Made to maximize indulgence while still being healthy, this Cookies and Cream Protein Shake is thick, creamy, and naturally dairy-free. With 25 grams of protein, it’s an easy way to boost your daily intake while satisfying a sweet craving and getting a steady afternoon energy lift.
"This was honestly so good. It's super creamy and indulgent and tastes just like a classic cookies and cream smoothie. You wouldn't even know there's zucchini in it! Will be making this again for sure!" -Martina
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 5 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 2
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 373 kcals and 25 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Vegan protein powder, frozen banana, zucchini, coconut milk, and mini chocolate chips.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. It can be made paleo as well.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Creamy, indulgent, and packed with protein, this cookies and cream smoothie satisfies dessert cravings in a nourishing way.
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A protein shake actually worth making, this cookies and cream shake uses vanilla protein powder as the base, so there’s no need to buy a specialty flavor. It’s quick to blend, easy to customize, and can be as indulgent or as light as you want while still delivering serious protein. If you want to understand why that matters, you can learn more about high protein diet benefits and how it supports energy and fullness.
This cookies and cream protein smoothie is thick, creamy, and decadent enough to feel like a treat while still keeping you fueled throughout the day. Enjoy it as an afternoon pick-me-up, like this coffee protein shake, or swap it in post-workout. Protein shakes for energy are one of the simplest ways to pack in nutrients while enjoying something refreshing and crave-worthy.
Jump To
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- 💭Why You'll Love It
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Additional Toppings
- How To Make A Cookies And Cream Protein Shake
- Important Teaching Tips
- Choosing A Cookie For The Protein Shake
- Cookies and Cream Protein Shake FAQs
- More Tasty, High-Protein Recipes
- Cookies & Cream Protein Smoothie
💭Why You'll Love It
Fueling: This healthy cookies and cream protein shake comes with a whopping 25 grams of protein per serving.
Allergy Friendly: A smoothie that checks all the boxes, it's dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan. You can also make it paleo with an easy swap.
Easy: There are minimal ingredients, which means it's easy to make.
Pure indulgence: You can make this protein shake into an easy snack or a full-on dessert with all the fixings.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Vegan protein powder: The kind of protein powder you choose will affect the texture and the flavor of the cookies and cream protein shake recipe. Vegan protein powder does help to create an ultra-thick texture, but other proteins can work.
- Banana: Used to both sweeten the shake as well as make it have a creamy texture. If you opt for frozen banana, the protein shake will become even thicker. This is a true hack for making balanced smoothie recipes.
- Date: You only need one to sweeten this smoothie. Plus dates are loaded with fiber and a great sugar replacement, a total win for this date bark recipe, too.
- Non-dairy milk: Any dairy-free milk should work. I opt for Almond Cow hemp milk, but almond milk works just as well.
- Paleo cookies: The kind of cookie you opt for is up to you! I chose to use chocolate chip crumble cookies for maximum flavor.
- Make it paleo: Use a paleo-friendly protein powder like my new favorite beef isolate protein, which I switched to for health reasons.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Additional Toppings
The best part about the cookies and cream protein shake with banana is that you can make it as indulgent or healthy as you like. This is kind of like the recipes in my Strong and Sweet Protein Guide! Know that even switching to a chocolate protein powder is a great flavor swap.
To make it super indulgent, opt for any of the following on top of the cookies and cream protein smoothie:
- Coconut whipped cream
- Homemade dairy-free chocolate glaze (like the sauce drizzled on this double chocolate protein fluff)
- Drizzled almond butter
How To Make A Cookies And Cream Protein Shake
Important Teaching Tips
Though you can use whey protein in place of the vegan protein powder, the cookies and cream protein shake will most likely be a bit thinner.
Homemade cookies are better (to me!) but gluten-free oreo cookies are wicked too.
Make sure to use coconut milk in the can and try to use full-fat (learn about types of coconut milk). Grab just the white part and leave the water. This makes the smoothie creamier.
Update: I recently made the switch from vegan to beef-based protein (learn about the benefits of beef protein powder). If you’re ready for less bloating, more energy, and a cleaner add-in, try one of my favorites below—I tested about six!
- Equip Protein: Best flavor by far (hello, cinnamon roll!), but it creates a slightly sticky texture, so it’s better for smoothies than baking. Use code mamabear to save when you try it.
- Paleo Pro: The most natural option, minimal ingredients, mixes like collagen, and works in everything. Not overly sweet, just simple and clean. Use code mamabear to save.
Choosing A Cookie For The Protein Shake
Traditionally, a healthy cookies and cream protein shake is made with Oreo cookies. Instead, I made this protein shake extra indulgent by using my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Not only is it delicious, but the cookies also crumble just so perfectly!
Some other great protein cookie options are:
Cookies and Cream Protein Shake FAQs
To make a cookies and cream protein shake, you can either use vanilla protein powder or a cookies and cream flavored protein powder. The flavored protein powder will most likely be sweeter, which will alter the recipe slightly. Since not everyone has access to multiple flavors of protein powder, having a recipe on hand that uses just vanilla protein is helpful.
Though you can make a cookies and cream shake ahead of time, it will thin (even if stored in the fridge). You’ll want to shake it before consuming it and make sure to store it without any of the toppings. Put those on just as you’re about to enjoy it. To thicken it up you could also reblend it with a few ice cubes.
Multiple factors contribute to the texture of a protein shake. Frozen bananas, avocados, mangos, and coconut cream all make smoothies creamier. The ratio of liquid to ingredients will also affect the texture of the smoothie.
A common milkshake flavor it's a combination of a sweet vanilla milkshake, coupled with crumbled cookies (most often chocolate sandwich cookies), and topped with whipped cream.
More Tasty, High-Protein Recipes
If you tried this Cookies & Cream Protein Smoothie Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Cookies & Cream Protein Smoothie
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Vegan Protein Powder 1.5 scoops
- 1 banana
- ½ zucchini sliced
- 2 tbs mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup coconut milk canned
- 6 ice cubes
- ¾ cup dairy-free milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 date
- 1 chocolate chip cookie or cookies or choice
Instructions
- In a high-powered blender add in all the ingredients except the cookie.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Divide the smoothie into two glasses.
- Top with coconut whipped cream (optional) and crumbled cookies.
Notes
- Want to curb calories a bit? Only crumble half a cookie onto the shake and replace the coconut milk with almond milk/
- Top the cookies and cream protein shake with any cookie you love. I prefer these homemade crumble cookies.
- Frozen banana will make the smoothie creamier than a fresh banana. Either way, make sure to use a very ripe banana as it’s sweeter!
- The nutritional breakdown uses one store-bought chocolate chip cookie split between two servings and does not include whipped cream.
- Beef protein powder: My personal favorite. If you use Equip protein, the smoothie will be sweeter but thicker. If you use Paleo Pro Protein, the smoothie is as close to natural as it gets. Code "mamabear" on both will save you some money.
- Vegan protein powder: If you're using a pea-based protein powder, the smoothie will have a thicker texture, and if using a fermented protein, you'll probably have to add extra liquid. Vegan proteins aren't always sweet, so adjust the turmeric shake as needed.
- Egg white protein powder: This will froth your smoothie up a lot.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Glenna says
The combination of banana, zucchini, and mini chocolate chips is surprisingly tasty, and the texture is spot-on. Another guilt free snack that I'm adding to favorites.
fitasamamabear says
It's a yummy combo for sure!
Kimmy says
Good job on sharing this very delicious recipe! I tried this yesterday and so far this is one of my favorites my husband is not a vegan but still he loves your recipe. This is perfect my family will visit me this coming weekend and I will introduce this to everyone. LOOOVEEE ITTTTT❤️️
fitasamamabear says
This makes my heart happy, thank you!!
Elizabeth S says
This was good! I added banana like you suggested and it was so creamy (not icy at all). Thanks for a great recipe!
fitasamamabear says
Mmm it makes it so creamy lol glad you enjoyed it!
Ann says
Dairy free + cookies and cream!? So yummy and good for you, too.
fitasamamabear says
Haha definitely a great flavor combo!
julie says
I'm making this! This shake has my name written all over it!
fitasamamabear says
Hehe cookies are life!!
Jenn says
You have a talent for making indulgent food that's also good for you! I loved this and it felt great knowing it was good for me, too!
fitasamamabear says
Hehe it's always fun to feel like something is more indulgent than it is... thank you!
Rose says
Love love love this cookie and cream smoothie! Love all the ingredients in this but especially the zucchini! What's a genius idea!
fitasamamabear says
Hehe it's a sneaky way to get in some extra veggies!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
I see how it makes a meal with all that you added! Great use for courgettes, too and a creative way to introduce a veggie in shakes!
fitasamamabear says
It is definitely a meal... an yummy indulgent one!
Farwin says
This shake is absolutely delicious. Can't even taste the zucchini.
fitasamamabear says
Hehe, sneaky ninja for the win! But seriously, it makes it ultra creamy!
Farwin says
Wow! this shake is so thick and creamy, and you can't taste the zucchini. So delicious!
fitasamamabear says
The best is when you can sneak more veggie sin, glad you liked it!
nancy says
i can't believe this yummy smoothie is dairfy free. it's perfect without feeling to heavy
fitasamamabear says
Yes! Plus... cookies hehe
Jean says
I love a good dairy-free protein shake!
fitasamamabear says
And you can't go wrong with cookies!
Mandy Applegate says
Wow, I loved this, it's great that something so indulgent is also giving me the protein I need!
fitasamamabear says
Right?! Best of both worlds
Donna says
Love the sneaky zucchini, and you couldn't even tell it was in there. Definitely tasted like an absolute indulgence, so thick and creamy.
fitasamamabear says
That's the best when you can truly sneak it in1 Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Tessa says
Thank you for the tip about the zucchini! I've hid a lot of veggies in smoothies before but never that one. It seems like it would have a nice, blend-able flavor that wouldn't stand out as too veggie.
fitasamamabear says
Haha most people are so put off by it but it makes smoothies SO creamy!
Glenda says
You had me at cookies and cream! This was thick and delicious. The fact that it is loaded with veggies and nutrients made it that much more enjoyable.
fitasamamabear says
Haha best flavor combo because no one can say no to cookies!