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The self-proclaimed protein cookie queen (hi, it’s me!) is at it again with yet another quick, easy, and ttoally delicious protein cookie recipe! My single serve protein cookie was such a big hit, I received soooo many requests to make a full batch version. Well, I present to you – a rich, chewy, slightly fudgy, protein-packed cookie made with just 3 ingredients! Honestly, if I hadn’t tried them myself, I’d think these 3 ingredient protein cookies were too good to be true. They’re just as delicious as any other cookie, but pack in a whopping 20 grams of protein each!

Why You’ll Love These 3-Ingredient Protein Cookies

  • Ridiculously simple – only three main ingredients and 10 minutes in the oven!
  • Naturally healthy – made with real food, no refined sugars and totally gluten-free.
  • High-protein & satisfying – perfect for post-workout snack or quick breakfast treat.
  • Totally customizable – add your favorite mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What protein powder did you use?
I used the Be Well By Kelly vanilla protein powder, which mixes in perfectly and keeps these cookies soft and chewy.

Can I use almond butter instead of peanut butter?
Yes! Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter all work beautifully – just use the same amount.

How much protein is in each cookie?
Each cookie contains around 20 grams of protein, depending on your protein powder brand and mix-ins.

close up of 3 ingredient protein cookies with a bite taken out.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

  • Chocolate Lovers: Fold in ¼ cup dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs.
  • Nut-Free/Vegan: Use sunflower seed butter and dairy-free protein powder.
  • Low-Sugar: Swap chocolate chips for chopped nuts or unsweetened shredded coconut.
  • Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice for seasonal flavor!

Sam’s Recipe Tips

  • Mash the banana very well for an even and smooth batter!
  • If the dough is too dry, add 1–2 teaspoons of non-dairy milk.
  • For crispier edges, flatten the cookies a little more before baking.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
overhead image of 3 ingredient protein cookies with a bite taken out.
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3-Ingredient Protein Cookies (20g protein each!)

These 3 ingredient protein cookies are soft, chewy, naturally sweet, and packed with protein for the perfect healthy snack or post-workout treat! Made with banana, peanut butter, and protein powder, they’re quick to make, totally customizable, and naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. If you’re looking for an easy high-protein cookie recipe that tastes amazing and comes together in minutes, this is it!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 5 cookies

Equipment

  • 1 large bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter or any nut/seed butter
  • 1/2 cup protein powder

Optional:

  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips or any mix-ins you'd like!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mash the banana in a bowl until mostly smooth, then mix in the peanut butter and protein powder.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips or any mix-in you’d like, then scoop 2 tablespoon-sized mounds of cookie dough onto the parchment paper. Slightly wet your hands, then use them to gently press and flatten each cookie slightly.
  • Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the edges, then remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack before serving or storing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 13g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g

Why You’ll Love These Cookies

  • Easy & Quick – No fancy ingredients or equipment needed!
  • Naturally Sweetened – Maple syrup adds the perfect touch of sweetness.
  • Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free – Made with wholesome, allergy-friendly ingredients.
  • Customizable – Swap the chocolate chips for raisins, nuts, or coconut flakes!

What You’ll Need to Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

Rolled Oats – The base of these cookies, providing fiber and a chewy texture.

Oat Flour – Helps bind the cookies together while keeping them light. You can easily make your own by blending rolled oats into a fine flour in either a high-speed blender or a food processor.

Baking Powder – Adds just the right amount of lift, making these cookies soft and fluffy.

Coconut Oil – A healthier fat alternative that keeps the cookies moist and tender.

Maple Syrup – A natural sweetener that adds a rich caramel-like flavor without refined sugar.

Egg – Helps bind everything together for the perfect cookie texture.

Chocolate Chips (Optional, but Recommended!) – Dark chocolate chips add a delicious, melty bite to these cookies. I use and love Hu Kitchen refined sugar-free chocolate chips in many of my baking recipes!

5 ingredient healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on a baking sheet.

How to Make Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients (oats, oat flour, and baking powder) in a large bowl.
  3. Stir in the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and egg until a dough forms.
  4. Fold in the chocolate chips, then scoop out the dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
  6. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Mix-In Options

  • Swap chocolate chips for raisins or dried cranberries.
  • Add chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds).
  • Sprinkle in cinnamon or nutmeg for extra warmth.
  • Mix in shredded coconut for a tropical twist.

Sam’s Recipe Tips

  • Make Your Own Oat Flour – Simply blend rolled oats in a food processor until fine.
  • Use a Cookie Scoop – For evenly sized cookies that bake perfectly every time.
  • Let Them Cool – They’ll firm up as they cool, so be patient before digging in!

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Refrigerator: Keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Freezee: Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

a stack of 5 ingredient healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.
5 from 3 votes

5-Ingredient Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and made with just 5 simple ingredients! They’re naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, making them the perfect guilt-free treat. Plus, they come together in under 20 minutes – no mixer required!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 cookies

Equipment

  • 1 large bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup oat flour rolled oats ground into a flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
  • 1 egg at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Mix together the rolled oats, oat flour, and baking powder in a large bowl.
  • Add in the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and egg then mix together until fully combined.
  • Mix the chocolate chips into the cookie dough (if using), then scoop the cookies out onto your prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the outside edges of the cookies are lightly golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before storing or serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Sugar: 6g

I recently shared a 4 ingredient healthy snickers recipe, and since those were such a huge hit, I thought… what candy bar can I recreate next?! So I took a quick peek into my pantry and found two giant bags of shredded coconut (bought one forgetting I had the other) and just like that the light bulb went off – ALMOND JOY! I continued my brainstorming and realized the easiest way to recreate this delicious candy bar would be in cookie form. So here ya have it, 4 ingredient almond joy cookies!

And if the few-ingredient healthier dessert thing sparks your interest, I have to recommend you also give my 5 ingredient gluten-free cookie dough a try! Yup, just 5 ingredients, NO baking, and healthier than most other cookie dough recipes out there.

close-up image of a 4 ingredient almond joy cookies with shredded coconut on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make 4-Ingredient Almond Joy Cookies

Unsweetened Coconut – Opt for a brand like Bob’s Red Mill, which offers high-quality unsweetened shredded coconut. Unsweetened shredded coconut adds natural sweetness and a chewy texture to the cookies without added sugar!

Chocolate Chips – I used semi-sweet chocolate chips for the best balance of sweetness and flavor.

Almonds – Choose roasted and salted almonds for a savory crunch. Chopping the almonds roughly ensures that each bite has a nice crunch and balances the chewy texture of the coconut.

Sweetened Condensed Milk – I used Nature’s Charm sweetened condensed coconut milk to make these vegan cookies, but regular sweetened condensed milk will work just as well. Both options give the cookies their rich, gooey texture and perfect amount of sweetness!

ingredients needed to make 4 ingredient almond joy cookies.

How to Make This Recipe

  1. Preheat oven to 325° Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix until fully combined.
  3. Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out mounds of the mixture onto a baking sheet, spacing each mound about 4 inches apart.
  4. Wet the palm of your hand, then use it to gently flatten each mound into the size and shape of a cookie.
  5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
overhead image of 4 ingredient almond joy cookies on a baking sheet.

Variations

Get creative with these add-ins for your Almond Joy Cookies:

  • Chocolate Drizzle: Melt 1/4-1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave in 15-second intervals, then drizzle over the top of the baked and cooled cookies.
  • Different Nuts: Swap out almonds for chopped walnuts or pecans.
  • Cherry Addition: Add dried cherries to the cookie batter for a fruity twist!
  • Almond Extract: Enhance the almond flavor by adding a little bit of almond or vanilla extract.
  • Dark Chocolate Chips: Opt for using dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan/Dairy-Free: Use sweetened condensed coconut milk instead of regular sweetened condensed milk. I used Nature’s Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk and my cookies turned out great!

overhead image of 4 ingredient almond joy cookies on a baking sheet.
3.87 from 15 votes

4 Ingredient Almond Joy Cookies

These delicious 4 ingredient almond joy cookies are one of the easiest cookies you could ever make! Filled with flaked coconut, chocolate chips, and crunchy almonds, this cookie recipe is totally gluten-free, and includes a vegan option too. Plus, all ingredients can be stored in your pantry, making it super convenient to bake these cookies anytime those sweet cravings hit!
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut (for added texture, use 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut PLUS 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes)
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
  • 1 cup almonds, roughly chopped
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk, or 1 (11.25 ounce) can sweetened condensed coconut milk

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325° Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix until fully combined.
  • Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out mounds of the mixture onto a baking sheet. Spacing each mound about 4 inches apart.
  • Wet the palm of your hand, then use it to gently flatten each mound into the size and shape of a cookie.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Remove the cookie from the oven and let them sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

My toxic trait is needing a little something sweet after every meal. Lately, I’ve been reaching for either a slice of my 4-ingredient banana bread or a bite of gluten-free almond flour brownies. However, sometimes I just don’t have the time to bake anything – and that’s where this no-bake gluten free cookie dough comes in!

Just 5 ingredients (not including the chocolate chips), one bowl, and only a few minutes to throw together. This seriously simple dessert recipe is so easy, even my husband could make it… and that’s saying something!

a scoop of gluten free edible cookie dough in a small dish with a spoon.

What You’ll Need to Make This Recipe

Softened Butter or Coconut Oil: Choose your preferred butter or coconut oil to create that perfect cookie dough consistency. Butter adds richness, while coconut oil keeps it light and healthy.

Milk: Opt for non-dairy milk to make this recipe dairy-free. Choose your favorite variety – almond, soy, or oat – to enhance the cookie dough’s creaminess.

Sugar: Select your sweetener of choice – brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple sugar, or cane sugar. Cane sugar is best for a sugar cookie flavored dough, and brown sugar is best for a chocolate chip cookie flavored dough. I used maple sugar to make mine a little healthier, but still delicious!

Vanilla Extract: A teaspoon of vanilla extract elevates the dough’s aroma and taste, creating that classic cookie flavor.

Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour: The star of our gluten-free show! Ensure it’s a high-quality gluten-free flour blend for the best tasting results.

Mini Chocolate Chips: Tiny bits of chocolatey goodness – these Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips are perfectly sized for this edible cookie dough. However, if you don’t have mini chocolate chips, feel free to use any size chocolate chip or chunk you’d like!

coconut oil, gluten free flour, vanilla extract, maple sugar, and chocolate chips on a table.

Why You’ll Love This Gluten-Free Edible Cookie Dough

  • Simple & Quick: This recipe is incredibly easy to make with just a few ingredients and minimal prep time.
  • Delicious & Creamy: The combination of sugars and vanilla gives this dough a sweet, creamy flavor that’s perfect for satisfying your cookie dough cravings.
  • Versatile: Enjoy it straight from the bowl, as a topping for ice cream, or use it in other dessert creations like truffles or as a cake filling.

Safety Tips (How to Heat-Treat Flour)

To ensure the gluten-free flour is safe to eat raw, you can heat-treat it:

  • Microwave Method: Microwave the flour for about 1 minute, ensuring it reaches a temperature of 165°F.
  • Oven Method: Spread the flour on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Dairy-Free/Vegan: Use coconut oil instead of butter and non-dairy milk like almond milk. Ensure the chocolate chips are dairy-free and vegan.

Sugar Alternatives: You can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar, cane sugar, or maple sugar to fit your dietary preferences.

Recipe Variations and FAQs

Variations:

  • Chocolate Cookie Dough with Marshmallows: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and mini marshmallows.
  • Matcha White Chocolate Cookie Dough: Add 1 tablespoon of matcha powder and white chocolate chips.
  • Lemon Poppyseed Cookie Dough: Add ½ teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon lemon zest, and ½ tablespoon poppy seeds.

FAQs:

Can Gluten-Free Flour Be Eaten Raw?: It’s generally safe, but heat-treating the flour is recommended to kill any potential bacteria.

How Long Will the Dough Last in the Fridge?: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Can You Freeze Gluten-Free Cookie Dough?: Yes, freeze the dough for up to 3 months for later use.

Edible double chocolate gluten-free cookie dough in a small dish with a spoon.

Additional Notes

  • Storage: Keep the dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness and prevent it from drying out or absorbing other flavors from the fridge.
  • Use Fresh Ingredients: Ensure your ingredients, particularly the butter and milk, are fresh for the best taste and texture.
  • Enjoy Responsibly: This recipe is meant to be eaten raw, so don’t try to bake it as it won’t hold together properly without eggs.
overhead image of gluten free edible cookie dough in a small dish with a spoon.
4 from 60 votes

Gluten Free Edible Cookie Dough Recipe – 2 ways!

A super simple recipe for edible gluten-free cookie dough! It’s a quick and easy fix to satisfy your sweet tooth. Made dairy-free, egg-free, and healthy too!
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

Classic Gluten-Free Cookie Dough

  • 2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, softened
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk, I used non-dairy almond milk
  • 1/4 cup sugar (brown sugar, cane sugar, coconut sugar, or maple sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Double Chocolate Gluten-Free Cookie Dough

  • 2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, softened
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk, I used non-dairy almond milk
  • 1/4 cup sugar (brown sugar, cane sugar, coconut sugar, or maple sugar)
  • 1/2 cup gluten-free all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients except the chocolate chips to a large bowl and stir to combine.
  • Then, fold in the chocolate chips and enjoy!
    edible gluten free cookie dough step 2
  • For Storage: Keep the dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness and prevent it from drying out or absorbing other flavors from the fridge.

Notes

  • Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour: I recommend using either Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour or King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Measure For Measure Flour, I’ve made these recipes with both brands and they’re delicious! The one gluten-free flour brand I would avoid is Trader Joe’s, for some reason the taste of that flour can be quite bitter.
  • Don’t Miss These Cookie Dough Recipes!

    Soft and perfectly sweet carrot cake cookies with a cream cheese icing! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. These healthy carrot cake cookies are the perfect springtime (or anytime) treat!

    Healthy gluten-free carrot cake cookies on a baking sheet.

    What You’ll Need to Make Carrot Cake Cookies

    Oat Flour – Either homemade or store-bought oat flour will work in this cookie recipe! Oat flour replaces all purpose flour, making these cookies gluten-free.

    Almond Butter – Smooth and unsweetened almond butter helps hold these cookies together. If you don’t have almond butter, you can use any other nut or seed butter you’d like. Cashew butter would make a great substitute here!

    Maple Syrup – These healthy carrot cake cookies are naturally sweetened with maple syrup. The maple adds a touch of flavor, and the perfect amount of sweetness.

    Shredded Carrots – Wash and peel about three large carrots, then run them down a box grater to make shredded carrots. Or, to make things even easier, simply buy pre-shredded carrots from the store for this dessert recipe!

    Overhead image of healthy gluten-free carrot cake cookies on a baking sheet.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Gently flatten each carrot cake cookie before baking. If you skip this step, they’ll bake up like round little balls. Therefore, for a more classic flat-looking cookie, give them a gentle press right before putting in the oven.
    • Allow your cookies to cool completely before icing! If the cookies are still too warm when iced, the cream cheese icing will melt and slide right off. (I’ve learned from my mistakes here – ha!)
    • These cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, if you live in a warm client/are baking these in the summer – it’s best to store them in the fridge instead. If the cookies with cream cheese icing are left in too warm of an environment, the icing may melt and spoil.
    close up image of a healthy gluten-free carrot cake cookie with a bite taken out.

    Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Dairy-Free: While the cookies themselves are already dairy-free, make a dairy-free cream cheese icing by subbing your favorite non-dairy cream cheese, butter, and milk.

    Make it Vegan: For vegan carrot cake cookies, replace the egg with a flax egg, and take the dairy-free icing option above!

    Close-up overhead image of carrot cake cookies on a baking sheet.
    5 from 3 votes

    Carrot Cake Cookies

    Soft and perfectly sweet carrot cake cookies with a cream cheese icing! Gluten-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. These healthy carrot cake cookies are the perfect springtime (or anytime) treat!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes
    Servings: 24 cookies

    Equipment

    • 1 large bowl
    • 1 medium bowl
    • 1 large baking sheet

    Ingredients

    For the dry ingredients:

    • 1 cup rolled oats
    • 1 cup oat flour made by pulsing rolled oats in a blender until ground into a flour
    • 1/2 cup almond flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt

    For the wet ingredients:

    • 1/2 cup almond butter unsweetened
    • 1/2 cup maple syrup
    • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted (or butter)
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 egg at room temperature
    • 1 cup shredded carrots
    • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans unsalted
    • 1/4 cup raisins

    For the cream cheese icing:

    • 1/4 cup cream cheese softened (I used non-dairy cream cheese)
    • 3 tablespoons butter softened (I used non-dairy butter)
    • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
    • 2-3 tablespoons milk (I used non-dairy milk)
    • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
    • Then, in a separate bowl, add all the wet ingredients except the carrots, walnuts, and raisins, and whisk to combine.
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use mix until fully combined. Then, fold in the carrots, walnuts, and raisins.
    • Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough onto your prepared baking sheet and slightly flatten each ball with the palm of your hand.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Then, transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
    • While cookies cool, make the cream cheese icing by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking until smooth and well-combined. Then, spread or pipe cream cheese icing on top of each cooled cookie.

    Notes

    Nutrition info is for one cookie out of 24 cookies and does not include the cream cheese icing.
    • These cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, if you live in a warm client/are baking these in the summer – it’s best to store them in the fridge instead.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Sugar: 5g