We always have some homemade protein snacks in our house. Not only do they help us hit our protein goals, but they make for some tasty snacks or treats! These oatmeal protein cookies are so delicious and couldn’t be easier to make.
Everything is mixed together in one bowl and they are ready from start to finish in about 25 minutes. I love using oats when baking they make a great binder and contain fiber and complex carbs.
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They also have egg whites and protein powder to help up the protein. Then some applesauce for binding and some sweetness. And the fresh apples add some more texture and a little pop of flavor.
The texture is soft and chewy, almost like baked oatmeal, but in cookie form. They aren’t like your traditional store-bought protein cookie, but to be honest, I never liked those anyways. Enjoy them for a snack, pre or post-workout (protein and carbs plus not too much fat), breakfast, or dessert! And since they are pretty low-calorie, you can have a few of them!
Why we love these oatmeal protein cookies
- they have a protein boost! – each one has 4 grams of protein! While it’s not a ton, they are low-calorie and you can easily eat a few!
- taste like baked oatmeal in a bite-size form
- made in one bowl
- lower carb and lower fat than your typical protein cookie
- super customizable – easily adjust this recipe to change up the flavors each week.
Are protein cookies good for you?
Most protein cookies are full of countless ingredients and even though they might have a little more protein than your standard cookie, some can have a decent amount of carbs, sugar, and fat. For some looking to up their protein, there are much better options. But by making protein cookies at home, you can easily customize them to fit your liking and nutrition goals.
Each one of these oatmeal protein cookies has 63 calories, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, and 2 grams of fiber for a balanced snack.
Protein cookie recipe ingredients
- rolled oats
- egg whites – for some added protein
- fresh apple
- apple sauce
- vanilla protein powder – for some protein and adds some sweetness to the recipe.
- cinnamon
- salt – to help bring the flavors together
How to make protein cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the batter. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Using a tablespoon, scoop out a heaping scoop of the mixture and place it on a lined baking sheet. Press down and form into a cookie shape if needed.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the mixture is set. Let cool for a few minutes.
- Enjoy! Top with an additional sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy.
What is a good substitution for protein powder when baking?
The protein powder is what helps give these cookies a protein boost (hence the same protein cookies). I understand that not everyone likes protein powder or uses it. Some substitutions that you can use for protein powder are:
- oats – you can always add more oats to help absorb the liquid
- flour – whole wheat, almond flour, or oat flour would probably work best.
I haven’t tried these, so I am not sure if they work. You will have to play around with it some until you get the consistency you like. Again, just note this will change up the nutritional breakdown and macros and they probably won’t have as much protein.
Storage
- fridge – first, let the cookies cool completely. Add to a sealable airtight container. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to a week. You can also leave them on the counter at room temperature, but only if your house is not too hot. I would only do this for a couple of days.
- to freeze – let cool completely and place individual cookies on a large plate or baking sheet. Place in the freezer and let freeze for 2 hours or until hardened. This will help ensure they freeze individually and won’t stick together. Transfer to a large bag (we love reusable silicone ones) and freeze for up to 3 months. You can defrost them by placing them in the refrigerator and then warming up the microwave if desired.
- reheat – these can be eaten hot or cold! To warm up, pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds until warm.
Substitutions and additions
These cookies are pretty straight to the point and you can’t substitute too many things, but here are a few things that might work:
- rolled oats – quick oats will work instead of rolled oats. Steel-cut oats will not work as the texture is different. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- applesauce – mashed banana will work well instead. It will just add banana flavor to them.
- fruit – any kind of diced fruit will work. Some of my favorites to add to oatmeal are strawberries and blueberries.
- eggs – you can use whole eggs instead of egg whites. Usually, 3 tablespoons egg whites equal 1 whole egg, so I suggest 2-3 whole eggs.
- protein powder – any flavor of protein powder will work! I suggest a flavored one as it adds some sweetness. Also, a plant-based protein works the best as consistency works well to help absorb the liquid. I am not sure if whey protein powder or collagen will work.
If you want to spice them up, here are a few additions:
- raisins – for some chewiness and natural sweetness.
- spices – ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom would all work well.
- nut butter – peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter would all be delicious. If you are nut-free, try tahini or sunflower seed butter.
- sweetener – if you prefer them sweeter, you can add in some honey or maple syrup.
- vanilla extract – for some more vanilla flavor.
- shredded coconut – to add a little more healthy fat and natural sweetness.
- chopped nuts – walnuts, peanuts, or pecans would be great.
More healthy protein snacks
- homemade perfect bar recipe
- pumpkin chocolate chip protein muffins
- chocolate protein balls
- birthday cake protein bars
- protein baked oatmeal
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Apple Cinnamon Protein Cookies
ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups rolled oats (125 grams)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (122 grams)
- 1/2 cup egg whites
- 1/2 packed cup vanilla protein powder (60 grams)*
- 1 1/2 cups diced apple (160 grams)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt
instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the batter. Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine. Using a tablespoon, scoop out a heaping scoop of the mixture and place it on a lined baking sheet. Press down and form into a cookie shape if needed.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the mixture is set. Let cool for a few minutes.
- Enjoy! Top with an additional sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy.
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I thought for a minute these would be decent cookies but Not was I wrong. Horrible taste, horrible consistency. It’s like rubber with apple pieces. I gave it a one star only because the Apple was worth the one star.
Sorry to hear you didn’t like them, Lori. They are usually pretty moist when I make them, like baked oatmeal. I’m guessing it had to do with the protein powder you used. Sorry to hear they didn’t turn out.
Love these! So glad I made them because they’re tasty and so macro friendly! Will be part of my meal prepping weekly now.
So happy to hear that Janine! I love how macro-friendly they are too. Thanks for trying them!
Filling snack! Enjoying the texture and flavor. Thinking I need some apple pie spice to throw in next time.
Thank you !! 🍎
Oh, apple spice sounds so good! Glad you enjoyed Shannon and thanks for trying them!
Love these! I’m 6wks postpartum and been eating oatmeal every morning as it’s a milk increasing food. But after 6wks, I was getting kinda tired of it, so I decided to make these to switch it up. 1) so easy to make, 2) even easier to eat real quick, and 3) they’re delicious!
So glad they helped change it up! They really are easy to whip up – thanks for trying them Stephanie and glad you enjoyed them!
These are so tasty! I added some chocolate chips to a few and topped with a maple cinnamon sugar for the kids. I like the consistency of these cookies. These will be great for a pre-workout snack or with my breakfast for a sweet treat.
OMG yum!! Love those additions, especially the maple cinnamon sugar. I love them for pre-workout too! Glad you enjoyed them Jessica and thanks for trying!
This recipe is fantastic! We used two large eggs and increased the oats to 1 1/3 cups to balance out the extra liquid. They were perfectly baked at 12 minutes. Easy, delicious, and healthy 🙂
So glad the whole egg substitute works! Thanks for trying them Gina!
What can I use instead of egg whites ?
Whole eggs would work just fine! I would say probably 2 large eggs would be a good substitute. The nutritional breakdown will change slightly with a little more fat using whole eggs. Hope you enjoy!
These are hands down the best healthy cookies I’ve ever had and they fit perfectly in my macros. I was so grateful to find a recipe that didn’t have banana or peanut butter! These cookies are super moist and have great texture. I’ve made them about 10 times so far, sometimes just a quarter of the recipe for a few cookies as a night snack. I vane churros flavoured protein powder right now and it’s absolutely perfect for this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing these are a staple part of my diet now!
So happy to hear that Samantha!! That protein sounds like a great addition as well! Thank you for trying them 🙂