No Bake Protein Cookies
63
Published Aug 10, 2021, Updated Mar 18, 2024
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
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
- Chickpea Cookie Dough
- Protein Cookies
- Protein Pudding (3 Ways)
- Protein Banana Bread
- Protein Cookie Dough
More No Bake Recipes
- No Bake Almond Cookies
- Peanut Butter Balls
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge
- Puppy Chow
- No Bake Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
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
- â…› 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.
Yummy! So I made some modifications: sweetened vanilla coconut milk, banana instead of maple syrup, chocolate whey protein instead of vanilla, crunchy unsalted peanut butter, halved the cocoa and doubled the vanilla. No added sugar! Definitely less desserty this way though–more like an incredibly decadent snack.
If anyone is interested, I figured out the nutritional info for this whole batch is 1465 calories, 35 grams of fiber, and 56 grams of protein. I wanted to make each cookie about 100 calories so I made the batch into 15 big cookies making each cookie 98 calories with 2.5 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. Happy snacking!
I’m making these right now. I was wondering if you had the nutritional info on these by chance.
These were amazing! Thanks so much for the recipe!!!
currently making these! absolutely delicious!!! just wondering, about how long should the cookies set for in the fridge/freezer?
Yay! I’d say 30-60 minutes. Enjoy and then store the leftovers in the fridge or freezer. Let me know what you think after you try them. 🙂
Love your recipes. Would you ever consider posting nutritional info for them.
It would be very helpful for folks on limited intake of calories or o. Weight Watchers
Thanks ! 🙂
These cookies look amazing. i love chocolate and peanut together.
Cookies looks really nice. WIll have to do it at home!
Oh wow – I’m drooling already!! Do you think these bad boys would work with other kinds of protein powder? I use hemp but I think it might be a bit overbearing.
Hi Phil. You could certainly use hemp, but I think you’re right — it might be a little overbearing. Do you have a vanilla hemp protein? That might work well!
Thanks, that’s a really good idea Brittany – or maybe even a mix of hemp and rice powders 🙂
Can’t go wrong with chocolate + peanut butter! I’ve never done a no bake cookie – definitely want to try this out!
I love recipes that evolve into healthier versions but still taste delicious! I get ridiculously excited about this kind of ingredients list 😉