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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

    Published: Jan 20, 2021 · Modified: Sep 4, 2022 by Crystal Yentzen · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

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    Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

    These delicious gluten-free peanut butter protein cookies bake up soft and tender. And they're super easy to make! You would never guess that they're healthy and vegan.

    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

    Are you looking to increase your protein?

    These gluten-free protein cookies are a delicious way to do so! They are full of wholesome ingredients and happen to be vegan, but you would never know it. They bake up soft, tender, and are absolutely addicting!

    Plus, they are so fast to whip up, and you don't even need a mixer for this recipe. So let's talk ingredients.

    Gluten-Free Protein Cookie Ingredients

    Ingredients for gluten-free protein cookies

    To make gluten-free peanut butter protein cookies, you will need the following ingredients:

    • Peanut Butter- Shelf stable peanut butter (such as Jiff) works best for this recipe. But all-natural (drippy) peanut butter works as well. If using the drippy type of peanut butter, you may not need to add a splash of milk.
    • Vanilla Protein Powder-  I use this vegan protein powder, but any type should work. The type I use is sweetened, so if you use an unsweetened one you may want to add a touch more sugar to your liking. 
    • Oat Flour- You can buy oat flour at most supermarkets or you can make your own by blending old-fashioned oats in a blender until the oats become a fine powder (about 30 seconds to a minute). Store your oat flour in an air-tight container for up to three months. 
    • Tapioca Flour-  Tapioca flour acts as a binder and thickener. It’s a great product to have in a vegan kitchen or any kitchen for that matter. I use this brand and it’s pretty easy to find.
    • Brown Sugar- A touch of brown sugar gives these cookies just the right amount of sweetness. Although feel free to omit the sugar or substitute erythritol for sugar free.
    • Baking Powder- Baking powder will give the cookies a slight rise when baking.
    • Salt- a touch of salt helps to bring out the other flavors.
    • Applesauce- Unsweetened applesauce keeps the cookies extra moist without any added oil. But don't worry, these cookies don't taste like applesauce at all.
    • Vanilla Extract- Vanilla extract is optional so you can omit it if you choose.
    • Milk of Choice-Depending on the peanut butter and protein powder that you use, you may or may not need a touch of milk (plant-based or dairy milk will work). The dough will seem dry but keep stirring it and it should come together. If it's still too dry start with a half tablespoon of milk and go from there. Be careful not to add too much or the dough will be too sticky to roll. I only needed ½ tablespoon of almond milk.

    How to make Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

    These cookies are fast and easy to make. Follow these instructions:

    gluten-free cookie dough in a white bowl
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the protein powder, oat flour, tapioca flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
    • In a medium size mixing bowl, using a large spoon stir together the peanut butter, apple sauce, and vanilla extract.
    • Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix together until all ingredients are incorporated. The batter will seem dry at first, but keep stirring until it comes together. Depending on the type of peanut butter and protein powder that you use, you may need to add a splash of non-dairy milk. Start with a half of a tablespoon and go from there. You don't want the dough to become too sticky to roll.
    • Using a heaping tablespoon, roll the dough into balls and place each one on the prepared baking sheet. Use a fork to press the dough balls in a criss-cross pattern.
    • Bake for 11-12 minutes. The cookies will appear very soft and not done, but they will set as they cool. Leave them on the baking sheet to finish setting for another 10 minutes. Don't remove them too early, or they may fall apart.
    Gluten-Free Protein Cookie Dough on a baking sheet.

    Tips & Storage

    • Silicone baking mats work great for this recipe and for most cookie recipes. They are worth the investment as you can use them over and over again instead of buying parchment paper.
    • If your house is warm, you may want to place the dough in the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up before rolling.
    • When making the criss-cross pattern your fork may stick to the dough. If this happens, you can simply dip your fork in a bit of flour each time.
    • Store your cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. Peanut butter protein cookies freeze well for up to three months.

    Want more delicious and healthy snacks?

    Try these:

    • Salted Honey Pumpkin Seed Bars
    • Low Fat Vegan Peanut Butter Pudding
    • Skinny Vegan Blueberry Muffins
    • Vanilla Protein Banana Bread

    As always, please let me know how you like the gluten-free peanut butter protein cookies in the comments. Your feedback means a lot to me, and your star ratings encourage other readers to try this recipe.

    Enjoy!

    Crystal

    Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
    Print Recipe
    5 from 15 votes

    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

    These delicious gluten-free peanut butter protein cookies bake up soft and tender. And they're super easy to make! You would never guess that they are healthy and vegan.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time12 mins
    Total Time22 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Keyword: gluten free, high protein, peanut butter, Vegan
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 112kcal
    Author: Crystal Yentzen

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup peanut butter*
    • ¼ cup vanilla protein powder*
    • ¼ cup oat flour*
    • 2 tablespoon tapioca flour*
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup applesauce unsweetened
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
    • splash milk of choice*

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the protein powder, oat flour, tapioca flour, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
    • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the peanut butter, apple sauce, and vanilla extract using a large spoon.
    • Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until all ingredients are incorporated. The batter will seem dry at first, but keep stirring until it comes together. Depending on the type of peanut butter and protein powder you use, you may need to add a splash of non-dairy milk. Start with half of a tablespoon and go from there. You don't want the dough to become too sticky to roll.
    • Using a heaping tablespoon, roll the dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Use a fork to press the dough balls in a criss-cross pattern.
    • Bake for 11-12 minutes. The cookies will appear very soft and not done, but they will set as they cool. Leave them on the baking sheet to finish setting for another 10 minutes. Please don't remove them too early, or they may fall apart.
    • Enjoy these healthy, gluten-free treats!

    Notes

    1. Peanut Butter- Shelf-stable peanut butter (such as Jiff) works best for this recipe. But all-natural (drippy) peanut butter works as well. If using the drippy type of peanut butter, you may not need to add a splash of milk. 
    2. Vanilla Protein Powder- I use this vegan protein powder, but any type should work. The kind I use is sweetened with stevia, so if you use an unsweetened one, you may want to add a touch more sugar to your liking. 
    3. Oat Flour- You can buy oat flour at most supermarkets or make your own by blending old-fashioned oats in a blender until the oats become a fine powder (about 30 seconds to a minute). Store your oat flour in an air-tight container for up to three months. 
    4. Milk of Choice- Depending on the peanut butter and protein powder you use, you may or may not need a touch of milk (plant-based or dairy milk will work). The dough will seem dry but keep stirring it, and it should come together. If it's still too dry, start with a half tablespoon of milk and go from there. Be careful not to add too much, or the dough will be too sticky to roll. 
    5. Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for two weeks. These cookies freeze well for up to three months. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 120mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

    More Cookies

    • Oatmeal Ginger Cookies
    • Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Cookies
    • Vegan Banana Bread Cookies with Maple Glaze
    • Healthy Oat Flour Sugar Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle says

      September 03, 2021 at 2:18 am

      5 stars
      These peanut butter protein cookies are soo good! Adding protein powder was a great idea and an awesome way to add some more nutrients in. They turned out yummy. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        September 03, 2021 at 2:14 pm

        Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

        Reply
        • Anna - Vegnfit says

          April 01, 2022 at 11:03 am

          5 stars
          I love how those Peanut Butter Cookies turned out. So soft and delicious. Perfect after workout snack 😋

          Reply
    2. Joshua says

      September 14, 2021 at 7:37 am

      5 stars
      These peanut butter protein cookies make the perfect midday snack! I like to eat them between meals when I need a little 'pick me up'.

      Reply
    3. Stef says

      September 14, 2021 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      love this idea!! these look great!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        September 14, 2021 at 6:39 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    4. nancy says

      March 07, 2022 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      i make a big batch just for myself from time to time

      Reply
    5. Deb says

      March 08, 2022 at 2:01 am

      5 stars
      I never get tired of eating these cookies! 🙂

      Reply
    6. Chantry says

      March 31, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE peanut butter cookies! I love the addition of the protein! So good!

      Reply
    7. Jacqui says

      March 31, 2022 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      These turned out amazing. I made them for my gluten free friend and she loved it!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        April 01, 2022 at 3:34 pm

        I'm so happy she liked them!

        Reply
    8. Katie says

      April 01, 2022 at 11:05 am

      5 stars
      These cookies are incredible!! I am already excited to make them again!

      Reply
      • Crystal Yentzen says

        April 01, 2022 at 3:35 pm

        I'm so happy you like them as much as me!

        Reply

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