Made just out of 5 ingredients, these peanut butter protein cookies are chewy, sweet, and yummy. They’re vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and high protein.
A perfect treat or high protein breakfast recipe.
A protein cookie that tastes amazing, with only 5 ingredients? Is this possible?
You bet it is! These Peanut Butter Protein cookies are rich in flavor and full of energy and take minutes to stir together. They are gluten-free and suitable for Vegans too!
So, grab these ingredients, and let’s bake something nutritious and so easy!
Peanut butter has such a moreish flavor that so many of us love. It’s nutty, sticky, and so satisfying, and when you need a boost of energy, it’s perfect to be added to a bake.
These Peanut Butter Protein Cookies are so quick to make too. Sometimes we can be put off making our own homemade goodies by the effort required just to get the ingredients out of the cupboard.
Not here – get those 5 things, and you are ready to quickly beat together some energy that you can devour hungrily at any time. Try dipping into an ice-cold glass of nutty milk!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Rolled oats – Simple traditional ones or ‘old-fashioned’ ones have been used here, but you can use jumbo oats instead if you would like a chunkier texture. If you need to avoid gluten, make sure you are using gluten-free certified ones to be sure.
Protein powder – Use any powder you like for this recipe, so there’s no need to buy anything new. Always try and use a good quality one, though, with no added artificial sweeteners.
Peanut butter – You can use a crunchy or smooth variety; just make sure it’s a natural one with no added sweeteners. How about using a different nut butter altogether? Almond or cashew nut butters are great!
Banana – Use a soft one that’s easy to mash. The darker yellow, ‘going a bit black’ ones are fine to use, and they will add more natural sweetness to your cookie.
Maple syrup – There are lots of varieties to choose from, so use your favorite. You could also switch to honey if you prefer.
How to Make Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
First, preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and then brush with a little oil if you like.
Place the rolled oats and protein powder into a bowl and stir to combine well.
In a separate bowl, mix the peanut butter, mashed banana, and maple syrup until you have a smooth mix.
Next, pour the banana and peanut butter mixture over the top of the dry ingredients and stir together. You may need to knead the dough a little with your hands if it is a little dry.
If your peanut butter isn’t very oily, you could add a little more or add a little more mashed banana. You need a dough you can make into 12 balls.
Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and space them out evenly.
Press down each of the cookie balls with either a spoon or a fork to flatten them out. You want some lovely cookie shapes!
Bake in the oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Let the cookies cool down on a cooling rack before serving. This rack is great if you have limited top space!
Can You Use Protein Powder Instead of Flour?
It’s a great idea to replace flour with protein powder as it’s an easy way to pack some extra protein into your diet. This is especially good if you don’t eat meat or struggle to find good quality protein to enjoy.
But it all depends on your source of protein powder and the recipe. Some proteins are a little more absorbent than others.
Thus, they can change the texture and moisture of a cookie too much, and some major alterations will be needed.
Some are perfect, though! But how do you know?
Well, a little experimentation is needed, but it’s so easy. When replacing flour for a protein powder, start by replacing 1/3 of your powder for the flour.
So, if you’re using 1 cup of flour, try adding 1/3 cup of your protein powder instead.
Mix, mix, mix. Does it look like a cookie dough? Can you use a cookie scoop or roll balls?
Add as much or as little as you need to and go for it! Cookies are hard to mess up, and they will still taste great!
You could try alternative flours, too, not just protein powders. Buckwheat flour, quinoa flour, and sorghum flour are packed with protein, so don’t overlook using these!
But again, apply a little experimentation and have some fun!
How Do You Make Peanut Butter Cookies Taste Better?
You can add some tasty extras to these cookies to change the flavors a little. With only 5 ingredients so far, there’s time!
Simple additions like some dark chocolate chips would be great and give an excellent cocoa hit when you need a boost.
A little grated orange zest, with or without the chocolate chips, will take the taste up an even higher level.
How about being really daring and add some earthy ground turmeric to give you a warming taste, anti-inflammatory properties, and a golden glow.
Ground ginger or stem ginger would be a welcome addition for a change and perfect if you’re feeling a little delicate.
Dried cranberries or apricots can go well in these cookies, too, giving a lovely chewiness against the soft oats and banana.
How to Store and Freeze These Cookies
These cookies can be kept for 3-4 days in an airtight container. If your kitchen is rather warm, it may be better to store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
You could also freeze them if they aren’t snapped up quickly!
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Coconut Flour Protein Cookies
- Banana Protein Cookies
- No-Bake Protein Cookies
- Oatmeal Protein Cookies
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Healthy Cookie Dough Balls
Peanut Butter Protein Cookies (5 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter unsalted, unsweetened
- 1 medium banana mashed
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Combine rolled oats with protein powder in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix together peanut butter, mashed banana, and maple syrup.
- Pour wet mixture over dry mixture. Stir together, and then knead the dough. If it’s too crumbly, top up with a little more mashed banana to introduce moisture.
- Once the dough is ready, make 12 balls.
- Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press down the balls with either a spoon or a fork to flatten them out and form cookies.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool down before serving.