If you’ve ever done a Google or Pinterest search for “protein chocolate chip cookie recipe,” you’ve seen there are quite a few variations. There are varying degrees of healthfulness. (Whether chocolate chip cookies can even go in the “healthful” category is a question for another day.) Is it too much to ask that a chocolate chip cookie can be delicious AND higher in protein? For the last year, I thought so. I’ve tried at least 10 different recipes, and they all either turn out kind of tasteless (except for the chocolate chips) or dry (good tasting, but having a texture like sand in my mouth – bleech). Finally, finally, finally, after experimenting my way through 3-4 batches, I’ve created a chocolate chip protein cookies recipe that has extra protein and is yummy and chewy.
Gluten Free Option + Protein
Since these cookies are made with oat flour, they could be gluten free. If you do want them to be gluten free, be sure to use oat flour and protein powder that are certified gluten free.
These cookies have around 4 grams of protein and about 133 calories, which means they wouldn’t be considered ultra-high in protein. However, I usually try to stick to around 250 – 350 calories for a snack, so that means eating two of these cookies and getting 8 grams of protein. Then of course you’ll want to drink some milk with the cookies, and milk has a little more protein. You get the idea. At any rate, they’re higher in protein than regular chocolate chip cookies and oh, so yummy.
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Better Ingredients
For these cookies I used oat flour for these cookies. Oat flour is gluten free (be sure to use GF certified if this is an issue for you), and it is lower on the glycemic index (GI) than all-purpose flour. I use Bob’s Red Mill oat flour . I also like to use some coconut sugar because compared with regular brown sugar, it’s packed with nutrients (like iron and zinc) and antioxidants. My favorite coconut sugar is Better Body Foods Organic Coconut Palm Sugar. For protein powder, Complete Nutrition’s Elite Gold Annex is my go-to. I use the vanilla, but you could also try their Chocolate Peanut Butter or Triple Chocolate for a more chocolaty cookie. I added some pure maple syrup to compensate for the dryness of the coconut sugar. Mine’s from Costco (Kirkland Signature), but I’ve also had good luck with Coomb’s Family Farms Organic Maple Syrup.
Chewy Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies Recipe
Chewy Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 tsp butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 2 cups oat flour
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder I used Complete Nutrition vanilla whey protein isolate
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or more!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a larger mixing bowl, combine softened butter and sugars until well blended.
- Add eggs, vanilla extract, and maple syrup to butter/sugar mixture and mix well.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add flour mixture to butter/sugar/egg mixture and mix to combine.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Drop cookies by rounded tablespoons-full onto non-stick cookie sheets (or ones that have been covered in parchment paper – my preference). Adjust cookie size to your preference.
- Bake in 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until the cookies' edges are firm.
Notes
Other Snacks with Added Protein
If you’re looking for ways to add more protein to your diet, check out some of these other recipes.
What are some of your favorite protein-packed snacks?
