Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
Tired of dry protein cookies that taste artificially sweetened? These chocolate chip protein cookies taste just like the real thing but with added protein!
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I’m always looking for ways to add more protein to my diet, whether to fuel and recover from my workouts or just in daily life chasing around four kids. I like to add a scoop or two of protein to my favorite smoothies and protein shakes,but I’ve wanted to find ways to incorporate it into baking and other recipes.
This Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie recipe is perfect if you’re counting macros (IIFYM) or wanting a more balanced cookie. The recipe makes 20 protein powder cookies (depending on the size of your cookie — more on that below) and the macros come out to be 12 grams of carbs, 3 of grams protein, and 5 grams of fat (again, depending on your exact ingredients).
While I know that isn’t what some might consider a “high protein” cookie when compared to one that is marketed as such (like Quest or Lenny & Larry’s), here’s the thing: the macros are way more balanced than a regular cookie (like Chips Ahoy! with zero protein + tons of sugar) and these oatmeal protein cookies are DELICIOUS. Every other protein cookie I’ve ever tried is disgusting. Dry… artificially sweetened… gross aftertaste. To add insult to injury, that chalk cookie is going to run you about $3 a pop.
This homemade protein cookie recipe is the one to make when you want a delicious, balanced cookie with added protein. Thick and buttery, just like the real thing.
Another great macro-friendly, high protein cookie option is my Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie for One. It’s no-bake and the macros come out to be: 20C/10P/22F.
What’s in These Protein Cookies?
To make these healthier protein powder cookies, you’ll need the following:
- Old-fashioned oats
- Protein powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Granulated sugar
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Can I Use Quick Oats?
No, quick oats are much more finely milled and will dry out the protein cookie dough. You must use old-fashioned oats (aka rolled oats) in this recipe.
How to Make Protein Cookies
- Add 1 cup of oats to a food processor.This is the small food processor I have and it works great. It doesn’t take up too much space in my cabinet and is usually still big enough to get whatever I need done.
- Grind 1 cup of the oats to make your own oat flour.Note: if you’re wanting this recipe to be gluten-free, make sure that your oats are GF.
- Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder.Note: This will change the amount of protein in your cookies. This is the plant-based Protein & Greens that I use, but you could also use whey protein. (Again, double-check GF.)
- Combine all of the dry ingredients.Cream the wet ingredients. Mix them all together.
- Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookies.Note: This is the cookie scoop I use and it will yield 20 cookies.
Tips for Making the Best Protein Cookies
These protein chocolate chip cookies won’t spread much, so give them a gentle pat after you place them on the cookie sheet.
I like to bake using a silicon baking mat because they wipe clean and are reusable.
I also sprinkle 2-3 more chocolate chips on top to bake prettier cookies (this is optional), and don’t forget to figure them in if you’re counting macros.
You want to bake them 8-10 minutes (mine were done right at the 9-minute mark), just until the edges are starting to crisp and turn golden brown.
Recipe Tester Notes on Making Protein Cookies
- One reader used half butter and half coconut oil.She also doubled the chocolate chips and added a big handful of coconut. I haven’t tried this, but the shredded coconut sounds divine!
- Another reader made these vegan by using dairy-free butter, flaxseed to replace the egg, vegan protein, and goji berries, chopped dates, or cacao nibs instead of the chocolate chips.I haven’t tried this, but I think raisins would also be a yummy swap! Nuts would be great, too.
- I use vanilla protein (plant-based or whey) but another reader used Cookies and Cream!I haven’t tried this, but PB2 or a scoop of peanut butter would also be a yummy addition and boost of protein.
More Easy Cookie Recipes:
The homemade cookie recipes listed below may not be high in protein, but they sure are delicious!
- Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
- Chewy Chocolate Cookies
- Shortbread Cookies
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Salted Caramel Cookies
Leave me a comment and let me know if you try this protein cookies recipe with any successful variations!
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats (not quick cooking)
- 30 grams protein powder (approx. 1/4 cup)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter , softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Use a food processor to finely grind 1 cup of the oats into a flour.
- Combine ground and whole oats, protein powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar.
- Add egg and vanilla to the mixing bowl, mix until combined.
- Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the mixing bowl.
- Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.
- Scoop cookies into balls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking mat.
- Slightly pat the cookies down with your hand, as they don't spread too much on their own.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the bottoms are just lightly starting to brown.
What brand of protein powder are you using?
I think they have too much baking soda as something tasted a bit off, and I think it was the baking soda. I am going to try again with less. I used bob red mill protein powder. I may try them with vanilla whey too just to compare. I like that you use normal ingredients that I have at home and not strange things that I need to buy. Thanks for posting!
I love this recipe and have been using it for a while now. It is incredibly easy to make but it is easy to adapt.
Our current favourite adaption is using dairy free butter, flaxseed to replace the egg, vegan protein and instead of choc chips we add goji berries, chopped dates and cacao nibs…. So good. We usually double the protein and add only a 1/4 cup of sugar as well.
Thank you for such a great recipe that gets used in various forms weekly!
Great Recipe!
I use Cookies and cream protein powder. They taste great, just what I was craving!
I love this recipe !!
Instead of butter I used 1/3 C olive oil, and instead of sugar I used equal amount Xylitol Sweetener.
I used chocolate protein and added a little sugar free cocoa.
Turned out PERFECT with half the sugar!!!!
Definitely a protein desert for the books
So good! I used vanilla protein powder. The mixture did feel a bit dry at the end but with a couple splashes of milk, they turned out perfect after baking for 10 minutes. Definitely my new go-to protein cookie recipe!
I made this recipe but using vegan ingredients and it came out really good! For the egg I did a chia seed egg (1tbs of chia seeds and 2.5tbs of water and let the chia seeds absorb the water then use) And you can’t even tell a difference. I also added about 1/4 cup of almond milk to give it some more moisture so they were not dry at all. I got 14 cookies out of this but next time I would make them smaller since they do spread a little in oven.
It was my first time making this recipe but it was so much fun. I added in an extra 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and they’re super delicious 🙂 My friends and I have also been trying to incorporate protein into baking and cooking and this recipe was the perfect way to do so. Thanks a bunch for sharing this awesome recipe!
Although tasty, I found these cookies rather dry. I used a vegan vanilla protein powder… back to researching or experimenting!
followed this recipe to the “t” and my cookies turned out like dry little golf balls 🙁 Wondering if the protein powder I used is what makes the difference. I used Quest Vanilla protein powder.
I want to make these but I am confused about the amount of flour to use. Is it 2 cups of oat flour ground up from 2 cups of oats?
Omg my brain was not reading the directions properly! I figured it out 🙂 can’t wait to make these!!
It’s 2 cups oats, one cup grind, add the rest which is the other cup that you do not grind, so you have 1cup ground, 1cup whole oats
I too read the directions first..I thought it was one cup of oats..it is TWO.
Anyone else substitute the sugar out? Sugar is like cancer..even this might be a little bit, I’d like to know what else I can healthily subsitute the sugar with..
BTW: These turned out GREAT–just don’t like the sugar!
Lactanto monk fruit sweetener or Swerve.
@Claire, I used about a 1/3 C of natural honey instead. They turned out great! I’m sure you could use other sweeteners and just adjust the levels to your desired taste.
Wow! Great recipe. Made these tonight after needing a sweet fix. The recipe said they wouldn’t spread that much, however mine did. And that’s okay! I now have 12 giant cookies that taste delicious! This is my new go to cookie recipe. Thank you!
I used baking soda and they came out totally bloated! How do I get flat cookies like yours? Baking Powder? Thanks!!!
Just made these cookies and they are so Delicious !!! I used Turbinado sugar and they turned out Amazing !!!
Thank you so much my question is how many cookies to a serving ?
Thank you So Much !!!!
Suzanne
I just made these with another vegan protein powder (vanilla) and they turned out great. I’ve been looking for a while for a recipe that makes cookies with an old fashion taste, with a protein powder and slightly healthier than the old fashion oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipes. This recipe fit the bill perfectly. Not the most healthy, but palatable as a treat and better nutrition than the old school cookies. My teenager kids knew they were a bit different but ate them regardless without an eye roll. Usually they would just leave my ‘healthy’ cookies behind. Thanks very much for sharing this one!
To note, I doubled the recipe and although I decreased the baking powder slightly, I should have decreased it further, maybe to 1 1/2 tsp in all.
Holy Bananas. These are sooo good. I was excited to make these and used half flour and half oats, and used ON Chocolate protein powder with semi sweet Ghirardelli premium baking chips… and wow.. these are perfect. Thank you for this amazing recipe. It is now the only one I will be using for cookies.. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
I made this recipe today using Vega Protein and Greens protein powder. I used mostly brown sugar with a little refined white sugar. I pulsed old-fashioned oats in my food processor until they were coarse but not fine. I probably should have measured the oats before pulsing instead of after, because the cookies were a bit dry. But DELICIOUS! I’ll definitely keep this recipe. It looked so much better than the ones using coconut flour, spelt, or other oddball ingredients. I’d be happy to share a photo of the cookies right out of the oven.
Nice recipe! I’m gonna try it.
Can you shape the cookies (into individual balls) to freeze them an bake them later? I’d really like to make big batches of the dough and freeze it! 🙂 Pleaseeeee do you know if you can do that? 🙂
Hi Gabriela, I’ve never tried that with this particular recipe, but I have done so with many of my other cookie recipes so I don’t see why not.
These cookies look delicious! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
These look delicious! I love oatmeal cookies. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
I love this! I am so sick of the “healthy” protein sweets that don’t taste good! lol These look delicious and based on the ingredient list I’m sure they taste as good as they look!
I know exactly what you mean! 🙂