Healthy Protein Cookie Dough
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Published Aug 17, 2021, Updated Jul 24, 2023
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This healthy edible protein cookie dough tastes absolutely delicious! Each serving has 10 grams of protein and it’s also vegan and gluten-free.
If you’re one of those people who makes cookies just so you can eat some of the cookie dough, this recipe is for you.
And guess what? You don’t even have to bake the cookies.
Just whip out your food processor, blend everything together and you’ve got yourself a bowl of edible cookie dough ready to be enjoyed.
Trust me when I say that this stuff doesn’t last long. I think we polished off three batches in three days. One batch per day, not too shabby.
Here’s What You Need
- chickpeas – I know it seems odd that beans can create a delicious tasting cookie dough, but you just have to trust me on this one.
- vanilla vegan protein powder – vanilla protein powder is ideal, because it adds a little sweetness.
- nut butter – almond butter or cashew butter both work great.
- coconut sugar – cane sugar or brown sugar will work as well.
- vanilla extract – for more vanilla flavor!
- sea salt – if you’re using salted nut butter you can skip the sea salt.
- dairy-free chocolate chips – I love Lily’s chocolate chips for a low-sugar option and Enjoy Life chocolate chips for a dairy-free/soy-free option.
Notes and Substitutions
- Chickpeas – If you can’t do chickpeas, no worries! You can try using white beans or if you want to skip the beans all together, I have a recipe for vegan cookie dough bars that are just as delicious and beans aren’t involved.
- Protein powder – If you don’t have vanilla protein powder on hand or want to make this for kiddos, you can use oat flour instead. You’ll likely just need more sugar to sweeten up the dough.
- Coconut sugar – You can use cane sugar or brown sugar instead.
How to Serve Cookie Dough
This cookie dough is insanely good on it’s own, but if you’re feeling fancy here are some additional ways to serve it up:
- Sundae – For a cookie dough sundae with a chocolate drizzle simply use an ice cream scoop to scoop the dough into a small bowl. Melt 1-2 Tablespoons of additional chocolate chips with 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Drizzle chocolate over the cookie dough. Enjoy.
- Balls – Roll the dough (using a heaping Tablespoon) into balls. These can also be dipped in chocolate for chocolate covered cookie dough bites.
- Dip – Add almond milk (about 1/4 or so) for a thinner texture that’s perfect for dipping. Serve with apple slices or graham crackers.
Can I Make Cookies With This Recipe?
This recipe was intended to be an edible cookie dough recipe so I’ve actually never tried using the dough to bake cookies. I really need to test it to see if it works, but in the meantime if you’re looking for a protein cookie recipe, try these peanut butter protein cookies.
How to Store
Store any remaining cookie dough in an airtight container in the fridge. It should last for up to 3-4 days.
More Dessert Recipes with Beans to Try
More Protein Packed Recipes
- Protein Cookies
- No Bake Protein Cookies
- How to Make a Protein Shake
- Protein Overnight Oats
- Protein Balls
- Protein Pudding (3 Ways)
Protein Cookie Dough
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup vanilla plant-based protein powder
- 2 Tablespoons almond butter or cashew butter
- 1 Tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅙ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add chickpeas to a large food processor and process until they start to smooth out. You may need to use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides.
- Add protein powder, almond butter, coconut sugar, vanilla, sea salt and process until a ball of dough forms.
- Use a rubber spatula to separate the cookie dough a bit, add chocolate chips and pulse 2-3 times or until chocolate chips get dispersed in the cookie dough.
- Remove cookie dough from the processor and enjoy!
- Store any leftover dough in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Video
Notes
- Chickpeas – You can try using white beans or if you want to skip the beans all together, I have a recipe for vegan cookie dough bars that are just as delicious and they’re chickpea free.
- Protein powder – If you don’t have vanilla protein powder on hand, you can use oat flour instead, but you’ll likely need more sugar to sweeten up the cookie dough.
- Coconut sugar – You can use cane sugar or brown sugar instead.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ohh yes, this is always the best part of any cookie! I can’t wait to try this with some graham crackers…or straight out of the jar! Yum!
Yes!! I should have mentioned that it’s great as a dip too! Hope you love it, Juliette.
Love your dough recipe. Will have to try it for dip as well. Chickpeas in cookies are one of those things I just tried because I was sure it couldn’t work. Was I ever wrong. 🙂
Do you figure peanut butter would sub well? My husband is allergic to tree nuts and I’m not some kind of monster who would make something so delicious just for me.
Yes! Peanut butter will definitely work. And agreed, your hubs would be so jealous if you made this and he couldn’t have any!
Hey B
When you give the nutritional info per serving & say ‘as served’ does that mean the whole thing?
I’m ready to put it all in my face hole ????
Gah! Unfortunately the whole batch has 6 servings… bummer I know!! 😉
This sounds so awesome! Definitely trying soon, thanks for sharing!
Have you tried this with cacao nibs instead of the chocolate chips? Curious if I might need a bit more vanilla or sweetener to make it sweet enough for this diabetic foodie.
I haven’t tried it with cacao nibs yet, but I think it would be delicious. I’d suggest making it as is and then adding a little more vanilla or sweetness if you feel it’s not sweet enough. Let me know if you try it!
How much is 1 15 oz in grams? ‘Cause I checked and found its about 32g, but I think it’s wrong. ????
I think it’s about 420g or 2 cups! Hope this helps.
I had to chip in here – no, it’s 3200 grams. The calculation uses: 16 ounces per pound, 454 grams per pound. So – 115/16*454.
Oops – I re-read the ingredients – it’s asking for a single 15 ounce can of chick peas. 15 ounces is 425 grams.
Shoot! Too bad it’s made with chickpeas…those really don’t sit well in my tummy, I get major digestive issues when I eat them. It looks amazing but I think I’ll have to drool at it from the sidelines this time.
Oh!! I have a solution for you. The base cookie dough recipe for my cookie dough bars is DELICIOUS and doesn’t have chickpeas. It’s made with almond flour. And if you want to add the protein boost, you could do 1 1/2 cups almond flour, 1/2 cup protein powder. Let me know if you try it!! 🙂
how much is one serving??
Hi Mary Nichols. One serving is 1/6th of the recipe, but I don’t know the exact measurement. I’ll make the recipe again this week and measure it so I can tell you exactly. Sorry about that!
Could you actually bake these into chocolate chip cookies??? Just wondering. I love cookie dough but I also really love cookies! 🙂
Hi Anna. I haven’t tested baking them into actual chocolate chip cookies, but I should I do think you’d need to add some baking soda or powder. Let me test it and I’ll report back!
Oh, Brittany. I just made these and even at room temp they are great! Can’t wait to retry chilled… and magic shell covered!!! Thank you for your hard work ????
I always try to keep several cans of beans in our pantry, so I’ll have to check if we have chickpeas. If not, I’ll definitely be getting some soon. I’ve already printed this and plan to make them for snacks next week! I love your blog and recipes. <3
I have a lot of dried chickpeas in the pantry. Can I use those? If so, how?
Sure! You’ll just need to cook them first. I’d measure out 3/4 cup of the dried chickpeas, soak them overnight and then cook them. Once cooked you should have around 2 cups of chickpeas, which is about the same as a 15 oz can. Hope this helps!
Hi! I have an allergy to all nuts… what would be a good substitute for the almond butter?? Thank you!
Sunflower seed butter would be a great sub for the almond butter. Let me know how the protein cookie dough turns out!
Hey Brittany. is there a way to exclude (or substitute) the protein powder?
Really want to try this with leftover chickpeas. thanks for the recipe ????
Hi Ella! Using vanilla protein powder is ideal because it will have a little sweetness to it. If you don’t have vanilla protein powder on hand, you can use oat flour instead, but you’ll likely need more sugar to sweeten up the dough. If you use flour, just taste it and sweeten as you see fit.
I did this with sunwarrior protein, and I used double the chocolate chips you called for… it is amazing! The first time I used the recommended chocolate chips and it was still good!
Yay!!! I’m so happy that you liked it, Matthew. Enjoy.
What if I don’t want to use protein powder. What can I use?
Made this with almond butter and without chocolate chips (I planned on sharing with someone who may have averse reactions to chocolate, even dairy-free). I ended up having to add about 5 teaspoons of almond milk to get it to come together. The dough by itself left me with a weird, slightly unpleasant aftertaste, but I ate it slathered like frosting on graham crackers (with added chocolate chips before they ran out), and it was amazing! The texture is divine when paired with the graham crackers, and I’ll definitely add chocolate chips right in next time I make it just for myself. This is such an easy, tasty, healthy, and filling snack. Perfect for my weekends where I generally just graze aimlessly. This tempts me for a repeat performance despite my aversion to the food processor. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I love making these into chocolate covered cookie dough balls. They are my go-to snack for my after dinner dessert. I’ve made several batches already and they don’t last but a few days. Love this one and all of your recipes!
Ohh!! I’m so glad you like the cookie dough! I love the idea of those chocolate covered cookie dough balls. I might have to try that. 🙂
Whoever made this recipe lacks any knowledge of what food actually tastes like. Gosh it’s terrible.. like eating gritty bean mash that resembles cookie dough only in color. Please never write a recipe again.
Wow troll. That’s pretty harsh. After reading your comment I almost didnt make this. Thankfully I didn’t listen to you! My super picky 3 year old gobbles these up! We did have to make adjustments with protein powder and peanut butter to get the flavor and consistency we liked, but they are awesome.
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Amanda. Thank you so much for trying my recipe. I’m glad you guys enjoyed it!! And thanks for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Hi I am super scared… could you maybe give me your preortions?
Dear Cat Facts:
Had to respond to such a ridiculous, uneducated comment.
Before you judge a recipe, I recommend actually following it correctly.
Making something gritty when the recipe clearly states, blend until smooth… Then complaining because you lazily made it gritty..? Uh… That makes no sense.
Your unrefined taste buds mistaking a blended legume for tasting like a bean.. Shows you don’t actually know what real food actually tastes like. Please never write a review again.
I made these this morning for my sugar loving hubby who’s trying to cut down on his intake.
HE LOVED THEM!
I did lick the spoon and this is ridiculously tasty and easy to make. YUM 10/10 will be making these regularly
Woo!! So glad this recipe was a hit, Alla. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Is there an alternative to using coconut sugar if someone has an allergy to coconut?
You can use another sugar option like cane sugar or brown sugar.
Are the beans cooked?
Nope- just rinsed and drained from the can, Gloria.
This is my first bean dessert. Going to try the no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies next. I made these and they are yummy. I used organic cane sugar. The real test will be my hubby.
Yay! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit, Gloria! Thanks for the review. It means the world to me!
I’ve loved your other cookie recipes and wanted to try this! Can you use chickpea flower instead?
Hey Allison – I am not sure how this recipe would turn out with chickpea flour instead of the chickpeas. I’ve never tried it, so I’m not sure how it would alter the recipe. Let me know if you decide to try it.
This recipe is phenomenal! Tried chickpea-based cookie dough once and wasn’t a fan but I dared to try yours anyway – luckily haha. I skinned the chickpeas with some baking soda hack I found on youtube, I bet that helped with smoothness
Yay! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit, Malin! Love the hack on the chickpeas. Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it!
Does Chickpea flour work in this recipe?
I haven’t tried it before, so I’m not 100% sure how it’d turn out! You’ll have to let me know if you try it.
Hi, I was wondering if you could make it into balls and freeze them to pull out for a special treat from time to time?
Definitely! I even have a protein cookie dough balls recipe you could make!
hi-
cani use monk fruit sweetener instead of coconut sugar? if so how much? thank you!
I haven’t tried it, but I bet it’d work as a 1:1 sub!
Thank you for the information.
Delicious and easy to make! Thank you so much!
So glad you loved this recipe, Genny. Thanks for making it and for the review. I so appreciate it!
Protein cookie dough was super easy and tasted surprisingly good! Maybe add something to keep it healthy but a bit sweeter – maybe just some more chocolate chips or honey/maple syrup.
So glad you loved this recipe, Bill. Thanks for making it and for the review. I so appreciate it!
How many servings does this make?
Hey Andrea – I note in the recipe card that this serves 6 🙂
My husband is starting to go plant based with me and, of course, he found your recipe. 😉 He made these cookie dough balls and it blew my mind! These are so good, I prefer these over actual vegan cookies, especially knowing I am getting some good nutrients from the chickpeas. So so good! Thank you for this recipe!
Yay!! Pumped to hear this recipe was a hit, Ashley! I so appreciate the review. It really means so much to me :).
Haven’t made it yet but looks like fun! Any way to use stevia or something other than regular sugar? Thank you!
Hi! Am so tempted to make these chickpea protein balls. Have been looking around for a healthy snack that is easy to prepare. Is it possible to use chocolate protein powder instead of the vanilla flavoured one?
Hi, SM! Yes, using chocolate protein powder should be just fine. It will change the taste a bit but there’s nothing wrong with extra chocolate! 🙂
Surprisingly tasty and extremely easy! The chickpeas make for a velvety, smooth dough and bring absolutely no aftertaste. My only potential gripe is that is lacks *a little bit* of sweetness, so I would recommend adding some vanilla/honey/chocolate chips/chopped banana on top to enhance that factor, especially if you’re serving it to some kids.
Hi Alex! I am so glad you are enjoying this recipe and it turned out great for you. Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and for your review + star rating, it means so much to me!