These power packed protein cookies sweetened with fiber rich fruit loaded with 10 grams of protein per cookie make the perfect breakfast or snack time on the go!
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On. the. GO!
As my girls have gotten older, I have realized that even though the constant *busy* of having little ones at home is gone, we are still very much on the go. Sure, I’m not constantly “on” cleaning up after messes, kissing boo-boos, and rocking babies to sleep, but it’s a different kind of on the go. Big kids and teens are so darn fun though. I just love seeing their personalities develop, and of course, having a house full of girls, the constant conversations are actually quite fun to be a part of!
A snack cookie made for busy kids!
A couple weeks ago I found myself with a bowl of bananas that were about to bad if I didn’t do something with them pronto. Usually, I made our favorite banana bread muffins, but I didn’t have all of the ingredients needed for that recipe. What I did have, though, made for a super power packed batter, and since the batter was more cookie dough in texture, cookie shaped is what I made!
Do the protein cookies taste like banana?
Very mildly. The majority of the sweetness comes from the dates, so these cookies are really more date sweetened in taste, yielding more of a sweetness that tastes like regular sweetener. In fact, I made them with dark chocolate chips once, and they really just tasted like a chocolate chip cookie! If you have kids with banana aversions you may want to use applesauce instead. Use around 3/4 of a cup.
The protein breakdown!
Let’s talk about these power packed ingredients. While I’m focusing on the protein breakdown here, there is also more to these ingredients than just the protein. Healthy fats, fiber, and vital minerals to sustain kids’ growth and development are all packed into this fantastic ingredient line up!
- 1/2 cup peanut butter = 32 grams protein
- 1/2 cup flaxseeds = 15 grams protein
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats = 35 grams protein
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds = 12 grams protein
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds = 16 grams protein
- 1/2 cup vanilla bone broth protein powder = 44 grams protein
- TOTAL 154 grams of protein for 15 cookies, or 10.2 grams of protein per cookie
The method :: The protein cookie blender batter
This cookie batter is built right in a high speed blender. Put the “mushy” or wet ingredients in first so that they blend first to incorporate the rest of the dry ingredients. The cookie dough will have a little “texture,” but mostly be blended up, making these cookies have the look of a regular cookie. If you want the dry ingredients to be fully blended up, start with the dry ingredients only, making them into a “flour” texture before adding the wet ingredients.
The method :: Forming the protein cookies
Scoop the batter right out of the blender cup to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. I like to use a cookie scoop so the cookies are all the same size. The batter is sticky so if you use your hands, wet them with water so it doesn’t stick. Once you have scooped the cookies, wet your hand or the back of a measuring cup and press the cookie down into a disk. These cookies don’t spread, so you want to press them into the size that you want.
The method :: Baking the protein cookies
You can bake the cookies according to the texture you prefer. If you like a soft bake texture, bake the cookies around 15 minutes. If you like a crispier outside, then you can bake them longer, to about 20-25 minutes. Either way, you are looking for a golden outer rim of the cookie. We like our cookies more crispy/crunchy on the outside, so I bake them until they are dark golden.
Protein cookie storage
You can store the protein cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple weeks, or freezer for months. They do keep at room temp for a few days as well.
How do you use the protein cookies
These cookies are pretty versatile. They make a great addition to breakfast with a good balance of fiber rich carbs, protein and fat. Little ones might find them filling enough on their own or with a glass of raw milk. Older kids and teens may want to add hard boiled eggs or sausage to the side. The protein cookies also make a good on the go snacks, after school munchies, and pre or post practice fuel!
Fruit Sweetened Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 small ripe bananas or 3/4 – 1 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup nut or seed butter of choice I used peanut butter
- 2 cups pitted Nour Dates **If your dates are not super soft, soak them in hot water for 5 minutes so they blend easier. If using Medjool, use 1 cup
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole flaxseeds
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats I use sprouted oats for best digestion
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder of choice
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 2 sheet pans with unbleached parchment paper.
- Put all of the ingredients into your food processor or high speed blender. It is important to add them into the blender in the exact order of the ingredient list so that the more liquidy ingredients will incorporate first and help the rest to blend and combine.
- Blend the protein cookie ingredients until you get a sticky, cookie dough batter. You will have to scrape the sides down once or twice.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop 15 cookies onto your cookie sheets. Use the palm of your hand or the back of a measuring cup to press the cookies down into a disk. You may want to wet the palm of your hand with a little water so that the cookie dough doesn't stick to your hands. The cookies will not spread, so you want to press them down into the size cookie that you want.
- Bake the cookies at 350 degrees. Depending on the texture that you prefer, you can bake the cookies for about 15 minutes for soft baked cookies, or 20-25 minutes for a crispy cookie texture. Either way look for a golden brown outer edge. I like these cookies a little crispier, so I bake them around 25 minutes and go for a dark golden color.
- Let the cookies cool before handling. Store the protein cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, or in the freezer for months. They thaw on the counter for breakfast overnight, or can be packed frozen for a lunchbox or snack and will thaw by lunchtime.
These are incredible! I’ll be adding them to our rotation for sure. I do think it would be easier on my machine to blend the oats and seeds into a flour before adding the rest so I’ll probably try it that way next time. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Elle! I am so glad these will be able to be a part of your rotation! Keep us posted on how you like the other blending method next time! Thanks for sharing!
Made 2 batches of these and they are SO good! For both I used ground flaxseed instead of whole and cashew instead of peanut butter. For the second batch I used 1 cup pumpkin instead of the bananas and coconut extract instead of vanilla. We will be making these regularly I’m sure!
Hi Megan! Love those swaps – thanks for sharing those tips! I’m glad you guys loved them as much as we have been!
Do you use Raw unsalted pumpkin and sunflower seeds?
These are sprouted, lightly salted pumpkin seeds!
Followed the recipe as is, very very, very delicious!!!! 🤤
So glad you enjoyed it Margarita! Thanks for coming back to let us know!
What could be used instead of oats? I was thinking maybe buckwheat flakes or groats.
Hi Audrey! I think buckwheat flakes would work fine! Or coconut shreds!
What protein powder do you like? I have tried a variety of vanilla ones and still have not landed on one my kids like in things. Thanks!
Hi Kristen! We love this one! https://amzn.to/3LGEbq5
The pictures made these look amazing and that’s exactly what they are! I was so leery because I’m not used to baking with most of the ingredients and they smelled weird at first. Wow are these delicious!!!! I put a few dark chocolate chips on the top for my littles to hopefully get them to eat them too. Thanks for sharing all your amazing recipes!
Hi Jessica! Gosh, I love your honesty! And bravery in trying something new! Thank you for coming back with some feedback – I’m sure this will really help someone!