Rich, chocolatey, and ready in minutes, this No-Bake Protein Cookie Recipe is your secret weapon for crushing cravings and hitting your protein goals. With a gooey caramel flavor and 16 grams of protein each, they’re the kind of snack you actually look forward to.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 15 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 5 (10 cookies in a batch)
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 242 kcals and 16 grams of protein
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Dates, rolled oats, collagen powder, and maple syrup.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free and gluten-free.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Chewy, chocolate-caramel protein-packed cookies that satisfy sweet cravings and fuel your day in one bite.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle or swear off chocolate to hit your goals. I’ve been coaching long enough to know that kind of restriction doesn’t stick. That’s why I love recipes like this no-bake protein cookie, they hit that sweet, chewy, chocolatey spot while still giving you 16g of protein per bite. Paired with staples like this protein powder mug cake, 3-ingredient protein cookies, and protein rice krispie squares, these are the kinds of treats that help you enjoy your plan, not fight it.
If your sweet tooth is strong but your energy is low, you’re not alone. That’s why I created the Strong and Sweet Protein Guide:20 crave-worthy recipes (including favorites like these cookies!) to give you the fuel you need and the indulgence you want. It’s possible to feel good and enjoy what you eat, and these no-bake cookies are proof.
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💭Why You’ll Love This Recipe
No-bake: These protein cookies are EASY to make. With minimal ingredients and no baking required, you’ll be mowing down in just a few minutes.
Healthy: Sweetened mostly with dates and a hint of maple syrup, each no-bake protein cookie is naturally dairy-free and gluten-free.
High protein: Thanks to collagen powder, there’s a whopping 16 grams of protein in every bite.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The best part about this recipe is that the ingredients can be used to make multiple protein cookie recipes!
- Dates: A natural sweetener (and the base in this date bark recipe), if you soak them in water for 15 minutes first, they blend more easily.
- Oats: Make sure to use rolled oats (not quick oats) for the no-bake protein cookies, and learn more about the types of oats and which are best. If you have celiac, you’ll also want to triple-check that you have certified gluten-free oats.
- Type 2 collagen powder: The cleanest source of protein around collagen powder is different than protein powder but blends so much easier.
- Almond butter: Any nut butter works here, but make sure it’s a fresh jar, as you want the oil from the nuts to help everything mix together.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
- Chocolate: This is a no-brainer because everyone loves chocolate chips. Press them into the top, mix them in, or drizzle the no-bake cookies with a dairy-free chocolate ganache.
- Chopped nuts: Add a bit of crunch to the cookies by topping them with chopped nuts. Toasted pistachios and pecans are our favorites for these, and gluten-free cashew cookies. And yes, toasting them brings out SO MUCH more flavor.
- Flakey salt: I love the combo of salted chocolate, so sprinkling large flakes of salt on top is my go-to.
- Nut butter: Though the recipe calls for almond butter, know that peanut butter, cashew butter, or even almond hazelnut butter all work.
- Make them nut-free: Avoid nuts in this recipe by using sunflower seed butter in its place.
How To Make the No-Bake Protein Cookie Recipe
Step 1: In a small food processor, blend the oats and dates together.
Step 2: In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix lightly.
Step 3: One by one, add the remaining ingredients.
Step 4: Mix until a giant, slightly sticky ball forms.
Step 5: Use a trigger ice cream scoop to portion out the cookies.
Step 6: With a fork, lightly press each cookie down to shape them. Roughly ¼ inch thick.
Expert Tips to Make It
You want the batter to look slightly dry but sticky. You’ll see in the video me flipping and pressing it into the ball. It looks dry, but that’s what holds the cookies together without them being sticky and gooey.
Shape the protein cookies manually into your desired thickness.
Soaking the dates in warm water for 15 minutes allows your dates to soften up and blend much more easily. When you blend the dates, you want some chunks to remain to give the protein cookies some texture.
The harder you press the cookies into the scoop to portion them, the better they stay together.
How to Store Them
The no-bake protein cookies can be stored in the fridge for up to 14 days (if they last that long). Just store them in an airtight container. Enjoy them chilled.
You can freeze the cookies as well between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight plastic baggie for up to 2 months. When you want them, just let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
No-Bake Protein Cookies FAQs
You may be able to use whey protein powder in these no-bake cookies as it tend to blend pretty easily; beef protein powder might work too. However, vegan protein powder absorbs too much liquid to be used in this recipe unless you amp up the liquid amounts.
If you’re finding the protein cookies dry, add in almond milk 1 teaspoon at a time. Add as little as possible as otherwise, you have delicious but very sticky cookies.
In place of collagen powder or protein powder, you could add almond flour. You'd need to add a bit more than listed, though, so that the no-bake cookies hold together.
More Protein Cookie Recipes To Enjoy
If you tried this Protein Cookie Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
No Bake Protein Cookies
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 Dates soaked in water for 15 minutes
- ¾ cup Rolled oats certified gluten-free
- ¼ cup Collagen powder
- ¼ cup Almond butter runny
- 3 tablespoons Maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small food processor, blend the oats and soaked dates together.
- In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix lightly.
- One by one, add in the remaining ingredients.
- Mix until a giant, slightly sticky ball forms. You’ll need to mix for a bit and consistently scrape and flip the dough.
- Using a trigger ice cream scoop portion each cookie and press firmly into the scoop so that there are no air pockets.
- Portion the no-bake protein cookies onto a parchment paper-lined baking tray.
- With a fork, lightly press each cookie down and shape them to roughly ¼ inch thick.
- Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Shelby S says
These are the best snack to just grab and enjoy out of the fridge!