5 BEST Protein Cookie Recipes | Low carb & gluten free

Today I'm sharing the best protein cookie recipes from around the web.  Most are sugar free, all of them are gluten free and any of them can be made low carb with a simple sweetener swap.

Happy Monday, friends!

I'm writing this post while I chomp away at a protein cookie that I made yesterday.  I've been experimenting with mostly low carb options, but I know that some of you like oats, so I've included a few of those in this recipe roundup as well.  But first, a few pointers on how to make the best protein cookies...

Yes!  And here's why I think you should - baking with protein is a great way to feel like you're treating yourself without eating a ton of empty calories from white flour and sugar.  Because they're packed with protein, they also tend to keep you fuller a LOT longer then regular cookies and they won't spike insulin (which can lead to weight gain).  

That depends on the recipe, but the curated list of recipes below are all healthy because they're made with simple, natural ingredients.  You can certainly make protein cookies unhealthy by just adding protein to a regular cookie recipe that calls for sugar, white flour and tons of butter, but why bother?  If you want a real cookie, eat a real cookie.  If you want a healthy protein snack, try one of the recipes below.

The recipes below offer a variety of sweetener options, from pure coconut sugar to erythritol and and stevia.  I think any of these options will work wonderfully in your final product, but certainly, if keeping your protein cookies low carb is a priority, then you'll want to experiment with erythritol, xylitol, monk fruit, stevia or Swerve. 

 

Each of these sweeteners have a different aftertaste and it's best just to experiment with them to see what works best for you.  The best way to find the right level of sweetness before baking your cookies is to add sweetener in small increments, taste testing as you go. 

 

Protip: Don't be afraid to blend two different sweeteners!  A little stevia added to a erythritol recipe can go a long way to making your final product just the right level of sweet!

Yes, and I recommend you do.  One of the best things about protein cookies is that they're the perfect healthy grab and go snack.  However, because they're made with only natural ingredients (and no preservatives) they're not going to last as long as store-bought cookies.  Also, to be completely honest, protein can make a cookie dry out a lot faster, so it's important to freeze cookies that you don't think you'll be eating in the next 48 hours.  

Well, I'm biased, but I think the best protein cookies are made with either stevia or Swerve are the best because you get the sweetness of a cookie without the extra calories or carbs.  This is a big deal for us gals over 40!  

 

This whey-based protein cookie recipe makes a softer, thinner cookie, so not ideal for a breakfast replacement, but it makes the perfect vessel for healthy toppings, like Halo Ice Cream or nut butter! It's both sugar and gluten free.

This is a simple, basic and delicious recipe for high protein cookies made with oats.  They're a heartier cookie, so perfect for a snack on the go or a breakfast replacement.  That said, because they're made with oats and banana, they're not "low carb".  I'd recommend these as a post-workout snack after lifting weights.

 

This one, by Bodybuilding.com also offers a sugar-free version.  If you're not a fan of butter you can always swap it for coconut oil.

This protein cookie recipe from Well Plated is a little more decadent than the ones I've listed so far.  If you wanted to make it sugar-free, you could swap the coconut sugar for Swerve.

 

I love this protein cookie recipe by Wholesome Yum because she uses erythritol which is a product I love to use when baking!  Although not quite as sweet as sugar, it does a great job of sweetening baked goods without an aftertaste.  I haven't tried this recipe, but it's next on my list.  With the the healthy dose of nut butter, I don't think you can go wrong with this option ????