These chocolate chip protein cookies are gluten free and dairy free, made with pea protein and perfect for a healthy dessert. This low carb protein cookie recipe is so good, you'll never guess it contains protein powder.
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know I love trying new protein powders - collagen too! Recently, I tried a variety of Nuzest's clean lean protein powders and was instantly sold. Every single flavor is off the charts amazing!
My favorite, the Nuzest vanilla pea protein, was used in these protein chocolate chip cookies. This pea protein provides a moist texture and sweet vanilla cookie taste.
Why You'll Love these Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
- gluten free & grain free - made with pea protein and almond flour
- dairy free - no butter, no whey protein
- soy free
- refined sugar free - sweetened with coconut sugar (or monk fruit)
- low carb - made with almond flour and protein powder
- easy to make and delicious - no one will guess they contain protein powder
These are literally the BEST protein chocolate chip cookies. Even my oldest son (who isn't fond of protein powder in recipes) loves these cookies.
Ingredients
These chocolate chip cookies with protein powder are made with a few simple ingredients. Here's what you need:
- Non-hydrogenated shortening (or butter)
- coconut sugar (or monk fruit sweetener)
- egg
- vanilla extract
- Pea Protein Powder
- blanched almond flour
- baking soda
- salt
- dark chocolate chips
Ingredient Substitutions
Shortening
If you aren't dairy-free, then substituting the shortening for grass fed butter will produce similar results. However, non-hydrogenated shortening (I use Nutiva
) is an excellent dairy free butter alternative. It contains healthy fats and bakes really well! Whatever you do, please don't substitute with traditional shortening like Crisco. The ingredients in Crisco are absolutely terrible!
Sugar
I used coconut sugar in these healthy protein cookies, but it can be substituted with any granulated sugar. Monk fruit sweetener would be my top alternative.
Egg
If you are looking for an egg-free option, using a flax or chia egg will most likely work. However, please know that I have not tried these substitutions and the texture and taste may slightly vary if you aren't using real eggs.
Protein Powder
As far as the protein powder goes, most plant based protein powders should work in place of the one I used. However, this recipe has only been tested with Nuzest's pea protein.
I used Nuzest vanilla pea protein powder because their protein is made entirely of European grown and processed Golden Peas; which are easily digestible and allergy friendly. Plus, their protein doesn't include any nasty additives, preservatives or flavorings.
Almond Flour
These cookies have only been tested with almond flour. However, tigernut flour or ground sunflower seed may work for a nut-free version. Just be aware that I have not tried this substitution myself so cannot guarantee results.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
These vanilla protein powder cookies are extremely easy and quick to make - no chilling the dough required!
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
Next, in a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the shortening and coconut sugar. Once well combined, add in the egg and vanilla. Mix in the almond flour, protein powder, baking soda and salt. Lastly, fold the chocolate chips into the dough.
Use a tablespoon-sized cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto a baking sheet. Each cookie should be one rounded tablespoon of dough, making 12-14 cookies.
Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Then, remove the cookies from the oven, cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
Storage
These low carb protein cookies are best stored in the fridge or freezer. Personally, I LOVE them straight out of the freezer with a glass of almond milk 🙂
Place the cookies in an air tight container or baggie in the fridge for up to one week or the freezer up to one month.
More Protein Cookie Recipes
Print
Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 cookies 1x
Description
These healthy protein chocolate chip cookies are made with almond flour and pea protein. They're gluten free, dairy free and low carb!
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Non-hydrogenated shortening, softened (or butter)
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar (or monk fruit sweetener)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup blanched almond flour (55g)
- ¼ cup Nuzest Vanilla Protein Powder (28g)*
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine shortening and coconut sugar. Mix well.
- Add in egg and vanilla, mix.
- Add in almond flour, protein powder, baking soda and salt. Mix well.
- Fold chocolate chips into the batter.
- Scoop cookie dough (1 rounded tablespoon per cookie) onto baking sheet. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove cookies from oven. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
- Best stored in fridge or freezer.
Notes
*No other protein powders have been tested. Use my affiliate discount code "bakeitpaleo" for 15% off any Nuzest purchase.
Jill savin
Do you think just using coconut out would work? Thanks
Katie
I haven't tried subbing with coconut oil so I can't say for sure. But I don't think the texture would turn out quite the same. If you try, I'd love to know how they turn out!
Eric
I can easily eat an entire batch in one sitting.
Frida
Best cookie recipe ever. You are a genius, lovely recipe. All of your recipes have turned out great. This is my new favourite recipe blog. 😁
Katie
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for the sweet comment and review! You just made my weekend 🙂
Belinda
Any idea of how much protein per cookie?
Basma
Hi Katie!
I am trying to cut butter and shortening from my food, and so if I substitute with apple sauce do you think it will work?
Katie
Hi! No, I don't think that will work well in this recipe. But, if you try then please let me know the results 🙂
Jamie
Flavors are great! Mine spread quite a bit so they were on the thin side and really soft but overall really good. Is that common? I used butter instead of shortening..do you think that’s the problem?? Thank you!!
Katie
Hi! It's possible that the butter is what made them spread more. Did you use room temperature butter? The temperature of the butter/shortening and the type of protein powder you use will make a large difference. One thing you can do to help with the spreading is refrigerate the cookie dough for 30-60 minutes prior to baking. Hope this helps!
steph
do you have the nutrition facts for these cookies?
Tammy
I made these with coconut oil and monk fruit sweetener and they were perfect! My boyfriend and I tore them up and they tasted like real deal chocolate chip cookies!!! Can’t wait to try this with other flavors of protein powder!
Katie
Wonderful! So happy that you both enjoyed the recipe 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Anna
Hi thanks for the great recipe! Making this tonight, although I’ve been craving an oatmeal protein Cookie, do you think I could sub out half the almond flour for oats?
Katie
Hi! I'm guessing that would work, but I haven't tried the substitution myself so can't say for sure.
Lizzy
roughly how much protein does each cookie have?
Liz
I doctored it a little, I used bob Mills 1-1 gluten free flour, butter and hemp seed protein powder. I read Someone’s spread using butter so I chilled My dough for 30 minutes and they came out perfectly. Thanks so much for the recipe!!’ Will be making again (tomorrow) 😁❤️
Katie
I'm so glad you liked them! Thank you for sharing your substitutions and leaving a review 🙂
Michele
Do you have the nutrition info for this recipe?
Michelle V
For some reason mine look nothing like the picture... Mine look flat like pancakes; however, they're really yummy! I keep trying to make low carb or healthy desserts and most if not all of them were fails until this one. I think im just not willing to compromise on taste- and these cookies are full taste/flavor AWESOMENESS!
Thanks. Will be trying more recipes from you bc obviously u know what time it is!
Katie
I'm so glad you like them! Thank you for leaving a review 🙂
Stephanie
I used coconut oil, maple syrup for the sweetener and had to add some extra almond flour to get the consistency right. Very good and they came out exactly like the picture 👍 Trying to make my evening cookies n’ iced coffee habit more nutritionally relevant 😂 thanks for the recipe!
Katie
Your tweaks sound wonderful! Thank you for leaving a review 🙂
Laurie de Leonne
Yom!
Would love nutritional information please!
Laurie de Leonne
I have nutrition information!
Plugged this into my nutrition app and arrived at the following:
For a 1 tbsp cookie (monk fruit option)
108 calories
8.6 g fat
10.4 g carbs (.6 g fiber, 2.7 g sugars)
3.2 g protein