#NationalCookieDay Healthy Protein Cookie Recipes: Have Your Dessert and Stay Energetic, FIT and Healthy Too!

Cookies!!  Everyone's favorite food, right? ;)

Well, what if you want a cookie but you still want it to fit in with your macros for the day or at least have it count for some nutrition too?  

• (Not sure what a "macro" is?  Check this out: Macronutritients 101: What in the world is a Macro and what is the BEST Macronutrient Ratio for Staying Energetic, Fit and Healthy?)

Well, in honor of National Cookie Day (yes, there's an actual day for this! hehe) I thought it would be fun to compile some of my favorite healthy protein cookies that I've created, modified or shared in my Energetic, Fit and Healthy facebook group!  

I'm definitely guilty of being both a health nut AND loving to bake...SO here's how I marry the two in my life!! ;)

My past blogs on top protein shake recipes and best protein ball recipes were so popular that I thought it would be fun to add to this series and share some amazing healthy protein cookie recipes as well!  So enjoy and be sure to let me know which ones you try, which are your favorites and if you have any other healthy protein cookie recipes I should try!!

#NationalCookieDay Healthy Protein Cookie Recipes:

(some of these are true protein cookies and some are just 'healthier' than the average cookie to sneak in some extra nutrition for your munchkins...and yourself! ;) )

1- 🥥”Cookoo for Coconut”🥥 Protein Cookies:  (this first recipe comes from my sister, Bonnie Randall!  She also shared an amazing recipe on my blog a little while ago that you can check out here: Superfood Gingerbread Protein Shake!)

Ingredients:

2 scoops vanilla isalean protein powder
1 cup coconut Flour
1/4 tsp xanthum gum
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 TBS Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain)
1/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup stevia
4 eggs
1-2 TBS milk
1 tsp vanilla
Melted isadelights for drizzle

1. Mix dry ingredients together and then add wet ingredients
2. Chill for an hour (optional)
3. Roll into 1 TBS balls & flatten
4. Bake 10 min at 375 degrees
5. Let cool & drizzle with melted isadelights (2 bars will drizzle about 20 cookies)

Share & enjoy!

As a side note, did you know coconut is really good for you?! "Coconut is full of diverse health benefits from protecting against heart diseases to preventing tooth decay! ... Protects against heart disease by increasing good cholesterol and lowering the ratio of bad and good cholesterol. Helps treat malnutrition because it is easy to digest and absorb."

Thank you, Bonnie! xox

2- 🍃🍫 Thin Mint Protein Cookies🍫🍃

Ingredients:

¾ cup Chocolate Mint IsaLean Protein powder (or Dutch Chocolate and add 1/2-1tsp pure peppermint extract)
2½ tbsp organic Cocoa or cacao
½ tsp stevia, liquid
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut

Directions:
Place all ingredients into a bowl and stir together.
Scoop onto plate or baking pan, or into the bottom of a muffin tray, then set in freezer to set for 5-7 minutes.
You want the cookies to be hard to the touch.
Keep in the refrigerator or store in the freezer.

Here's a video of my girls and I making these healthy thin mint protein cookies:

3- Protein Peanut Butter Cookies!  

This one is AMAZING!!

4- "Tessa's Treats" Cookie Beauties- Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Chip Chia Cookies - turned out AWESOME!!!  

(my daughter, Tessa, who's nickname just so happens to be "Cookie", and I adapted this recipe together a few years ago!)

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups gluten free flour, 
1tsp baking soda, 
2/3 cup applesauce + 1TB fat free plain greek yogurt,
1 cup stevia + 1/4 cup honey,
1 egg + 1 egg white (kinda did the opposite of what they say to do in the recipe I based these off of )
1 TB PB2,
2 TB ground chia seeds,
2 tsp vanilla,
1 cup Dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In large bowl whisk together quinoa flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together melted and cooled coconut oil and brown sugar until smooth. Add in egg and vanilla and beat again until smooth and creamy.
4. Add in dry ingredients and mix together until combined and a dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet leaving 2 inches apart; if you want flatter cookies, gently push down the dough with your hand to flatten the tops a bit. Bake 8-11 minutes or until edges just being to turn a golden brown. Do not over bake; we don’t want crispy cookies here! If you noticed that your cookies are baking flat, then you may want to chill your dough for 10-20 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool at least 5 minutes on baking sheet. The cookies will need to set and will be very fragile at first so you have to be a little patient for the edges to harden a bit before removing them. Once the edges and bottom harden a bit, transfer to wire rack to finish cooling. Makes 24 cookies, feel free to double the recipe if you want more.  Here's the original recipe I based these off of: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies.

5- Fast Chocolate (or any flavor) Protein Cookies:

Did you know that you can make an easy, healthy snack out of Protein Powder (my favorite is IsaLean in Strawberry Cream or Chocolate Mint) and Egg Whites? Take a scoop of your favorite flavor Protein powder and mix it with 1 egg white... separate the batter into 2 dollops on a plate and microwave for about 60 seconds ...and Bam 2 light-n-airy cookies! :)

6- 🍪Gluten-free Chocolate Chip-Pumpkin Cookies🍪

INGREDIENTS:
(Dry)
1 and 3/4 cup gluten free flour mix 
1 and 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
optional: 1-2 scoops Vanilla protein powder
(Wet)

1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup fat free plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup maple syrup (I used maple flavored agave) (or substitute stevia for sugar-free version)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate chips
INSTRUCTIONS:
Whisk all dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
Mix all wet ingredients (except dark chocolate) in a medium bowl until well combined.
Add wet to dry and mix until just combined.
Add chopped dark chocolate and fold to incorporate.
Place in the fridge for one hour to chill or in the freezer for about 20 minutes).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Scoop 2 tablespoons of batter and roll into a ball. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes.
Let cool for about 5-10 minutes before eating.
Store in an airtight container for up to five days.

And if you're in the mood for a different shape of cookie...ball, bite or bar, perhaps? ;)  Here's some more fun ways to use your protein power and make some amazing healthy snacks to keep on hand when the munchies set in:

1. Bars, Balls and Bites - Top Protein Ball Recipes to Keep You Energetic, Fit and Healthy!

    2. Shake it Up on Shake Day:  Top 10 Protein Recipes

Recent/Related Posts to Check out:

1. Is Your Protein Powder Safe?  Choosing the Best Protein Powder for you!  What to look for and look out for in a healthy protein powder
2. Maca Review:  Is Maca the Superfood You Need in Your Life to Stay Energetic, Fit and Healthy?
3. Top 7 Ways to Beat the Flu Naturally (without getting the Flu Shot!)
4. Denatured vs UNdenatured Whey Protein:  What is the Difference and Why Does it Matter?