20 Protein Cookies That Will Beat Your Shakes Any Day

Written by Michael Matthews

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You already know your post-workout meal should have a fair amount of protein and carbohydrates. Shakes make this easy but after a while, they can get stale.

Well, when the blender gets boring, it’s time to switch to the oven and give protein cookies a try.

Start right with something like Cookies & Cream Protein Cheesecake Cookies, with vanilla whey protein powder, coconut flour, and cream cheese topped with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.

Or maybe something a bit more traditional like the Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie Bites, made with a delicious combo of dates, cashews, and protein powder?

Regardless of your tastes, I think you’ll find plenty of perfectly-balanced – and portable – protein treats to nourish you before or after you hit the gym.

Enjoy!

Double Chocolate Protein Biscotti

Add a protein boost to your coffee, but not by mixing or blending any protein powder into your drink.

These chocolate biscotti have nearly 15 grams of protein per cookie thanks to egg whites, Greek yogurt, protein powder, and PB2. And they still end up with that dry biscuit texture that’s perfect to dunk into a cup of coffee.

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Flourless Chocolate Protein Cookies

No one will be the wiser when you serve these chocolate cookies, which are like fudgy brownies but with better nutrition.

Most of the flour is replaced with chickpeas, as well as two scoops of chocolate whey protein. To round out the flavor, these chocolate cookies have almond butter and shredded coconut. They’re naturally sweetened with agave and dates.

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Dark Chocolate Orange Protein Cookies

Let’s face it: there’s no way to improve on the classic chocolate chip cookie. But there are new methods to enjoy one of America’s favorite flavors.

This no-bake chocolate chip cookie comes together quickly with vanilla protein powder, oat flour, peanut butter, and brown rice syrup. And there’s a boost of fresh flavor from orange zest and juice.

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Lemon Chia Seed Protein Cookies

Lemon cookies are a great add fresh fruit no matter what the season. And these are a great twist on lemon poppy seed, using chia seeds instead. They have similar amounts of protein, but chia seeds have fewer calories and more fiber.

Either way, the seeds provide similar texture in these soft and chewy lemon cookies.

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Meringue Protein Cookies

Meringue is made from egg whites, and that makes it a great component for any protein dessert. It works wonders in these creative protein cookies because, when whipped, egg whites get really light and fluffy. That gives them unbelievable macros: 9 calories a cookie with a gram and a half of protein each.

If you think these look good, check out Muddy Melissa’s chocolate meringue protein cookie recipe too.

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Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Peanut butter might be the most obvious way to add protein to a cookie, but the standard peanut butter dessert is primarily sugar and fat. To boost the protein, replace the flour with protein powder.

These 4-ingredient protein cookies can also be made vegan. To replace the egg, mix a tablespoon of flax or chia seeds with three tablespoons of water; let sit for 15 minutes before mixing it into the peanut butter cookie dough.

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Banana Nut Protein Cookies

These protein cookies taste like Chunky Monkey ice cream with banana, walnuts, and chocolate chips.

It takes a handful of common ingredients to make them, and aside from the bananas, you can keep everything in the pantry so you’re ready to bake on a moment’s notice. The cookie dough is quick to throw together, so you can be enjoying a fresh batch of these cookies in about a half hour.

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Chocolate Black Bean Protein Cookies

The secret ingredient in these gluten-free protein cookies is easy to hide because of the chocolate.

Not only does it provide a cover for the color, but the chocolatey flavor is actually enhanced by the inclusion of black beans. Of course, the drizzle of rich dark chocolate on top doesn’t hurt either, although it can be left off to save 25 calories per serving.

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Pumpkin Protein Cookies

When you can’t get enough pumpkin, you’ve got to start finding low-sugar, highly nutritious ways to kill your cinnamon spice cravings. These low-calorie cookies are the answer.

Each soft pumpkin cookie has several grams of protein for less than 50 calories. And with no added sugar, these protein cookies can make a good breakfast or dessert.

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Low-Carb Snickerdoodle Protein Cookies

These taste like the snickerdoodles that you’re used to baking, and yet there’s enough flavor to do without sugar and flour.

A touch of sweetness comes from stevia, but you might not need it because there’s so much flavor from the cashew butter and mayo. Yes, mayonnaise! It’s made from emulsifying oil and eggs, so mayo isn’t as strange in cookies as it sounds.

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Avocado Chocolate Protein Cookies

One of the easiest tricks to making healthier cookies is to replace the fat with mashed fruit, like bananas or applesauce.

Those are great choices for low-fat cookies, but when you want something rich and chocolatey, add creamy avocado to the cookie batter. It’ll make them fudgy and will also give the baked cookies a nice sheen.

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Oatmeal Raisin Protein Cookies

With 10 grams of protein each, these oatmeal raisin cookies are definitely a healthy dessert.

They’re also lean with unsweetened applesauce and egg whites, and they don’t contain any added sugar. Each cookie contains 4 grams of sugar from the raisins, cranberries, and apples. These protein-packed oatmeal cookies are awesome to grab for a quick breakfast.

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1-Minute Chocolate Chip Cookie

At the end of a long day, sometimes all you need is a cookie. But when there’s a whole batch in the house, it can be hard to stop at one.

This chocolate chip protein cookie will be your weapon against sugary snacks when you’re cutting back. Mix together the ingredients, form the dough into a single cookie, and microwave for 1 minute.

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Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie Bites

Don’t have time to make chocolate chip cookies? Make this protein cookie dough, which can be enjoyed right away and stashed in the fridge.

Each cookie dough bite is about 85 calories and has 4 grams of protein. With a combo of dates, oats, and protein powder, they offer good nutrition before or after you hit the gym.

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Protein Oreos

Instead of having Oreo sandwich cookies with crème in the middle, you can make an awesome filling of coconut flour and casein protein.

A couple Oreo cookies has about the same number of calories as one of these, but you won’t even get a gram of protein. Instead of minimizing protein like the original Oreo cookies, this recipe cuts down the sugar to just a gram.

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Triple Ginger Protein Cookies

These protein cookies aren’t just delicious; they’re good enough to serve for the holidays. And if you love ginger, you’ll want to make these year-round – but maybe not with the extra toppings.

If you want to add a chocolate drizzle, melt a bag of dark chocolate chips, and stir in a tablespoon of coconut oil and half a scoop of protein powder. Use a fork to create lines of chocolate on top.

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Cookies & Cream Protein Cheesecake Cookies

With vanilla whey protein powder, coconut flour, and cream cheese, you can make a protein-packed cheesecake that’s served up in the form of cookies. The batter couldn’t be easier to make.

Stir everything together, divide the dough, and shape. Add crushed chocolate sandwich cookies on top, put them in the oven, and in 10 to 15 minutes you’ll have an indulgent protein dessert.

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No-Bake Quinoa Almond Protein Cookies

These no-bake protein cookies are one of a kind. The base is whey protein powder and quinoa, which can be par-cooked to add a bit of crunch.

The cookies themselves don’t have to be baked, so once the quinoa is ready, just combine all ingredients in a food processor. Form into cookies, and stash them in the fridge.

They make a great pre-workout or post-workout snack.

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Green Tea Mango Protein Cookies

The combination of flavors might sound better suited for a smoothie than a cookie, but this is one you’ll just have to dare to try.

These flourless protein cookies are worth a taste for the macros alone. They contain a negligible amount of fat, pack in 10 grams of protein apiece, yet have just 3 grams of sugar – awesome for a pre-training snack.

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Quinoa Banana Cookies

Smart meal planning means preparing ahead of time, such as cooking up a big batch of quinoa to enjoy throughout the week. Then it can go in salads, stews, side dishes, and even cookies.

To make these gluten-free cookies, start with a mix of banana, quinoa, oatmeal, and whey. Then add standard baking ingredients: egg, baking powder, cinnamon, and your sweetener of choice.

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