These healthy, homemade protein cookie dough bars are indulgent yet wholesome, with 10g protein per slice! They come together with just a handful of wholesome ingredients, in under 15 minutes! It’s the perfect healthy snack, treat, or dessert! They are vegan, gluten free, paleo friendly, & refined sugar free!
Protein cookie dough
Edible cookie dough that is vegan, gluten free, paleo, refined sugar free and is packed with protein!? It’s one of the most delicious, easy, no-bake snacks or dessert! Unlike a lot of edible cookie dough recipes, this protein cookie dough recipe contains no chickpeas or beans (sorry if that’s your jam, but I can’t get past it! Lol). It’s made with simple ingredients like protein powder, almond flour, and sweetened naturally with maple syrup or honey!
This edible cookie dough with protein powder is packed with nutritious ingredients while tasting decadent! It starts with a cookie dough base that’s soft and moist like real cookie dough, is covered in a nut butter caramel, and is finished off with a chocolate topping! You’ll want it on repeat! After you try these, be sure to try my no-bake protein snickers bites! You will love them!
Video – watch me make protein cookie dough bars!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy – no-bake treats are the best because no oven is required! These cookie dough bars come together in one bowl in under 15 minutes!
- Healthy but indulgent – only a handful of plant-based, wholesome ingredients are needed to whip these up! They’re also vegan, gluten-free, paleo, and refined sugar-free! They make a much healthier dessert option!
- High protein – the cookie dough layer is packed with protein to help keep you satiated and your blood sugar balanced!
How to make caramel protein cookie dough bars
Full recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Loaf pan
Ingredients
- Protein powder – be sure to use a protein powder you love as it’ll add to the overall flavor, texture, and sweetness of the recipe! I used Macro Mike salted caramel almond protein – it’s insane! You can use my code “amb-dani” for a discount!
- Almond flour – I like using almond flour in this recipe as it creates the perfect, fluffy cookie dough texture. However, Tiger Nut flour is a great nut-free sub! You could try substituting oat flour, however i’d use 1/3 cup rather than 1/2 cup and go from there, adding more as needed. I haven’t tested it and can’t say for sure how it’ll affect the outcome/texture!
- Maple syrup or honey – either work! You can also substitute agave.
- Powdered peanut butter – this is optional, however it adds a ton of peanut butter flavor and extra protein! You can also just use more protein powder. I love using this in smoothies and Ninja Creami’s, too!
- Nut butter – use your favorite! I prefer almond or cashew butter but peanut butter is delicious as well (it’ll just have a stronger peanut butter cookie flavor). Sunflower butter and granola butter are great nut-free options.
- Coconut oil – you can also use avocado oil, etc.
- Chocolate chips – I love Hu Kitchen, but feel free to use your favorite chocolate!
Steps to make cookie dough with protein powder
- Make the cookie dough base – simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well until a cookie dough texture forms. Press the dough into a parchment-lined loaf pan.
- Make the caramel filling – using the same bowl, combine the caramel ingredients, mixing until smooth. Pour it over the cookie dough layer, spreading it out evenly. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or so until the caramel layer is firm to touch.
- Melt the chocolate – in the same bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave, heating in 20 second increments, stirring well between each, until smooth. Alternatively, you can use the double-boiler method to melt it! Pour this over the caramel layer, spreading it out evenly. Place back in the freezer for at least 3-4 hours before removing them from the pan and cutting into slices or bars.
Cookie dough protein balls
Don’t feel like making bars with the caramel and chocolate layers? Skip them and roll the cookie dough base into balls! Store them in an air-tight container in the freezer!
Recipe variations
- Switch up the chocolate – sometimes I love doing a white chocolate topping!
- Use a different nut butter – cashew butter, almond butter, peanut butter, pistachio butter/spread, homemade nutella, sunflower seed butter, & granola butter are all delicious options!
- Add mix-in’s to the cookie dough – instead of chocolate chips, you could add in some cacao nibs, some chopped nuts, maybe a few chopped dates, cinnamon, etc!
FAQ’s & Expert Tips
- Storage: These are best stored in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months! They’ll become too soft if stored in the fridge. You can leave them out on the counter for a few minutes before enjoying if you want a bar that isn’t as firm.
- What kind of protein powder is best? Plant-based protein powder works best for these! I wouldn’t recommend using whey or casein as they’ll affect the overall texture of the bars. Beef protein like this one will also work or bone broth protein like Paleo Valley.
More healthy high protein recipes to try
- Cottage cheese protein muffins
- Healthy snickers bites
- No-bake protein S’mores
- Peanut butter mousse yogurt bowls
- Healthy high protein blueberry cobbler
- Peanut butter cup frozen yogurt bars
- Healthy Dilly Bars
- Strawberry cheesecake yogurt parfait
If you try this recipe and love it’d mean the world to me if you left a star rating and review below! Tag me in your creations on Instagram @danishealthyeats! x
Caramel Cookie Dough Protein Bars
These healthy, homemade protein cookie dough bars are indulgent yet wholesome, with 10g protein per slice! They come together with just a handful of wholesome ingredients, in under 15 minutes! It's the perfect healthy snack, treat, or dessert! They are vegan, gluten free, paleo friendly, & refined sugar free!
Ingredients
Cookie dough base
- 1/2 cup protein powder
- 1/2 cup almond flour *Tiger Nut flour is a great nut-free option!
- 1/4 cup powdered peanut butter *or more protein powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 cup nut butter of choice (I like cashew, almond, or peanut butter) *or sunflower butter/granola butter for nut-free
- 2 tbsp milk, as needed *more if needed*
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract & good pinch sea salt
Caramel filling
- 1/2 cup nut butter *use sunflower butter/granola butter for nut-free!
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract & pinch of sea salt
Chocolate topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tsp coconut oil (if needed to thin the chocolate!)
Instructions
- Make the cookie dough base – simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well until a cookie dough texture forms. I like to use a food processor for easy blending, however you can really get in there with your hands as well, adding a dash more milk if needed. The dough should hold together without being dry, but shouldn't be sticky/wet. Press the dough into a parchment-lined loaf pan.
- Make the caramel filling – using the same bowl, combine the caramel ingredients, mixing until smooth. Pour it over the cookie dough layer, spreading it out evenly. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or so until the caramel layer is firm to touch.
- Melt the chocolate – in the same bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave, heating in 20 second increments, stirring well between each, until smooth. Alternatively, you can use the double-boiler method to melt it! Pour this over the caramel layer, spreading it out evenly. Place back in the freezer for at least 3-4 hours before removing them from the pan and cutting into slices or bars.
- Note: You can cut them into 12 smaller pieces, as they are indulgent! However, the protein I calculated (over 10g per piece) was based on 10 servings!
Video
Notes
- Storage: These are best stored in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to 3 months! They’ll become too soft if stored in the fridge. You can leave them out on the counter for a few minutes before enjoying if you want a bar that isn’t as firm.
- What kind of protein powder is best? Plant-based protein powder works best for these! I wouldn’t recommend using whey or casein as they’ll affect the overall texture of the bars. Beef protein like this one will also work or bone broth protein like Paleo Valley.
These didn’t last 3 days in my house ! They’re so good!
The BEST stamp of approval! 😉