Six ingredients make up these homemade Apple Cinnamon Protein Cookies to make a low fat and high protein snack, pre-workout or post-workout option, or healthy breakfast or dessert. Each homemade protein cookie has 4 grams of protein and they are gluten-free and dairy-free.
It’s practically fall and that means apples, pumpkins, baking, soups and stews, and cozy recipes! I’m not much of a baker, but love to playing around with it.
Enter homemade apple cinnamon protein cookies! As easy as mixing all 6 of the ingredients up, forming them into cookies, and baking. My kind of baking recipe if you ask me.
One thing I think of when fall rolls around is apples. I don’t really get into pumpkin until October, but once September hits, I’m all about all the apples. We used to go apple picking all the time and come home with pounds and pounds of them.
Apple and cinnamon are one of my go-to combos when I am in need of a snack. I usually sprinkle an apple with cinnamon and dip it in peanut butter or yogurt. Or sometimes both if I am feeling really fancy. So I figured why not take those flavors and make them into a cookie.
I love adding oats to cookies since they make a great binder and contain fiber and complex carbs. And since I’m not the best baker, oats are usually easy to use and play around with.
I threw in some egg whites and protein powder to up the protein and add some vanilla flavor, applesauce for binding, and salt to cut the sweetness and viola. Easy and healthy homemade protein cookies!
Homemade apple cinnamon protein cookies
These protein cookies are super easy to make – only 6 ingredients (salt doesn’t count!) and everything is just thrown together in one bowl! They work great for snacking, pre or post-workout (protein and carbs plus not too much fat), breakfast, or dessert!
Apple cinnamon protein cookies ingredients:
- rolled oats
- egg whites
- apple
- apple sauce
- protein powder – I used Ka’Chava Vanilla – you can use that link for 15% off!
- cinnamon
- salt
First, chop your apple. Add all your ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix together until well combined.
Next, using a tablespoon, scoop out a heaping scoop (about 1 1/2-2 tablespoons worth) of the batter and form it into a cookie. The mixture will be slightly wet but still binds together.
Place cookies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until set.
Let cool for a few minutes and enjoy! It’s really that simple. The texture is soft and chewy, almost like baked oatmeal, but in cookie form. They are so good and so easy and are gone in just a couple of days in our house! I store them in the fridge to keep them fresh.
What is a good substitution for protein powder when baking?
The protein powder is what helps give these cookies a protein boost. Ka’Chava, the protein I used also has carbs and fat, so if you don’t want that, you can use whatever kind you like. Just note it will change up the calories/macros some.
I understand that not everyone likes protein powder or uses it. Some substitutions that you can use for protein powder are:
- flour – coconut, whole wheat, almond, oat flour, or whatever kind you like!
- oats – you can always add more oats to help absorb the liquid
I haven’t tried these, so I am not sure if they work. You will have to play around with it some until you get the consistency you like. Again, just note this will change up the macros and they probably won’t have as much protein!
Substitutions for apple cinnamon protein cookies
These cookies are pretty straight to the point and you can’t substitute too many things, but here are a few things that might work:
- fruit – feel free to change out the fruit for whatever you have on hand
- spices – change out the cinnamon for whatever spices you are feeling! Pumpkin pie spice, ginger, cardamom, or clove would be delicious! Just adjust according to taste.
- eggs – you can use whole eggs instead of egg whites. Usually, 3 eggs whites equal 1 whole egg, so I would go for 2-3 whole eggs
- protein powder – I have made these protein cookies with a few kinds of protein powder. I like using a vanilla-flavored one as it adds some flavor to the cookies. I think most kinds will work, I just don’t think collagen will work as it will dissolve into the mixture too easily. Ka’chava brand that I use acts almost like flour. See above if you don’t want to use protein powder.
More healthy protein snacks
- Homemade Perfect Bar Recipe
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins
- No-Bake Walnut Protein Brownies
- Coffee Protein Smoothie
- Sweet Potato Blueberry Protein Muffins
- Chocolate Protein Smoothie
Apple Cinnamon Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats (125 grams)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (122 grams)
- 1/2 cup egg whites
- 1/2 packed cup vanilla protein powder (60 grams)
- 1 1/2 cups diced apple (160 grams/1 small-medium)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine. Using a tablespoon, scoop out a heaping scoop of the mixture and place it on a lined baking sheet. Press down and form into cookie shape if needed.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the mixture is set. Let cool for a few minutes. Top with an additional sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Emily
March 8, 2017 at 8:47 amI think apple cinnamon may be one of my very favorite flavors; I really love cookies that you can eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack.
Kelly
March 13, 2017 at 10:19 amYES me too!! The combo is so good. Cookies are always good too 🙂
jess larson | playswellwithbutter.com
March 8, 2017 at 9:35 amthese look so good kelly! (so do the photos in this post – seriously!!) in my book there’s NOTHING wrong with a healthy cookie =)
Kelly
March 13, 2017 at 10:20 amThank you Jess!! Your photography is amazing and inspires me every day! And totally agree about the cookies 🙂
Geraldine Hughes
February 27, 2020 at 3:32 amWhere do you get the quantities of the different ingredients
Kelly
March 5, 2020 at 10:54 amHey Geraldine! The recipe is in the recipe card at the bottom of the post – should be a little before the comments!
Allyse Rodriquez
April 5, 2017 at 11:00 amwhat can you sub for apple sauce? don’t have any on hand
Kelly
April 6, 2017 at 9:42 amI would say mashed banana might work, or something of that similar consistency. The flavor will be changed slightly though. Let me know if you try them and it works Allyse!
Sierra
August 20, 2017 at 8:40 amI count macros and would LOVE to have these cookies for pre workout.
Do you happen to know how many grams each cookie should weigh in that scoop??
Kelly
August 20, 2017 at 4:47 pmI love them for pre workout! I actually don’t know how much each one weights, but I used a tablespoon for each scoop and it made 18 cookies. I will make them again this week and let you know! Also, the macros might change a little depending on what protein powder you use.
Candy
September 20, 2019 at 8:06 pmSo easy and yummy!!! Great recipe.
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:40 pmThanks Candy! Happy to hear you liked them!
Lauren
September 21, 2019 at 7:24 amGreat recipe for quick grab and go. Staple ingredients that I normally always have which is extra nice. I have made them many times and shared the recipe tons. Every time I take them somewhere people love them and want to know how I made them !
Nancy
September 23, 2019 at 8:03 amCan’t wait to make!
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:36 pmLet me know if you do!
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:39 pmYay, so happy to hear that Lauren! Thank you so much for trying them and glad you love them!
Liz Goodwin
September 22, 2019 at 9:47 amThis recipe is awesome. I made them this morning for my sister, her husband, and two neices. They are like apple crisp cookies… perfect for fall and breakfast. Also, the kids loved them and choose them over cinnamon rolls. I am going to make them for myself when I get home for the week. Thanks for an amazing recipe!! I also was thinking that I may try them with pumpkin. Yum!
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:39 pmHeck yes! Love hearing the kids liked them as well! And pumpkin is an amazing idea! Let me know how that goes it you do. Thanks Liz!
Meredith
September 22, 2019 at 10:31 am7 ingredients rolled into a sweet treat that’s not a cheat! These were so simple yet so good! I agree, they can be eaten at any point during the day to curb a sweet tooth and give an energy boost! Saving this recipe in my cookbook for sure! Thanks!!
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:38 pmYes, anytime of the day haha!! Thank you for trying them and glad you liked them Meredith!
Sarah
September 22, 2019 at 10:30 pmMade these on Sunday night for weekday morning meal prep and I couldn’t help but dig into one as soon as they came out of the oven. SO easy to make and super tasty also! Would highly recommend.
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:37 pmYay, so happy to hear that Sarah! A favorite in our house too! Thanks for trying them and glad you enjoyed!
Dad
September 23, 2019 at 9:23 amThey look good
Kelly
September 23, 2019 at 12:36 pmYou guys would love them, especially mom!
Michelle H.
September 24, 2019 at 12:47 pmThese turned out so good and were done, start to finish, in less than 20 mins. I will for sure make these cookies again and again. It is also one of those recipes that can be altered with different mix ins. My only addition to this recipe is I added a teaspoon of vanilla. SO good.
Kelly
September 30, 2019 at 4:48 pmLove the addition of vanilla, that was probably so good! Glad you liked them Michelle!
Ashley
September 24, 2019 at 8:22 pmThese are so delicious! I used Muscle Milk vanilla creme protein powder because it was on-hand. Still very tasty and super easy to make! My 10-year-old really likes them too! Not sure they will last until morning 😉
Kelly
September 30, 2019 at 4:47 pmYum, that sounds delicious! So glad the kid liked them too! My husband ate them up before I even got any haha!
Michelle H.
September 25, 2019 at 6:58 amThese cookies taste so good and are done in under 20 mins., making them a perfect weeknight bake, This is definitely a recipe I will make over and over again. I also love that these can be altered by using different mix ins,
Kelly
September 30, 2019 at 4:46 pmThanks Michelle, so glad you liked them! I agree, it’s so easy to change up the flavors. Thanks for trying them!
Jessica
October 12, 2019 at 11:21 amLove this recipe!!!I made them and they are delicious! I used vanilla protein powder and vanilla but if you want extra sweetness honey or raisins would be good. The whole point is to have cookie that’s healthier and less sweet though so these definitely do the trick!
Kelly
October 15, 2019 at 1:27 pmSo happy to hear that Jessica and glad you liked them! I love the addition of honey or raisins too! Thank you for trying them 🙂
Joan Entwistle
November 9, 2019 at 10:43 amDo they freeze well?
Kelly
November 23, 2019 at 2:59 pmI haven’t tried it, but I would imagine they would be fine to freeze. Then you can just defrost and heat up in the microwave for a couple seconds to warm through. Let me know if you try them Joan!
Red
March 9, 2020 at 3:52 pmThese cookies stay nicely moist and a bit crumbly. A bit of salt enhances the flavor. I refrigerated after cooled, then I add a sprinkle of fresh cinnamon right before eating. I might try blueberries!
Kelly
March 23, 2020 at 11:32 amOh love the blueberry idea! Glad you liked them Red!
Samantha
April 12, 2021 at 9:06 pmThese are hands down the best healthy cookies I’ve ever had and they fit perfectly in my macros. I was so grateful to find a recipe that didn’t have banana or peanut butter! These cookies are super moist and have great texture. I’ve made them about 10 times so far, sometimes just a quarter of the recipe for a few cookies as a night snack. I vane churros flavoured protein powder right now and it’s absolutely perfect for this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing these are a staple part of my diet now!
Kelly
April 21, 2021 at 2:23 pmSo happy to hear that Samantha!! That protein sounds like a great addition as well! Thank you for trying them 🙂
apurva
August 5, 2021 at 11:18 pmWhat can I use instead of egg whites ?
Kelly
August 9, 2021 at 1:22 pmWhole eggs would work just fine! I would say probably 2 large eggs would be a good substitute. The nutritional breakdown will change slightly with a little more fat using whole eggs. Hope you enjoy!
Gina B.
October 3, 2021 at 3:29 pmThis recipe is fantastic! We used two large eggs and increased the oats to 1 1/3 cups to balance out the extra liquid. They were perfectly baked at 12 minutes. Easy, delicious, and healthy 🙂
Kelly
October 5, 2021 at 12:00 pmSo glad the whole egg substitute works! Thanks for trying them Gina!
Jessica Loyd
October 3, 2021 at 7:37 pmThese are so tasty! I added some chocolate chips to a few and topped with a maple cinnamon sugar for the kids. I like the consistency of these cookies. These will be great for a pre-workout snack or with my breakfast for a sweet treat.
Kelly
October 5, 2021 at 11:59 amOMG yum!! Love those additions, especially the maple cinnamon sugar. I love them for pre-workout too! Glad you enjoyed them Jessica and thanks for trying!
Stephanie
October 4, 2021 at 7:38 amLove these! I’m 6wks postpartum and been eating oatmeal every morning as it’s a milk increasing food. But after 6wks, I was getting kinda tired of it, so I decided to make these to switch it up. 1) so easy to make, 2) even easier to eat real quick, and 3) they’re delicious!
Kelly
October 5, 2021 at 11:59 amSo glad they helped change it up! They really are easy to whip up – thanks for trying them Stephanie and glad you enjoyed them!
Shannon Walent
October 6, 2021 at 6:21 pmFilling snack! Enjoying the texture and flavor. Thinking I need some apple pie spice to throw in next time.
Thank you !! 🍎
Kelly
October 18, 2021 at 9:30 pmOh, apple spice sounds so good! Glad you enjoyed Shannon and thanks for trying them!
Janine Richards
October 17, 2021 at 6:55 pmLove these! So glad I made them because they’re tasty and so macro friendly! Will be part of my meal prepping weekly now.
Kelly
October 18, 2021 at 9:45 pmSo happy to hear that Janine! I love how macro-friendly they are too. Thanks for trying them!