Protein Powder Cookies: Easy To Make and No Baking!
There’s nothing more fulfilling than the savory taste of meat after a hard work out, but if you’re a gym buff with a sweet tooth, or just looking for a new flavorful option, protein powder cookies are a guilt-free pleasure that you can enjoy. The protein content of the cookies will allow you to obtain those muscular gains at the same time.
We all know that the way to have a perfectly fit and toned body is not just by lifting heavy weights or running miles on the treadmill. It also requires a meticulously balanced and strict diet. If you are trying to improve muscle tone or mass, the inclusion of protein in your diet is essential.
While meat and eggs are great sources of protein, protein supplements are available on the market to help you increase your protein intake in the form of a convenient product. Products like Gold Standard are popular among health fanatics and athletes alike. The Amazon Best Sellers list in sports nutrition is a good resource to check out available protein supplements.
This is protein powder. The most popular way to take it is in the form of shakes. While the flavor and consistency is definitely tolerable, over time the beverage can get dull. So, what are we proposing? Protein powder cookies are a great fitness treat to serve as an alternative for other forms of protein supplementation. Check out our protein powder cookies recipe below so you can learn how to make these delectable and healthy protein treats.
How Good Are Protein Powder Cookies?
Not only are they high in protein, what’s good about protein powder cookies is that they don’t contain flour. Plus, the whole recipe requires just 4 ingredients, so you can make the protein cookies quickly and easily.
They are also considered a healthy treat; the protein cookies are sweetened with bananas, and contain no added sugar aside from that contained in the protein powder. The texture of the cookies is pleasantly soft, and the chewy quality will leave you craving more.
Like we’ve mentioned before, the recipe calls for only four ingredients – five, if you want to make them more treat-like by adding chocolate chips. Of course, there’s the obvious ingredient: protein powder. You can use any protein powder, except for plant based varieties, as they absorb the liquids too quickly. The dough needs to be of the right consistency, so avoid these plant-based protein options. We recommend whey protein, preferably the organic brand, for added nutrition and/or purity.
The real star of this recipe, however, are the bananas! They make the protein powder cookies sweet, and the riper they are, the better your cookies will be. You can even use frozen bananas if you have a few that are going bad. Leave them in the fridge of freezer; the bananas will turn brown and look rotten, but the internal banana will be over-ripe and gooey. This is perfect for the protein powder cookies. When a case of the munchies takes over, just thaw the bananas and get ready for a premium, healthy fitness snack.
As described earlier, these over ripe bananas are perfect for the protein powder cookies (or any type of banana baked good, for that matter). So, it’s really up to you which you will use for the flavoring of the protein cookies. We consider bananas to be one of the best options due to them being all natural and generally healthy.
The last two things you’ll need for this recipe are rolled oats and peanut butter. The recipe yields 10 large cookies, or 12 small cookies depending on your preference. Each cookie contains 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of carbs. Compared to a regular cookie, protein powder cookies are a high protein and low sugar snack. Not bad for a sweet treat after the daily grind at the gym, right?
How to Make Protein Powder Cookies
Before you begin, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with a piece of unbleached parchment paper, and spray it with cooking spray. Set that aside, and prepare to make the dough.
Mash 2 bananas in a bowl, then add 2 scoops (60g) of protein powder, 1 cup of rolled oats, and 2 tablespoons of unsalted peanut butter. Mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly until the batter becomes runny. Add chocolate chips if you desire, then make sure the mixture is well blended.
Spoon your cookie mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. These protein powder cookies don’t spread, so you need to shape them out before putting them into the oven.
Bake for 12-14 minutes depending on their size. Once done, place on a cooling rack for 5 minutes, and enjoy!
These protein powder cookies will last for 1 week if refrigerated in an airtight container. You can also store them in the freezer for up to 1 month. Just pop some into the microwave whenever you want to snack on them, and they will still taste like they’ve just come out of the oven. A perfect post-workout snack to enjoy every day guilt free!
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No Bake Protein Cookies, Anyone?
If the first recipe is a little complicated for your liking, here’s another easy way to make protein powder cookies that requires no baking!
The recipe literally takes 15 minutes to complete, and then you just leave the cookies in the fridge for an hour to harden. You can use any of your favorite protein powders, and yes, even plant based formulas will work as no-bake protein cookies. In fact, we recommend using Orgain creamy chocolate fudge for best results.
To yield 15 no bake protein cookies, you’ll need:
- 1 cup quick or old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups plant-based protein powder
- 1/3 cup peanuts, unsalted
- 1/4 cup organic peanut butter, unsalted
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 4 Medjool dates, pitted
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp. warm water
With these ingredients ready, mix together oats, protein powder, and peanuts. Then, in a blender or a food processor, process peanut butter, coconut oil, dates, and water until smooth. Pour in with the dry ingredients, and stir until combined.
The batter will be quite thick. If you still see dry patches, add water by tablespoon and keep mixing. Set it aside for a while. Line a large baking sheet or a cooling rack with parchment paper.
Scoop the dough with a spoon, roll into golf-size spheres, and flatten with your hands. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate uncovered for 1 hour, and enjoy cold.
If you are on a really strict diet, feel free to skip the peanuts. Nuts and/or seeds are a great addition to these protein cookies, and a chocolate drizzle is a nice finish. These will last you for 1 week by refrigerating them in an airtight container, or 3 months in the freezer– that is, if you can refrain from eating them sooner! These protein cookies are a delicious, healthy option that help you build muscle in the process.
