Thin & Crispy Protein Cookies (DF/GF/Paleo/V)

Simple to whip up and deliciously indulgent. These protein-based breakfast cookies are thin and crispy but loaded with flavor. They’re also allergy-friendly and based on real food ingredients so the perfect thing to grab-and-go in the morning.

Keeping a stash of healthy snacks on hand it pretty much what keeps me sane as a mom. Both for myself as well as my girls.

And what better snack do you want running out the door than a super-indulgent cookie?! These protein powder cookies were a tasty surprise, to be honest. And at first, I wasn’t sure if I really wanted them to be thin and crispy.

However, when I grabbed one the next day they were even better. Since then, we’ve made these four times… it’s been two weeks haha so they’re definitely a new staple!

Loaded with tasty ingredients and nourishing seeds, this breakfast cookies recipe is a hit for everyone in the family.

 

Don’t want to read? JUMP to the recipe.

 

Choosing A Protein Powder For The Protein Cookies

Protein powder has long been a staple in my diet and I’m okay with that. However, over the years I have transitioned from whey-based one to a vegan one (mainly because I rock a dairy-free life now) and am far pickier on its qualities.

I truly believe that a good quality protein powder is fine to have in your diet.

However, when it comes to baking, each protein powder reacts a teeny bit different- especially vegan protein powders.

Vegan protein powders tend to absorb more liquid which is much different than whey protein. And because each began protein powder is made with a different blend of plant-based proteins each one absorbs differently.

Since making the swap to a vegan protein powder I now have a few brands I love. Orgain Protein Powder is one of them and what I used for these protein cookies.

Orgain protein powder is allergy-friendly (no soy, gluten-free, kosher, etc), has no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners, and actually won Preventions Cleanest Packaged Food Award!

It has 21 grams of vegan protein per scoop and it’s a clean enough brand that I feel comfortable giving it to my girls. If you want to give it a try, check it out and use code mamabear30 for 10% off your first-ever order.

 

Protein Cookies

I’ll be the first to admit that these healthy cookies are not super high in protein per serving when you’re comparing them to a workout-geared bar. Which means that as a post-workout snack I wouldn’t recommend them.

However, they are so much better balanced.

They’re loaded with other healthy ingredients, fats, and seeds so that they make a better-balanced snack (or speedy breakfast cookie) which was far more important to us.

 

Protein Powder And Kids

While some people don’t think kids should have protein powder, I think that as long as you have a quality protein powder and trust it’s the source, it’s okay.

In fact, this website says it’ best when they mention “I hardly think that protein powder is the biggest threat to our kids”.

By all means, I don’t think we need to go out of our way to boost protein intake with kiddos (mine are meat and egg eaters so I’m never concerned especially since Chana Davis dispelled some protein myths).

But since I personally use protein powder because it’s quick and easy, I don’t see any qualms with the girls having some too. Again, so long as you use a quality protein powder.

I have quite a few I love and trust in addition to the Botanica one from this recipe, including Iron Vegan and Genuine Health Fermented Protein Powder. Both of which you can buy off my favorite website.

When checking out a new protein powder, especially if my kiddos are going to be using it, I like to look for a few of these points:

• no random flavored added
• low in sugar
• no carrageenan
• no processed oils

When To Use These Protein Cookies

To be perfectly honest, we’ve been using these healthy cookies as a mini snack, a dessert, and part of our breakfast if we actually have somewhere to be.

They’re super thin, crispy, and light though so it’s easy to eat all of them.

And while there’s only one scoop of protein powder for the batch, there’s also a lot of other killer ingredients in them to keep you fueled- like chia seeds!

The Benefits Of Chia Seeds

• Increase your fiber intake this helping out your gut
• Help combat diabetes by slowing down digestion
• Improve brain health through their omega three’s
• Improves bones and teeth by containing a hefty dose of calcium
• Help keep you full due to the blend of amino acids

All in just two tablespoons.

Yup, chia seeds are a powerful thing. They’re actually one of the foods I recommend most toddlers have in their diets. And chia pudding recipes are a tasty option?

Which is why I try to sneak chia seeds in to just about anything I can when it comes to the kiddos.

Ingredients In The Breakfast Cookies

• Vanilla protein powder
• Almond butter
• Maple syrup
• Chia seeds
• Coconut milk powder
• Dried cranberries
• Pumpkin seeds
• Unsweetened, shredded coconut
• Baking powder
• Coconut oil measured solid

Here is where you can grab the ingredients and my favorite brands!

How To Make This Easy, Healthy Recipe

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt the coconut oil.

In a large bowl, combine the protein powder, baking powder, coconut milk powder, and chia seeds.

Once the coconut oil is melted, stir in the oil, almond butter, and maple syrup. Once everything is coated, stir in the remaining ingredients.

Grease a cookie sheet and using an ice cream scoop, portion out the batter. It will be runny. 

The cookies do expand so leave some room!

Pop in the oven and bake for 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the pan.

You can eat them like that and they’re moderately crispy. However, popping them into the fridge overnight makes them absolutely perfect.

Makes 10 cookies.

Don’t forget to pin these tasty healthy cookies!

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Thin, crispy, and utterly decadent! These breakfast cookies will easily become a staple in your house be it for breakfast, snack, or dessert. I love how well balanced they are in terms of nutrition and truly… they’re addictive.