These healthy chocolate protein cookies are gluten free, dairy free, can easily be vegan and are high in protein, filling, and super delicious! A great snack any time of day!
Healthy Chocolate Protein Cookies
I’ve been meaning to revamp this healthy protein cookies recipe for a long, long time and am so happy I can finally tick it off my to-do list. I actually first posted these cookies in 2013… I still can’t believe that NITK will be 6 years old this August! They have been a favourite of mine for ages and the recipe was first inspired by a local grocery store here in Edmonton that makes the coveted “Cosmic Cookie”.
Like those Cosmic Cookies, my version is loaded with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, unsweetened coconut, flax seeds, raisins, nut butter, and dark chocolate chips but they also contain more superfood additions! Rich, aromatic cocoa powder, mineral-packed hemp seeds, and protein-rich collagen peptides are also in the mix. Everything works together to make some pretty amazing treats.
I’ve taken out the “cosmic” and named my cookies “protein cookies” because they really do pack a protein punch… and quite a few calories (ha!). This is why I do recommend to enjoy these cookies in moderation, one (…ok, maybe two) cookie is seriously filling and will definitely power you up for a workout, busy day, or monumental to-do list.
I legitimately felt like I had fuel pumping through my legs the other day when I ate one of these cookies and then took Hemsley for a nice brisk walk in her stroller…and I don’t drink coffee, so I know I couldn’t attribute my extra energy to any caffeine, I swear it was the P O W E R cookie!!
Ingredients in Healthy Chocolate Protein Cookies
Rolled oats and oat flour make these cookies fibre-rich and naturally gluten-free and wonderfully chewy and soft. They really are packed to the brim with healthy goodness and have amazing flavour and texture.
If you are vegan or vegetarian, a simple swap of the collagen peptides for a plant-based protein powder will do the trick, but I love that either way (collagen or plant-based) these cookies are well balanced with a mix of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein!
Other ingredients include a bunch of seeds, coconut, nut butter, and chocolate chips! A great way to add flavour, texture, and even more nutrition and healthy fats to these delicious protein cookies.
Summer is in full swing and for us this means a lot of days spent outside, on-the-go, biking, hiking, running, and soaking up the sunshine so these Chocolate Protein Cookies are the perfect, healthy snack/treat to have in-tow for a boost of energy and nourishment along the way.
I hope you’ll make a batch to enjoy too!
Chocolate Protein Cookies Gluten Free
These healthy chocolate protein cookies are gluten free, dairy free, can easily be vegan and are high in protein, filling, and super delicious!
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups quick oats
- 1 1/4 cups oat flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup collagen peptides powder (or a chocolate vegan protein powder
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup whole flax seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup sultana raisins
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
- 2 tablespoons natural nut butter of choice (or sunflower seed butter if you need nut free)
- 1/3 cup avocado oil
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line two baking pans with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine all of the dry ingredients.
- In a separate large bowl combine the wet ingredients.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, you'll need to use some muscle for this!
- Portion the cookie dough using a rounded 1/4 cup measuring cup and place each cookie onto the lined baking tray, you should make 1 1/2 dozen cookies total.
- Gently flatten the cookies before baking.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom
- Let the cookies cool completely then enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 260Total Fat: 13gCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 4gSugar: 12gProtein: 10g
Nutrition information is not always accurate.
*Recipe adapted from Planet Organic Cosmic Cookie
Pin me!
More Protein-Packed Recipes You’ll Love!
- Vegan Protein-Packed Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
- Best-Ever High Protein Banana Bread
- Blueberry Banana Protein Pancake Bowls
- Vegan Protein Gluten-Free Banana Muffins
Have a beautiful Sunday!
Christal // NITK
Hi – I’ve off canola oil. Have you tried with coconut or grapeseed oil?
No, but I’m sure either would work fine! 🙂
Wow! These look loaded with goodness. What a great recipe 🙂
They sure are! THanks Melissa!
These look delis hand will be perfect before races! Just wondering if I can use a different flour vs spelt? I have every other kind in my pantry, buckwheat, whole wheat, oat,brown rice…want to use those up first! Thanks
Of course! The buckwheat would be great!
Maybe you’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but which is your favorite brand/type of protein powder? As a dietitian, I feel like I should know this, but have never really delved into this part of the store yet! Cheers.
I LOVE North Coast Naturals 🙂 It’s awesome! http://www.northcoastnaturals.com/products/isoprotein.php
How many cookies did this make?
Hi! I believe it says in the recipe – 22 cookies!
I just read the entire recipe and I didn’t see 22 cookies anywhere. Are you sure that’s how many the recipe makes? !/4 cup of dough per cookie? I am diabetic and have to know how many carbs so I know how much insulin to give myself.
Thanks,
Tootz
I love your recipes.
Hi Tootz, yes it’s 1/4 cup dough per recipe, I use a little 1/4 cup scoop to measure out the mounds!
hi this recipe looks great! I will defiantly be making this soon! Anyway, I got a quick question. Would you ever consider going Paleo? Or like doing a 30 day Paleo challenge? That be a interesting thing to read about. 🙂
Hey Melissa! I’ve never thought about it! 🙂 It’s funny because I naturally tend to eat paleo-ish… BUT I still love my whole grains, I don’t know if I could do without my morning oatmeal or quinoa!
Hi Christal!
Those cookies look soooo good! I want to make them this week-end!!
Do you think i could replace the chocolate whey protein powder by some milk powder and cocoa powder?
Thanks a lot!
Definitely! Or you could omit it all together and use more spelt flour instead then add a couple tablespoons of raw cocoa powder!
When I lived in Vancouver, I used to treat myself to the Capers version of this cookie once a week. The Planet Organic cookie is definitely delicious, but for me, Capers will always be close to my heart. But I can’t wait to try the recipe! If you don’t use protein powder, would you replace it with something elseor just leave it out? Looks delicious!
I would use extra spelt flour in place of the protein powder and add a couple tablespoons of raw cocoa powder!
This look delish! Do you think I could sub out raisins for carob chips or chopped nuts?
Definitely!!