• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Sweet Pea Chef
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • My Story
  • Coaching
  • Cookbook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • My Story
  • Coaching
  • Cookbook
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • My Story
  • Coaching
  • Cookbook
×
You are here: Home » Recipes » Healthy Desserts

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Updated: Feb 12, 2025 · Published: Jun 11, 2016 by Lacey Baier · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. · 34 Comments

Jump To Recipe!

These easy peanut butter protein cookies are flourless, only require 4 ingredients, and take less than 25 minutes to make!  Each cookie contains 9 grams of protein and tastes just like a soft peanut butter cookie!

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies | These easy peanut butter protein cookies are flourless, only require 4 ingredients, and take less than 25 minutes to make! Each cookie contains 9 grams of protein and tastes just like a soft peanut butter cookie! | A Sweet Pea Chef this RECIPE

So I'm kinda in love with peanut butter cookies.

Well, I guess cookies - in general.

But peanut butter IN a cookie?  Yes, please!

Homemade Peanut Butter is even better.

Problem with cookies is they're not the best things for a healthy diet.

For another tasty, and healthy, dessert, try my Healthy Ginger Molasses Cookies, Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe. Or if you're more of a nutty flavor person, check out my How to Make Granola: Healthy Granola Recipe and my Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake.

Not that I can't enjoy one or two on a cheat day here and there.  But, it got me thinking...wouldn't it be awesome if peanut butter cookies were actually healthy?

The four easy ingredients you need to make peanut butter protein cookies, including peanut butter, vanilla protein powder, eggs, and coconut sugar.
The cookie dough for the peanut butter protein cookies, shown to see the correct texture so they are soft and not crumbly.

After fantasizing about this question for probably way too long, I decided to make healthy peanut butter cookies.

Because, sometimes, you just gotta get creative!

Hello, Peanut Butter Protein Cookies!

After some trials, I came up with these tasty peanut butter protein cookies right here.  They use only 4 ingredients, have no refined flours (no flour at all, actually!) and use unrefined coconut sugar. Plus, each cookie has about 9 grams of protein and is absolutely delicious.

So, if you're like me and you drool over the idea of healthy, high-protein treats, try these healthy peanut butter protein cookies and your day will totally be made.

Maybe even your LIFE!

Images showing the process of pressing the peanut butter protein cookies down with the fork to make the criss cross design before baking.
The peanut butter protein cookies have been baked and are cooling on a cooling rack.

How To Make The Best Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

While these peanut butter protein cookies only require 4 ingredients and are a super easy peanut butter cookie recipe, I wanted to make sure I mention a few things on how to make them the best they can be.

The texture really does matter so you want to make sure they are moist enough when you're making the dough so they don't become crumbly.  If they start to feel a little crumbly and not moist enough when you're making the dough, you can add a little more peanut butter or reduce some of the protein powder.  You want the dough to be pliable and not breaking apart as you form the cookies.

Keep in mind that you want the best quality ingredients for the best tasting and soft peanut butter protein cookies.

Overhead view of the baked peanut butter protein cookies, setting next to a cup of peanut butter.

How To Freeze Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Good news: these peanut butter cookies freeze well. You can either choose to freeze the cookie dough to be baked later or to freeze the baked cookies, to be thawed and then eaten.  Either works great, but there are some tips I'd recommend, which I've listed below:

Tips for Freezing Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

  • Form the dough into the cookie form and place onto a baking sheet as close together as you can without touching.
  • Freeze first and then transfer to freezer bags.
  • Can be baked straight from the freezer, but will up to 5 additional minutes of bake time.

Tips for Freezing Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

  • Allow to cool completely before freezing.
  • Freeze individually first by laying the baked cookies out on a baking sheet, not touching, and freezing until solid.
  • Then, transfer to a freezer bag.
  • When thawing baked cookies, let sit at room temperature so that condensation doesn't form and make them soggy.
  • Gently reheat frozen or thawed cookies to mimic that fresh-baked taste and texture by placing them in a 275 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes to reheat.
Overhead shot of the baked peanut butter cookies that have been baked and are cooling on a cooling rack. The criss cross design from the forks is shown on the baked cookies.

How To Choose Healthy Peanut Butter

A quick word on peanut butters.  Sadly, not all peanut butters are created equal.  Some are very refined, contain tons of sugar (including high fructose corn syrup) and hydrogenated oils.  Ugh.  If you're looking for the best (cleanest) peanut butter you can find, you can either make your own by following my how to make homemade peanut butter post or find ones that contain only peanuts (or as few ingredients as possible).

It may take some searching, but I think you'll be shocked at your current peanut butter once you take a look at the ingredients.  Warning: it's gonna be a sad day.  So make it better with tasty peanut butter protein cookies. 🙂

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Lacey Baier
These easy peanut butter protein cookies are flourless, only require 4 ingredients, and take less than 25 minutes to make!  Each cookie contains 9 grams of protein and tastes just like a soft peanut butter cookie!
4.59 from 12 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 22 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies
Calories 178 kcal

Equipment

  • Rimmed Baking Sheet
  • mixing bowl

*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ⅔ cup coconut sugar
  • 2 scoops vanilla protein-powder (approx. ¼ cup)
  • 2 eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Combine the peanut butter, coconut sugar, eggs, and vanilla protein-powder in a large bowl and mix together until the consistency resembles cookie dough. (Some peanut butters can be creamier than others - so if your mixture looks a little too liquidy, you can add a little more protein-powder or, if it looks too dry and crumbly, you can add a little more peanut butter.)
  • Scoop out about 2 tablespoons of the batter and roll it into a ball using your hands. You may need to wet your hands with a few drops of water to keep the batter from sticking.
  • Flatten the ball between your palms and then place on the prepared cookie sheet.
  • Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving space in between the cookies on the baking sheet.
  • Using a fork, press down gently on each cookie to create criss-cross marks. If the fork sticks, you can dip it in water as necessary.
  • Transfer the cookie sheet into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies just slightly start to turn brown.
  • Remove from the oven and let sit for a couple minutes to set before moving to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cookieCalories: 178 kcalCarbohydrates: 13 gProtein: 9 gFat: 12 gSaturated Fat: 2 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3 gMonounsaturated Fat: 6 gTrans Fat: 0.003 gCholesterol: 28 mgSodium: 32 mgPotassium: 131 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 8 gVitamin A: 40 IUCalcium: 15 mgIron: 1 mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @asweetpeachef on Instagram so we can check it out.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

« Strawberry & Peach Smoothie Bowl Recipe + How To Make A Smoothie Bowl!
Dark Chocolate Cherry Energy Bites »

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.59 from 12 votes (4 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Laura

    October 18, 2025 at 1:35 pm

    5 stars
    I literally just got done making these. My kids loved them!

    Reply
  2. Jess

    August 25, 2025 at 9:39 am

    3 stars
    taste was good but my mixture after baking was very dry. I would like to make it again and perhaps add more peanut butter. I didn't have coconut sugar so I subbed in 1/3 cup of brown sugar and thought it was sweet enough.

    Reply
  3. basil

    April 12, 2025 at 1:52 am

    5 stars
    I thought they tasted like normal peanut butter cookies but when my parents tried them and they were obsessed with them and i've made probably 100 more batches since then, def recommend.

    Reply
  4. Rooni Tunes

    May 25, 2024 at 1:59 pm

    3 stars
    I like the idea of this recipe, but the initial mixture was much too wet. I ended up adding 1/2 cup of GF flour in order to create a less wet cookie dough. The cookies were soft but held their shape after baking. Thank you for a healthful recipe.

    Reply
  5. Robert Bartle

    April 12, 2024 at 5:09 pm

    5 stars
    These cookies are so simple, protein rich and they Rock!! I coach fencing and shared them with students. They asked where can I buy these? Now a few are actually baking them( not their parents because they’re easy) for snacks at school/ before/after fencing!
    I appreciate your overall to cooking!!
    Thank You

    Reply
    • Dustin

      April 18, 2024 at 12:10 pm

      Robert - Glad you liked them so much 🙂

      Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Lacey Baier Weight Loss Coach drinking a smoothie and smiling

HEY THERE!

I'm Lacey! Nice to meet you 🙂

I’m a Cleanish Lifestyle Coach, YouTuber, and Blogger. I live in Austin, TX with my husband, 4 kids, and 2 mini Aussies. I'm here to help you transform your life through delicious clean eating recipes and science-backed knowledge!

Learn more →

newsletter image that promotes the cleanish square a newsletter focused on eating healthy and making good choices

New Year, New You!

  • peaches in a bowl
    How to Freeze Peaches (For Smoothies!)
  • Top 14 Healthy Soda Swaps written in text with healthy homemade soda in the background of various colors.
    Top 14 Healthy Soda Alternatives
  • lacey holding up an iced caffe americano to demonstrate a healthy starbucks drink
    Top 10 Healthiest Starbucks Drinks (Hot and Cold) + How To Order Healthy At Starbucks!
  • Do Vitamins Break Your Fast? AVOID These 6 Supplements That Are Breaking Your Fast
  • Do ACV Gummies Work?
    Do ACV Gummies Work?
  • Lacey before and after thumbnail
    4 Tips From a Weight Loss Coach (Who's Actually Been There)

Popular Recipes

  • high protein fruit smoothies all lined up in a row
    5 High Protein Fruit Smoothie Recipes
  • Top down photo of 7 day meal prep
    7-Day Meal Prep For Weight Loss
  • meal prep for inflammation
    5-Day Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Plan
  • Banana Protein shake
    Banana Protein Shake
  • side view of healthy creamers in a row
    How to Make Coffee Creamer + 5 Easy Coffee Creamers
  • top down view of slow cooker chicken meal prep
    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

Most Popular

  • 130+ Meal Prep Ideas
  • 25+ Protein Smoothie Ideas
  • How To Meal Prep
  • Ultimate Guide to Meal Prep Containers
  • Benefits Apple Cider Vinegar
  • How To Quit Sugar
  • Ultimate Smoothie Guide
  • Meal Prep For Weight Loss
Cleanish Protein Ad
Lacey Baier Cook Book Waiting List

Footer

↑ back to top

Sweet Pea Chef

  • Subscribe
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Cookbook
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Shop

Recipes

  • Paleo Recipes
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Keto Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Slow Cooker Recipes
  • Soup Recipes
  • Videos

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2024 Cleanish LLC

Privacy Policy Terms Editorial Policy

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies | These easy peanut butter protein cookies are flourless, only require 4 ingredients, and take less than 25 minutes to make! Each cookie contains 9 grams of protein and tastes just like a soft peanut butter cookie! | A Sweet Pea Chef
  • 847

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.