isolate protein powder for health reasons) and creates a super sticky bar which holds together perfectly. Plus, they're normally really sweet, so not much additional sugar is needed.

Flavor: Adjust the texture and sweetness of the bars as needed. Once mixed, give it a taste test to ensure it's sweet enough for you. If not, add a bit of extra sugar.

Texture: If the bars seem runny, add more protein powder to firm them up. If they're too dry, you'll want to add water or non-dairy milk, one teaspoon at a time, until they look better. Learn more about how to make homemade protein bars.

How To Store Them

Store the chocolate chip cookie dough protein bars in the fridge in slices wrapped in parchment paper for up to a week. When you want to enjoy them, let them come to room temperature so they have that soft, chewy texture.

You can also store the bars in the freezer for up to 2 months. Place them in parchment paper and into a freezer-safe bag. When you want them, lt them come to room temperature to enjoy them.

Cookie Dough Protein Bars FAQs

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If you tried this Cookie Dough Protein Bar Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!