Perfect Protein Cookies (protein powder recipe)

September 6, 2022 Stan

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Have you ever had cookie cravings, and thought you’d better not eat them because you’re trying to be healthy? Well with this protein cookie recipe you can have your cookie, and eat it!

A plate of cookies sits in the middle of a table, one has a bite out of it. Underneath is a tea towel. To the left is a glass of milk and in the distance is a baking tray of more cookies | Hurry The Food Up

Ingredients

The main ingredients for protein cookies are actually very similar to making standard cookies.

Dry Ingredients

I used an all-purpose flour so that they wouldn’t rise too much in the oven.

There is a small amount of sugar, but not too much as I chose to add dried fruit which is also sweet.

This comes in the form of cranberries and raisins, you can choose either or add both if you like them to be extra fruity!

There is a little smidge of salt, you know, to balance out that sweetness.

But the key ingredient that makes this recipe different is protein powder. You can choose plain or vanilla to add a nice flavor.

The protein powder is going to help bind the mixture, similar to the flour, but it is really high in protein, making these a fab and filling snack.

Which type of protein powder you use is up to you. Whether you use whey protein powder or a plant-based protein powder, just keep an eye on how much liquid you need.

Wet Ingredients

The key one here is the milk, I’m using almond milk, which is really nutritious. It helps to combine the dry ingredients but watch how much you need.

Some protein powder can absorb lots of liquid so you may need more or less depending on which powder you decide to use.

Here’s a tricky question, which category does butter fall into, wet or dry? It’s solid, but when it melts it’s a liquid…I’ll let you decide!

Either way, it’s a great ingredient to add to protein cookie recipes, as it provides a lovely buttery taste.

The egg is another binding agent, and also tops up our protein points for this easy recipe. Lastly is vanilla extract, which will give them a lovely flavor.

The ingredients for protein cookies are laid out in little bowls on a marbled table | Hurry The Food Up

How many calories are in protein cookies?

Here are the macros for two cookies, they have 197 calories and 10 grams of protein per serving.

kcal 197kcal

Carbs 22g

Fat 8g

Protein 10g

Health Benefits

Yes, there are ingredients like butter and sugar in these high protein cookies but let’s face it, they are waaay healthier than buying baked goods from a shop.

Some can be highly calorific, and not nutritious at all. The great thing is that my protein biscuits contain fruit.

There are some interesting health benefits associated with cranberries, including being high in vitamin C, and the potential to prevent urinary infections and aid in heart health.

Raisins contain high fiber but be careful not to eat too many as they’re quite high in sugar.

There are great health benefits linked to protein powder. Protein aids in muscle growth and recovery.

But having meals and snacks with a high level of protein also means you are more likely to eat smaller portions and stay fuller for longer, aiding in weight management.

If you’re on a weight-loss journey check out my FREE 7-day meal plan to help you on your way, it’s packed with meal ideas!

Or, if you’re looking to build muscle my weekly high-protein meal plan is also loaded with inspiration just for you. You can try it FREE for 7 days.

Almond milk is another healthy ingredient. It’s low in sugar, and calories as well as being dairy-free of course.

A birds-eye view of a big glass bowl on a marbled table. In the bowl is protein and fruit cookie dough | Hurry The Food Up

How to make these perfect protein cookies

Prep work – Whip up the room temperature butter, cane sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl until fluffy. Mix in the egg.

Next add the wheat flour, protein powder, salt, and milk. If using a hand mixer, put this aside and use a spatula instead. Mix until combined but don’t overmix! Add in the fruit.

Rest time – Cover and allow the mixture to rest from anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 days.

Bake time – Once the oven is preheating line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form 12 balls of dough and place them on the cookie sheet with even spacing.

Flatten with a little flour on your hand and bake for around 16 minutes until golden brown.

A birds-eye view of a baking tray on a marbled table. On the tray is some cookies on parchment paper, ready to go in the oven to bake | Hurry The Food Up

Protein biscuit FAQs

Which protein powder should I use?

After doing lots of taste testing (the best part of my job!), I think a good quality whey protein powder achieves the best results.

Choose an isolate powder as it has more protein for fewer calories. If you can’t get that, then it should still work with most other varieties.

However, you may need to add more liquid, especially with the vegan powders, as I found it made the mixture quite dry.

Are protein cookies good for you?

Yes, protein cookies are good for you, they contain a high level of protein. This means they should help you snack less as they should fill you up nicely in between meals.

You should always try to bake your own though as you can control exactly what goes in them by using natural ingredients.

Buying protein cookies in the grocery store may be convenient but they have still been through a level of processing that makes them less healthy for you.

What are protein cookies made of?

These healthy protein cookies are made of standard cookie dough mixed with protein powder and dried fruit.

What does protein powder do to cookies?

Protein powder acts in a similar way to flour when baking cookies, however, it is high in protein and it absorbs a lot of liquid.

Be careful not to use too much or cookies can become really crumbly.

What can I use instead of protein powder in baking?

If you don’t have protein powder, or you don’t like protein powder recipes, you could try using something like oat flour, or coconut flour.

Chickpea flour is a good option as it’s higher in protein than other flour.

A birds-eye view of a baking tray on a marbled table. On the tray is some cookies on parchment paper, that have just come out of the oven | Hurry The Food Up

Variations and Alternatives

There are lots of ways you could vary this simple recipe. Firstly, you could change your choice of dried fruit, perhaps dried apple or apricot would make great options.

You could of course change your choice of milk.

How about changing up your flavor of protein powder? I reckon peanut butter powder in chocolate chip protein cookies would satisfy that sweet craving for sure!

Failing the availability of protein powder, you could always add in natural peanut butter or cashew butter to make a truly delicious cookie.

(Just bare in mind with any changes the nutritional facts may change)