No Bake Protein Cookies
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Published Aug 10, 2021, Updated Jun 12, 2023
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No bake protein cookies cookies made with just eight simple ingredients and without any butter or white sugar! They’re oil-free, vegan and gluten-free.
No bake cookies have always been my favorite and I LOVE these because they’re healthier and loaded with protein. So basically, they’re a snack that you can eat any time of day… you can thank me later!
No Bake Cookies Made Healthier
Traditional no bake cookies are made with butter, milk and refined sugar and have around 18 grams of sugar per cookie! This version only has 3 grams of sugar per cookie and we’re swapping the refined sugar for a mashed banana (or maple syrup if you prefer). It also has no butter or oil and uses whole rolled oats instead of instant AND they still taste good. Like really good, and not just to people like me who like healthy food. Others have said they’re good too.
These cookies are perfect a great snack option any time of year! With the protein powder, peanut butter and oats, they’re basically like a protein bar or protein ball, but in the shape of a cookie.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make these cookies, plus some ideas for substitutions.
- old fashioned rolled oats – my fave brand of oats is Bob’s Red Mill. They have a gluten-free oats if needed too!
- vanilla protein powder – make sure to use plant-based protein powder to keep these cookies vegan. Feel free to use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla if you prefer.
- creamy peanut butter – you can also use almond butter or any other nut/seed butter in place of the peanut butter.
- non-dairy milk – I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk but any dairy-free milk works!
- mashed banana – I love using a mashed banana instead of sugar for this recipe, but if you don’t love the flavor of banana you can use maple syrup instead.
- cocoa powder – to add the chocolate flavor without added sugar!
- vanilla extract – the perfect flavor enhancer.
- sea salt – to bring all of the flavors together.
tip! My favorite protein powder is Nuzest Clean Lean Protein. It has a short ingredient list, great nutrition facts and great flavor! They are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, lectin-free and non-GMO. Use code eatingbirdfood for 15% off your order!
How to Store
Store these cookies in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 1 week. These also freeze well if you need to keep them longer. Store cookies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Protein Treats
- Protein Balls
- How to Make a Protein Shake
- Protein Oatmeal
- Oatmeal Raisin Protein Cookies
- Protein Cookies
- Protein Pudding (3 Ways)
More No Bake Recipes
- No Bake Almond Cookies
- Peanut Butter Balls
- 4-Ingredient Samoas
- No Bake Quinoa Cookies
- No Bake Brownies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge
No Bake Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 scoop (21 grams) vanilla or chocolate protein powder
- ½ cup creamy natural peanut butter, look for one that's thin/drippy
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 mashed banana, or 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Combine oats and protein powder in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir until there's a nice dusting of protein powder over all the oats.
- Place almond milk, peanut butter, banana or maple syrup, cocoa powder and sea salt in a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often until cocoa powder is completely dissolved and the sauce has thickened. Take the pan off the heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour peanut butter chocolate mixture over oats/protein powder and mix until all pieces of the oatmeal are covered.
- Place batter in the fridge for 10 minutes to let the batter set up – this step is optional, but the cookies will be cool and much easier to shape if you do it.
- Drop chilled dough by spoonfuls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using hands to work cookies into desired shape – I made these into little round cookies.
- At this point they're ready to enjoy or you can place them in the fridge if you're serving them later. Store any leftover cookies in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer for longer storage.
Notes
- Peanut butter – You can also use almond butter or any other nut/seed butter in place of the peanut butter.
- Non-dairy milk – I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk but any dairy-free milk works!
- Mashed banana – I love using a mashed banana instead of sugar for this recipe, but if you don’t love the flavor of banana you can use maple syrup instead.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I grew up with No-Bake cookies, but the family recipe, while delicious, is not the healthiest. I’ve been looking for a recipe that not only tastes just as good, but also doesn’t make me feel guilty for enjoying 3/4 of the batch immediately. 😉 Finding your recipe made my day, and inspired some ideas for utilizing ingredients I had in my pantry.
I substituted half the oatmeal for raw hemp seed hearts–making it packed with omega-3, a host of new vitamins and minerals, and a ton of extra protein. To balance the intense flavor of hemp seed, I added a pinch more sea salt, and did half/half of real grade-A maple syrup and raw coffee blossom honey. I needed to use up my dried black currents, so I tossed a few handfuls into the chocolate before combining with the oatmeal mixture. Also, I love the flavor of natural vanilla–there can never be too much. I used vanilla soy milk, and doubled the vanilla bourbon extract.
These are out of this world delicious and brilliantly healthy–the best tasting protein bars I’ve had in a while. Thank you for your inspiration, Brittany!! Healthy and simple, I’ve found a new favorite pair of No-Bake “Cookie” recipes!!
Oh my word, your version sounds delicious! I LOVE the hemp seed addition. I feel like I need to see a picture of these.
hey, which protein powder did you use?
I really like Sunwarrior Vanilla Warrior Blend. It’s a plant-based protein powder.
Can you leave out the protein powder in this recipe? Looks so good btw <3
I use vanilla protein powder which gives the cookies a boost of protein (most cookies are low in the protein department) and also adds a hint of vanilla sweetness. If you don’t have any on hand you can always leave it out! If the batter seems too thin without it, just add a couple additional Tablespoons of oats.
Good cookies but they still have A LOT of sugar in them. 1/4 cup maple syrup has 51 grams of sugar in it and 210 calories.
Ummm…use sugar free maple syrup.
I substitute 1/8 cup of raw honey for the syrup. They’re delicious!
I’m so glad these cookies turned out well for you, Amy! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
I have had these before but never with the protein powder. The protein powder ruined them. I realize it depends on the brand, how that is going to change the flavor but I don’t think I’ll do that again.
Sorry to hear you didn’t like these with the protein powder, Leslie. What brand of protein powder did you use?
Hey it looks like you changed this recipe? Or the link I was using before got redirected. There was a no-bake recipe with coconut oil and coconut brown sugar that I was using before… does that still exist somewhere or could you email that recipe to me? Thanks!
Hi Adam. Good catch, for some reason my traditional no bake cookie recipe was getting redirected to this one with the protein powder. Here’s the recipe you’re looking for: healthy no bake cookies.
Brittany I’m getting the same link, it’s a time loop! Browser issue? Email is listed if you want to send the direct link. If I hadn’t just bought the extra coconut oil I would try this one but I have a whole tub to use up! Thank youuuuu
It must be a browser cache issue. Can you clear your cookies? If not, I can send you a direct link via email. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience.
Making these now! I see the nutrition information, but I can’t find how big each cookie is supposed to be, or (relatedly) how many cookies one batch is supposed to make. I am not a regular cookie-maker, maybe that knowledge is assumed, but I don’t know it!
Shoot, I don’t remember! This is an older recipe. I need to actually retest it! But I usually use a Tablespoon when scooping dough for cookies and then roll them into balls from there. Let me know how they turn out for you!
So excited about a healthier version about no bake cookies! I was a little confused, though: the instructions talk about cocoa powder and then peanut butter chocolate mixture, but the recipe doesn’t call for cocoa powder. Maybe this is leftover from the original version?
Hey Rachel – In the ingredient card it says 2 T of cocoa powder. Are you not seeing that?
Oh goodness 😂 I see it now. Sorry about that!
No worries!! 🙂
Great recipe, confession time – my craving was so bad that I didn’t read the whole recipe first and just dumped everything into one bowl (whoops lol) ..they still turned out great!! Love the flavours, totally satisfied my craving and the macros are awesome! Thanks for the recipe :))
Haha! That happens to me sometimes too! So glad the recipe was a success for you, Jamey! Thanks for sharing your review.