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Healthier, super easy, but oh-so-delicious, Peanut Butter Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies. These are some of the best cookies. Decadent, extra peanutty, and loaded with chocolate chunks, but made without any refined sugars or gluten. Every bite has a chewy, crisp edge with a soft and chocolatey center. They’re extra yummy and there’s absolutely nothing not to love about these salty, sweet peanut butter cookies.
Is it too soon for cookies? I questioned sharing these today, the first Tuesday back after Christmas vacation and all the holiday festivities. My fear is that you are sugared out, cookied out, and possibly just looking to indulge in salads galore.
But, then I said that out loud and thought, no way. The first week back in January is always a tricky week adjusting to getting back to work, to real life, and the reality that cookies can’t be dinner.
After two weeks of mostly chill days, the back-to-work, back-to-school daily schedule can feel daunting. But even if you’re working on eating more wholesomely this month, you can still enjoy cookies!
And I have just the recipe for you! A first for me too, protein cookies! But you’d never even guess that there are any healthy additions by the taste. Oh, and these cookies are Oslo-approved and very yummmmy.
Details
There’s nothing fancy about this cookie, that’s honestly part of the appeal. We love an easy, no-fuss cookie.
Beat the butter with real organic maple syrup. For the butter, I only use Straus Organic European style butter with 85% butterfat. It makes all the difference and actually has health benefits. And the flavor is far superior to any other butter. And no, this post is not sponsored, this is just what I use and love.
Cream the butter with the maple syrup to sweeten these cookies. I use a small amount of maple, so be warned these are not overly sweet cookies. Next, add the peanut butter.
The secret to making this layer really delicious is to use a peanut butter with just peanuts and salt. Don’t use a no-stir peanut butter that contains oils and or sugar. You just want a natural peanut butter. This will give you the best flavor and texture.
Now add in a mix of almond flour, I usually buy Bob’s Red Mill Almond Four. And unflavored protein powder, I like to use Vital Proteins Unflavored Collagen. Though you can certainly use your favorite unflavored or vanilla protein.
You can find both in most major grocery stores, Whole Foods, Target, and I believe Trader Joe’s as well.
Now stir in lots of chocolate chips (or chocolate chunks) and bake away. No chilling required! Simple. Simple.
What I love about these cookies is just how easy they are to make. They require no chilling, and take less than thirty minutes. And yes, they’re even pretty healthy too!
These cookies have perfectly crisp edges and oh-so-chewy centers. The best kind of cookie and they’ll stay that way over time too! These don’t get hard once cooled.
Above all, my best advice? Bake these protein cookies tonight…because everyone has thirty minutes to bake up cookies. Then eat a few warm and ease yourself through this first week of the year. I certainly can’t think of a better way to welcome in the New Year!
Looking for other healthier dessert recipes? Here are my favorites:
Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars
Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Bread
Healthier Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Tahini Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lastly, if you make these Peanut Butter Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Peanut Butter Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies
Servings: 18 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 181 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cups almond flour (see note for alternative)
- 1/4 cup unflavored protein powder (I use Vital Proteins)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips or chunks
- flaky sea salt, for sprinkling (if desired)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter. Slowly add the maple syrup, beating until whipped. Add the peanut butter and mix to combine. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the almond flour, protein powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips/chunks.3. Scoop the dough out into rounded 1 tablespoon size balls, the dough will be wet. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.4. Bake 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and tap the baking sheet on the counter gently to deflate each cookie. Return to the oven and bake another 3-4 minutes, the cookies will be browning, but still doughy in the center. Remove from the oven and gently tap the baking sheet on the counter 1-2 times. 5. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with flaky salt (if desired). Eat warm or let cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Alternate flour: if you prefer, you can bake these cookies using a total of 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour. The cookies will come out a little thicker, but be just as delicious!
Freezing: the cookie dough balls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw, then bake as directed.
5 stars, sent the last batch to my two daughters in college. One is celiac and she RAVES about them. Her friends had NO IDEA they were GF. If you’re reading this review and thinking on not doing the flaky sea salt don’t skip- it really makes the cookie extra special. I’ve made this a gazillion times now and one time we were out of pb. For an extra extra extra over the top version I discovered you scan sub Justin’s chocolate hazelnut spread if you don’t have the peanut butter. Not the same, but, not bad at all.
Hey Margo,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xx
I’m a little confused…. Do you use protein powder or collagen peptides? Your link brings up collagen peptides but your recipe calls for protein powder which are two totally different things.
Hi Rhonda,
I like to use the collagen peptides, but I’ve tested the recipe with both so whichever you choose will work for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
These are so good! I was afraid the texture would be off from the almond flour, but it wasn’t. I’m not a huge fan of peanut butter cookies, but these tasted more like chocolate chip cookies. Would for sure make these again. 🍪
Hey Anna,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it turned out well for you:)
Made these tonight, they are really delicious! I only had vanilla protein powder, which was sweetened with Stevia, so I cut back a bit on the maple syrup and vanilla extract. I used chunky peanut butter and the extra crunch from the peanuts were a nice little extra. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Hey Kathy,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend:)
Excited to make these. We can’t eat chocolate though, do you think they will taste just fine without the chips?
Hey Elizabeth,
Yes, totally fine to skip the chocolate! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Made these tonight. They were delicious!!! I didn’t have any unflavoured protein powder so I added a little more almond flour.
Will definitely put this recipe on repeat!
Hey Jennifer,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was tasty and thanks a lot for trying it out! xT
I made these cookies today and they were delicious!
Hey Krissa,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was tasty and thanks a lot for trying it out! xT
Love love your recipes and your weekly meal plans ..I made this cookies for my hubbys birthday today ! I’m a bit confused by the calorie count kcal ? How many calories is each cookie ? Thanks and keep dazzling our taste buds !
Hey Angela,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! It’s 181 calories per cookie. xT
Love all your cookie recipes, I have all of your books too! Can you chill the cookie dough before baking?
Hey Amanda,
Yes totally that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Making now! Can I make ahead and chill until I’m ready to use in a couple hours?
Ok I rarely leave reviews…. But honestly had to. My daughter is fairly new to GF and we’ve tried a ton of gf recipes over the last year and these are THE BEST we’ve tried. Amazing! 🤤
Hey Candace,
Perfect!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
Hey Terri,
Totally, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Turned out so tasty one would never guess they are healthy-ish. Appreciate the finer details in this recipe. (Salt at the end and banging the pan are key.) Made to have for post run snack – amazing!
Hey Delia,
Perfect!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
These turned out SO GOOD! I subbed chocolate protein powder because it’s what I had, and still super yum. Not even a good baker, but these made me feel like I was! 😉
Hey Emily,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
Made these without protein powder – didn’t add any extra flour to compensate and they still turned out SO GOOD. new go to PB cookie when we don’t want something crazy sweet !!
Hey Rebecca,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
New favorite cookie recipe. They’ve been a hit every time I’ve made them. I do half brown sugar half applesauce instead of maple syrup and it works out great.
Hey Rebecca,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
So yummy. Dipped these in chocolate. Delicious.
Hey Raquel,
Happy Wednesday! ❄️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
So excited to make these! Can I use collagen powder rather than protein powder?
Was confused by the link since it brought me to vital proteins collagen powder but you mentioned protein powder in your recipe
Hey Maria,
Yes, the collagen powder will also work for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
The recipe is delish but I also can’t find the link to the protein powder. Can you share it again please? I also used collagen
Hey Elissa,
Here is the link for what I used:
https://goto.target.com/c/2773249/81938/2092?subid1=58c18d1bf051050f829e3c0b&subid2=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.halfbakedharvest.com%2Fpeanut-butter-protein-chocolate-chip-cookies%2F&sharedid=Half%20Baked%20Harvest&subid3=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Fvital-proteins-collagen-peptides-unflavored-powder%2F-%2FA-84736153%3Fpreselect%3D79524212&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Fvital-proteins-collagen-peptides-unflavored-powder%2F-%2FA-84736153%3Fpreselect%3D79524212#donotlink
But any protein powder that you enjoy will work! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT