5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
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Published Feb 28, 2020, Updated Mar 05, 2024
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Peanut butter protein cookies made with just 5 simple ingredients: oats, protein powder, peanut butter, apple sauce and honey or maple syrup. Each cookie has 4 grams of protein! Gluten-free and dairy-free.
Few things are better than when healthy treats are acceptable any time of day… am I right?! These cookies are super nutrient dense. I think they could pass as a breakfast and definitely pass as a snack! If you’re looking for a reason to have more cookies in your life and you love peanut butter, you’re going to go crazy for these easy, 5-ingredient cookies.
Ingredients in Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
- quick oats
- vanilla protein powder – I share my favorite plant-based protein powders in that blog. If you prefer whey protein, that works too!
- drippy natural peanut butter – you definitely want to use fresh, drippy peanut butter for this recipe. Dense, thick or dry peanut butter will give you crumbly cookies.
- unsweetened applesauce – use store-bought or make your own with my applesauce recipe.
- honey or maple syrup
How to Make High Protein Cookies
In a large bowl, mix your dry ingredients (the protein powder and oats).
In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients (the peanut butter, applesauce and honey or maple syrup). Add the wet to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
The consistency of your dough will depend on the protein powder and natural peanut butter you use. If needed, add an additional 1-2 Tablespoons of applesauce to moisten the dough.
Form the dough into one inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a fork to press the ball down into a cookie shape and bake until golden brown!
Storing Peanut Butter Cookies
These cookies are so delicious it’s almost not even necessary to share storage tips! If you have self control… these store well in an airtight container on the counter, in the fridge or in the freezer! If you plan on storing for longer than a week, I recommend storing in the freezer.
More Healthy Cookie Recipes to Make:
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Raisin Protein Cookies
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No Bake Protein Cookies
- Almond Flour Cookies
- Oatmeal Date Cookies
Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick oats
- 2 scoops, 50 grams of vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 cup drippy natural peanut butter*
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce + 1-2 Tablespoons more, if needed
- 2 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place oats and protein powder into a small bowl and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl mix together the peanut butter, applesauce and honey or maple syrup. Pour the wet peanut butter mixture over the dry mixture and stir well. Combining this mixture will take a little stirring power and it may seem a little crumbly at first. I used my hands to knead the dough near the end and that seems to help. If it’s too crumbly, you can add an extra 1-2 Tablespoons of applesauce to moisten it.
- Once combined, start forming the the dough into one inch balls.
- Place balls on a parchment lined baking sheet, press the ball down into a cookie shape with a fork and bake for 12 minutes.
- Remove from oven, let cool and enjoy. Store any leftovers in a covered airtight container on the counter/in the fridge for immediate consumption or store in the freezer for later.
Notes
- For the protein powder, I recommend measuring by grams instead of by the scoop.
- The consistency of the dough may vary based on the brand of protein powder and peanut butter you use. If the dough seems too dry, add more applesauce as the recipe suggests or a splash of milk.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’d love to try this recipe but I can’t find applesauce in my area. Can I replace it with anything?
Hey Pamela! You could try mashed bananas instead of the applesauce. Let me know if you end up trying these and how they turn out for you!!
Hi Brittany, can I use unflavoured protein powder and add vanilla extract? If I can, how much vanilla would you suggest?
Thanks!
Patty
Hey Patty – I think that would be just fine!! I would maybe start with 1/4 or 1/2 tsp of vanilla and see how that works. Let me know they turn out!
Thank you so much for this recipe!!! I’ve been craving peanut butter cookies but didn’t want all the calories: these gave me my fix PLUS they’re so filling and delicious!
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Hillary!! So glad you enjoyed these cookies. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. It’s super helpful to other readers. 🙂
Hello,
Wondering if a drippy nut butter (mixture of various) would also work or if you’ve tried that? Love your recipes AND loving your cookbook!
Yes! I have a feeling another type of drippy nut butter should work. Let me know if you try it! And yay… so pumped that you’re enjoying the meal plan and recipes.
Would these turn out with no protein powder?
They should still turn out. You might just need to add extra oats if the cookie dough seems to wet! Let me know if you try it.
Yum! Made with a banana instead of applesauce and with almond butter instead of peanut (what I had) and delicious! Will freeze and keep them for quick snacks. 🙂
Woo-hoo! So glad they turned out well with the subs. Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it! 🙂
I made these last night and they turned out really dry. Is it supposed to be like that or did I do something wrong?
Will these cookies still turn out Ok IF you do not have any protein powder on hand?
Hi Rita! They should still turn out. You might just need to add extra oats if the cookie dough seems to wet! Let me know if you try it.
In the oven now!! Batter was delicious!!!
Woo-hoo! Hope you loved the final product, Shane. 🙂
I’m curious – are the freeze-dried strawberries super important or can these be made without them?
I am new to your blog, and look forward to enjoying your recipes. With all my traveling for work, these cookies would be a perfect snack. Your recipe sounds delicious! Take care, Terra