10 Irresistible Protein Cookie Recipes

10 Irressistible Protein Cookies Recipes

Looking for a way to liven up snack time? Or maybe an excuse to have dessert for breakfast? Here are 10 protein cookie recipes that won’t make you feel bad about indulging. Each cookie below contains at least four grams of protein, and most have fewer than 200 calories apiece. While some rely on protein powder as the main ingredient, others get the bulk of their nutritional value from natural add-ins such as nut flours or butters, beans or other seeds and grains. Whatever the makeup, each of these treats will satisfy any cookie craving in no time — without completely sidelining your healthy eating habits.

RELATED: 12 Energy Bites Recipes That Taste Just Like Dessert

Our Favorite Protein Cookie Recipes

Fudgy Black Bean Cookies

1. Fudgy Double Dark Chocolate Black Bean Cookies (8.6 g protein per cookie)
Black beans may not seem like an ideal cookie ingredient, but trust us on this one — they are a great way to pack in protein while also achieving the ideal cookie crumb. Feel free to add chopped nuts or chocolate chips for some texture. Photo and recipe: Lauren / Oatmeal with a Fork

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

2. Peanut Butter Protein Cookies (7 g protein per cookie)
The cookie monster would approve of these bad boys, which work equally well as a healthy snack or guilt-free dessert. In addition to packing in seven grams of protein, each cookie contains just 85 calories. Plus, they only take about 15 to 20 minutes to throw together — including baking time! (They’d work just as well without the chocolate chips, too.) Photo and recipe: Katie Farrell / Dashing Dish

No-Bake Cinnamon Roll Protein Cookies 2

3. No-Bake Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Cookies (7.6 g protein per cookie)
Here’s the all-around perfect protein cookie recipe — it will work for breakfast, snack time or pre- or post-workout. The magic ingredient: cinnamon roll protein powder (yes, you read that correctly). Add in some oats and Rice Krispies for texture and spices for flavor and you have an energy-packed cookie (at just 157 calories apiece). The best part? You don’t even have to turn on the oven! Photo and recipe: Chelsea / Chelsea’s Messy Apron

RELATED: 15 Unexpected Protein Powder Recipes

Protein Oreo

4. Zero-Carb Oreo-Esque Protein Cookies (10 g protein)
The secret to this recipe is IMO (that’s Isomalto-oligosaccharide) syrup. It’s a high-fiber, low-carb, fat-free and sugar-free syrup that serves as a sweetener and helps give the cookies structure. (If you’re familiar with Quest Bars, IMO syrup is one of the main ingredients, so the texture of the cookies is very similar to these bars.) Each delectable cookie sandwich contains only 90 calories, 10 grams of carbs and 9 grams of fiber. If you feel like getting creative, try changing up the filling by adding cocoa or matcha powder! Photo and recipe: Anna Sward / Protein Pow

Raw Almond Cookies

5. Raw Almond Butter Cookies (4.1 g protein per cookie)
Four-ingredient cookies — what could be better? Combine protein-packed and fiber-filled buckwheat groats with sticky almond butter and medjool dates for the perfect hearty and healthy cookie batter. Instead of fancy add-ins, large-flake sea salt tops these treats to round out the sweet-and-salty flavor combo. Photo and recipe: Ashley / Blissful Basil

RELATED: 10 Delicious Protein Pancake Recipes

Pistachio Cranberry Cookies 1

6. Pistachio-Crusted Chewy Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies (4 g protein per cookie)
Need a new classic Christmas cookie? Look no further. Packed with bright green pistachios and rich red cranberries, these are almost accidently festive. On top of the mix-ins, the base is packed with fiber, protein and healthy fats thanks to chia seeds, flax seeds and almond flour. Santa will thank you for helping him watch that waistline. Photo and recipe: McKel Hill, MS, RD / Nutrition Stripped

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

7. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies (9 g protein per cookie)
If you’ve ever wished cookies were an acceptable pre- or post-workout snack, this will be the recipe of your dreams. Each grain-free treat will fuel you up with 240 calories, 9 grams of protein, 19 grams of carbohydrates and 3 grams of fiber. This batch uses vanilla vegan protein powder, but try substituting in chocolate protein powder for an even more decadent flavor profile! Photo and recipe: Lee Hersh / Life by DailyBurn

Chocolate Walnut Quinoa Cookies

8. Chocolate Walnut Quinoa Cookies  (6.2 g protein)
You can count on quinoa flakes to offer a wholesome, protein-rich base for these cookies. They may be a bit harder to find in the grocery store (try looking in the natural foods or gluten-free section) but quinoa flakes are basically flattened quinoa seeds. At 247 calories and 11.6 grams of sugar per cookie, these are definitely more of a dessert than breakfast or snack. However, the high protein content counts for something, and if you cut back on the butter and sugar, it would be pretty easy to make the recipe a bit healthier. Photo and recipe: Erica / Coffee & Quinoa

RELATED: 8 Ridiculously Easy Quinoa Recipes

No Bake Protein Cookies

9. No-Bake Protein Cookies  (9.4 g protein per cookie)
When turning on the oven just won’t cut it, turn to this simple recipe. Protein powder and rolled oats make up the bulk of the batter, while dates and peanut butter add sweetness. The recipe calls for whole peanuts, but feel free to jazz up with recipe even more with your favorite nuts or seeds, or chocolate chips. (Pro tip: Chill the cookies for an even more satisfying post-workout snack.) Photo and recipe: Olena / ifoodreal

Chocolate Cashew Chunk Quest Bar Cookies

10. Mini Chocolate Cashew Chunk Quest Bar Cookies (4.7 g protein per cookie)
You can thank protein powder, cashew butter and almond meal for the protein-rich base of these cookies. Instead of nuts or chocolate chips, pieces of a chocolate Quest Bar add some chewy texture to these treats.  Photo and recipe: Protein Treats by Nicolette

Protein "Brookies"

BONUS: Protein “Brookies” Cookies (7 g protein per cookie) 
Why choose between cookies and brownies when you can have both? This inventive hybrid dessert combines the best of both worlds but won’t set you back double the calories. Paleo and gluten-free, each cookie is just 200 calories and a whopping 7 grams of protein. Photo and recipe: Lee Hersh / Life by DailyBurn 

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