Easy Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

These Peanut Butter Protein Cookies are a yummy allergy-friendly snack that will give you lots of energy for your day! Made with oats, bananas, peanut butter, and protein powder, these cookies make a healthy breakfast or snack on the go.

Are protein cookies healthy?

It really depends on the ingredients in the cookie. Some protein cookies you can buy at the store have lots of refined sugar, which will give you an energy boost but then sending you crashing soon after. Additionally, these cookies may use dairy-based protein powders, which can hurt your stomach if you’re lactose intolerant. Furthermore, store bought protein cookies often have additives that help preserve the cookies, which you can avoid if you make your own.

However, if you make your own protein cookies, they will provide your body with nutrition from wholesome ingredients, free from allergies and unnecessary preservatives and sweeteners. Done right, protein cookies can provide you with a boost of protein, healthy fats, and carbs for sustainable energy during your day.

What are protein cookies made of?

Again, it depends on the recipe, but these cookies are made with only six ingredients: oats, peanut butter, protein powder, flax seed, banana, and chocolate chunks. Nothing complicated or chemically produced – just simple, wholesome, yummy ingredients!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• These cookies are free of dairy and gluten making them a great allergy-friendly snack. They’re also use banana as a sweetener instead of honey, making them a great vegan option too.
• These cookies have a great balance of nutrients! Peanut butter adds healthy fat, bananas provide potassium, oats add fiber, and the protein powder provides protein (no surprise there 🙂 ) As a result, you can feel good about enjoying these snacks anytime. Breakfast, pre/post workout, dessert, whenever you like!
• Not only are these cookies full of healthy ingredients, but they also taste pretty delicious. After all, who doesn’t love chocolate and peanut butter?

Tips for making Peanut Butter Protein Cookies:

• Generally, oats are gluten-free, BUT, if you are highly sensitive to gluten, make sure to use gluten-free oats so you can enjoy these Peanut Butter Protein Cookies without making your stomach upset.
• If you don’t have protein powder, you can replace it with another 1/2 cup of oats, 1/2 cup of flax seed, or 1/2 cup of chia seeds. You can also just add 1/2 cup of flax seed or chia seeds to these cookies if you want for added nutrition!
• For the protein powder, I used an unflavored collagen protein powder. You could also use a plant-based protein powder if you prefer.
• If you like, you can use chocolate flavored protein powder instead of plain or vanilla for chocolate peanut butter cookies.
• You can keep these snacks in the fridge for a week in an air-tight container. They make a great snack or breakfast on the go!

Tools you will need

You will need two bowls, a fork, spoon, and a rimmed baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Ingredients you will need

2 cups oats – You can use old-fashioned or quick oats.
1/2 cup protein powder – Whatever brand you prefer! Plain or vanilla flavored works best in this recipe.
1/2 cup peanut butter – You can use creamy or crunchy. I like to use a brand that only has peanuts and salt, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
1/4 flax seed – If you don’t have flax seed, you can also use chia seeds.
1 banana – An almost overripe banana works best – it will be sweeter and easier to mash.
20 chocolate chunks – Or chocolate chips!

How to make Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

In a bowl combine the oats, protein powder, and flax seed, and stir together.

In another small bowl, use a fork to mash the banana into a paste.

Add the mashed banana and peanut butter to the oat mixture, and stir together so a sticky dough forms. If your dough is too sticky, you can refrigerate it for 10 minutes before rolling it into cookies.

Use your hands to roll the dough into 20 cookies and place the cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Press a chocolate chip or chocolate chunk into the middle of each cookie for decoration.

Refrigerate the cookies for at least 30 minutes so that they harden a bit. Enjoy!

Looking for more healthy snack ideas?

If so, make sure to check out the Kitchen Counter! Here are a few recipes to try:

• 15 Minute Banana Bites
• Carrot Hummus
• Chickpea “Chicken” Salad
• Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Carrot Cake Sourdough Muffins
• Sourdough Blueberry Muffins
• Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

If you make these this recipe and enjoy it, let me know in the comments section below! You can also tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration with a picture of your creation.