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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.
Love these cookies! My son ask for them constantly and because of the amazing ingredients you chose I don’t hesitate to bake a batch every week!
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe! Hope you enjoyed it 🙂 xT
These cookies are SO good and love that they aren’t packed full of sugar! Even my husband who’s picky about “healthier” recipes loved them. Thanks Tieghan!
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! Happy to hear that it was enjoyed! xT
Hi Tieghan, I’m wondering about adding in some rolled oats to this recipe! Do you think that would be okay? Would I have to adjust any other ingredients?
Hi Erica,
I haven’t tested this, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you. You may need to reduce the flour:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
These cookies are really good!! I will make them again!
Hey Tammy,
Wonderful!!🌴🍍 I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, love to hear that it turned out well! xx
I was looking to make these cookies and was excited about the protein powder included. I was wondering if I could substitute ALL the flour with protein powder??
Thank you!!
Hi Jordan,
Sorry, I have not tested that, but I don’t think I would recommend it. Let me know if you give the cookies a try! xx
Hi!!! Love love this site!! I am looking to make a protein cookie for our football players. I’m on the high school football board and I need something that’s “healthy” but a great treat but we have to be cognitive of allergies so I can’t use peanut butter.
We make them and each kid gets one 120 cookies 😩 ha! Looking for suggestions because we make them two days ahead of them put them in individual baggies and need them to also stay soft.
Hey Stephanie,
Wow! That’s a lot of cookies! Well, you could definitely make this recipe a few days ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container, that will be just fine! Best of luck! xx
Could I replace protein powder with flour or leave it out all together? And could I replace maple syrup with a thicker pancake syrup?
Hi Dominique,
I haven’t tested this, but you could try using 1/4 cup of flour in place of the protein powder, I would stick with the real maple syrup:) Let me know if you have any other questions! xT
So so delicious!!
Hey there,
Happy Monday!!🌞 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Can you make these with plant based butter?
Hey Robin,
I’ve never tested this, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you! Let me know if you give the recipe a try! xx
Such a good recipe! I’ve been loving the heathier options 🙂 We are on a health kick, so I subbed mashed banana and greek yogurt for the butter and used powdered peanut butter, and even used Lily’s choc chips to decrease cals! A truly guilt free treat. Mine were definitely fluffier/taller and not as moist as the butter recipe, but still delish!
Hey Marie,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was delish!! xx
Made these cookies and they turned out delicious! Mine did not flatten out when I tapped the pan as stated by the recipe, any suggestions? Thanks!
Hey Jordin,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
These were a huge hit! Super chewy and great taste. The baking directions worked perfectly for me. I even accidentally bought vanilla protein powder, and they still tasted great!
Hey Maddie,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a hit! xT
These cookies look beautiful here however when I made them … and I followed your recipe to a T, they didn’t look anything like yours. So could it be because of the almond flour? ..because the texture and look is completely different. So my question is: for the photo, did you use REGULAR flour or almond flour? I’m disappointed so will now have to try making with regular flour to get the same look. Also, on tik tok, you threw in very little amount of flour compared to what your recipe calls for. It’s kind of deceiving. Sigh,…I’ll try again.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you did not like the look of the cookie. What did they look like? I can promise you all of the ingredients that are listed in the recipe are exactly what I used:) Let me know how I can help! xx
Fabulous! I substituted sugar free maple syrup and sugar free chocolate chips to make them more diabetes friendly! Can’t even tell!
Hey Beth,
Happy Monday!! 💘 Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
I made these the other night and they were absolutely delicious!! I have a question though… Do you happen to know the macros for a serving or a cookie? My daughter eats a very strict macro diet for her competitions and wanted to try one but wasn’t sure if she could. Any idea?
I made these. They were pretty simple. I used the butter suggested. It was room temp but I don’t think it whipped up enough. They cookies were a bit flat but they were awesome. Even my very picky kids loved them.
Hey Leanne,
Happy Friday!!❤️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad it was delish! xT
Hey there,
Thanks so much for trying these cookies! So sorry, I do not know the macros! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT