Protein Cookie Dough Cups
Published 1/12/2024 • Updated 12/25/2024
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Crunchy and flavor-packed, these protein cookie dough cups are a cookie dough lover’s dream! A combination of vanilla protein powder, dates, cashew butter, and rolled oats, this high protein cookie dough is a quick snack that’ll satisfy your sweet craving, all while keeping you energized throughout the day.
One of the best parts about this easy recipe is that it doesn’t involve any baking. Just mix, assemble, and freeze. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
What You’ll Need to Make Protein Cookie Dough Cups
(Note: These are the recipe’s main ingredients, but you can find all the ingredients with exact measurements in the recipe card below!)
To make this deliciously edible cookie dough, you’ll need old-fashioned oats that’ll get blended to create oat flour. This is then mixed with vanilla protein powder. We like to use whey Garden of Life Protein Powder, but you’re welcome to use your favorite brand!
Then you’ll need pitted Medjool dates to add natural sweetness and help keep the dough together, cashew butter for a creamier texture, maple syrup to supply that sweet tooth craving, and semi-sweet chocolate chips to give that classic cookie dough taste.
And, of course, you’ll also need a mini muffin tin, paper liners, and a high-speed food processor to make this recipe a breeze!
Best Protein Powders
Check out our top protein powder recommendations for baking, smoothies, and everything in between.
Garden of Life
Raw Organic Protein
Simply Tera's
Pure Whey Protein
Sun Warrior
Protein Powder
Garden of Life
Organic Whey Protein
Variations and Substitutions
Rolled oats: If you have a gluten intolerance, you can easily swap out the rolled oats for gluten-free rolled oats.
Cashew butter: Feel free to swap the cashew butter for any other natural nut butter of your choice. Peanut butter or sunflower butter works particularly well in this recipe.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: If you’re dairy-free, simply use dairy-free chocolate chips instead. You can also switch up the flavor by using white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips.
Maple syrup: Monk fruit sweetener, agave nectar, or honey can be used as a substitute for maple syrup. Note that it’ll change the flavor slightly.
Tasty add-ins: Make these cookie dough cups your own by adding or substituting other tasty layers like coconut cream or coconut yogurt, nuts or seeds, sprinkles, or dried fruit. Make it as decadent as you’d like!
FAQs
Absolutely! These protein cookie dough cups can be stored in the freezer for up to two weeks, making them a perfect grab-and-go school snack, workout snack, or late-night treat for those sweet cravings.
If the cookie dough is wet, add a few tablespoons more protein powder to the dough. This will help absorb the excess moisture and make the dough easier to handle.
If the cookie dough is dry, add a few teaspoons of water to the dough. This will help bring the dough together and make it easier to form into cups.
Storage + Freezer Directions
Store any leftover cookie dough cups in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
To freeze, place the cups in a freezer-safe, airtight bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 2 weeks.
What to Serve with Protein Cookie Dough Cups
Want to add more epic snacks to your menu? We’ve got the mother load. For starters, our Spinach Egg Muffins, Chocolate Quinoa Crisps, and Healthy Tuna Salad are a few of our top protein-packed favorites.
And if you’re looking for more sweet treats, try our Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cereal Bars, Apple Smoothie Bowl, or Snickers Energy Balls!
Protein Cookie Dough Cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats, gluten-free if desired
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder, we used whey Garden of Life Protein
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates ~10-14*
- ¾ cup all-natural, drippy cashew butter (peanut butter works too)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips, dairy-free if desired
Chocolate Layer
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
Instructions
- Line a mini muffin tin with paper liners or use a silicone mini muffin pan and set aside.
- Place rolled oats in a high-speed food processor and process on high for about a minute until you’ve formed oat flour. Add the protein powder to the food processor and pulse to combine.
- Then, add dates, cashew butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and sea salt to your food processor and process on high for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides until your dough is formed. It should look and feel like cookie dough.
- Add in mini chocolate chips and pulse to combine.
- Using a 1-teaspoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto the bottom of each muffin cup. It should be about ¾ of the way full. Press the cookie dough firmly into the bottom of the pan. Repeat until all cups are full. Set aside.
- Add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the mixture for 20-second increments, stirring after each increment, until the mixture is melted and glossy. This will take around 2 minutes.
- Add 1-1.5 teaspoons of melted chocolate to the top of each cup, evenly spreading the chocolate to cover the cookie dough.
- Transfer the pan to the freezer for 1 hour to set.
- Remove the cups from the muffin tin and store them in an airtight container in the freezer.
Tips & Notes
- Any nut butter can be used in place of cashew butter. The flavor of the cups will vary by which nut butter is used.
- The flavor of the protein cups will vary based on what type of protein is used.
- If the cookie dough is wet, add a few tablespoons more protein powder to the dough. If the cookie dough is dry, add a few teaspoons of water to the dough.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
I didn’t have cashew butter on hand so subbed peanut butter and used my “souper cube” silicone molds instead of mini muffin cups–these are delicious!! My husband can’t stop eating them and he usually shys away from recipes using dates!
I’ve made energy balls with dates before but not thought to make these in a muffin pan – made it super easy. Ended up using peanut butter but would be great with almond butter too.
These were so simple and delicious!
Mikaila! You are the winner of a Merit Prep Set for your submission on this recipe. Check your email 🙂
LOVE these. They are easy to make and so so good. I’m excited to have a bunch in my freezer for future snacking. I had some leftover “dough” and just rolled it into balls.
The perfect dense and gooey texture. A yummy treat! The flakey salt topping is the best part.
Mine didn’t turn out too cute, but they are DELISH!!! The perfect sized treat!
Perfect “I want something sweet” snack. Bonus points for being an easy recipe for kids to help with. I had some extra dough so I stuck it in a ramekin in the freezer and let it freeze. Will be making again!
Oats are my jam, so this was a great recipe for me! I did not have dates, so I substituted applesauce. The batter came out a littler runnier as a result, but after freezing, it seemed to work!
These are delicious! And very simple to make! 10/10 would recommend! I love that they’re a healthy treat, packed with protein! I used PB for the nut butter & put it in a pan vs making into cupcakes. Even my toddler loved it!
Perfect little treat! I used PB instead of cashew butter because that’s what I had on hand and topped half in semi sweet chocolate and half in dark chocolate. Delicious!