If you want to eat healthy but have the sweet tooth, this low calorie cookie dough recipe is all you need. High protein, low carb and low fat, this healthy cookie dough is perfect for when you crave dessert but want to stick to your macros!
High protein and low calorie cookie dough recipe in 5 minutes. Sounds like a dream... but it is now possible with this super easy recipe!
This protein cookie dough recipe comes together in a bowl in under 5 minutes and requires just a handful of simple ingredients. Keep on reading to learn how to make low calorie cookie dough for your cravings!
Jump to:
Low calorie cookie dough ingredients
Making this macro-friendly cookie dough requires just a handful of ingredients. And don't panic if you are missing something. I have included for you a list of all substitute options, so that you don't have to wait any longer to make this protein cookie dough.
Here is all you need for this low calorie cookie recipe:
- Whey protein powder
- Powdered peanut butter
- Granulated sweetener
- Greek yogurt
- Chocolate chips
Substitutes
As promised, there is no need to worry if something is missing. Here is how to replace all ingredients for this protein cookie dough recipe.
- Whey protein powder - replace with casein, vegan protein powder, almond flour or oat flour. Keep in mind that your cookie dough may need some more water or milk if you go for vegan protein, almond or oat flour. Read the recipe description and notes for all details.
- Powdered peanut butter - substitute with creamy peanut butter plus 1 to 2 additional teaspoons of protein powder to consistency. The recipe will still turn out but the caloric content will change.
- Granulated sweetener - this recipe uses erythritol, which is a sugar-free and calorie free alternative to sugar. As an alternative, you can use stevia and xylitol as calorie-free options. Or use coconut or brown sugar if added sugar isn't an issue for you.
- Greek yogurt - replace with Skyr, quark or any plant based firm yogurt of your choice. But keep in mind that the macros will change based on the yogurt that you use.
- Chocolate chips - I like making my protein cookie dough with sugar-free dark chocolate. But if you don't have it, great replacements are normal chocolate chips or cocoa nibs for a more natural version.
Protein cookie dough with peanut butter
If you don't have powdered peanut butter - or can't get it - this recipe can also be made with creamy peanut butter. But here are two things that you should keep in mind:
- Powdered peanut butter is different than peanut butter. As the name suggests, it is powder and therefore falls under the category of "dry ingredients". Creamy peanut butter is a wet ingredient and will therefore add some extra moisture to the dough. For this simple reason, you'll need to adapt this recipe with 1 to 2 tsp of protein powder more.
- Common peanut butter has more calories and fats than powdered peanut butter (see the table down below for the macros breakdown of different types of peanut butter). Therefore, the nutritional values of this recipe will vary.
Type of peanut butter | Nutritional values (per 100g) |
---|---|
Powdered peanut butter | 394 calories 47 g protein 21 g carbs 10 g fats |
Peanut butter | 588 calories 25 g protein 20 g carbs 50 g fats |
Vegan low calorie cookie dough
If you follow a vegan diet and want to make this low calorie cookie dough recipe, keep on reading. The procedure is the same, but your recipe will require two small adaptations:
- Vegan protein powder replaces whey. You can use your favorite plant based protein, but keep in mind that your dough may require some more water (or milk) to get fixed.
- Plant based yogurt replaces Greek yogurt. Swap out Greek yogurt for your favorite vegan yogurt, best if it has a firm texture. However, the protein content will be slightly lower.
How to make low calorie cookie dough without protein powder
No protein powder? No problem! You can still make this low calorie cookie dough by replacing whey with almond flour or oat flour.
If you have it, I strongly encourage utilizing defatted almond flour because it is still a great source of protein and has more or less the same calories of whey. Or use oat flour if you can't find almond flour. You'll still get a low calorie cookie dough, but with less protein and more carbs.
How to make protein cookie dough
In bowl combine protein powder, powdered peanut butter (or peanut butter) and sweetener. After quickly mixing, stir in the Greek yogurt. Keep on mixing!
When doughy, start kneading the mixture with your hands. If after kneading for a while your cookie dough is still dry, add 5 to 10 ml of water to consistency. Fold in now the chocolate chips.
Serve cookie dough right away or pop it in the fridge and let chill (recommended).
Troubleshooting
Before getting your hands in the dough, take a minute and get familiar with common problems and how to troubleshoot these.
Problem | Solution |
---|---|
My cookie dough is too dry! | Knead for a while before adding any extra liquid! But if still very dry, mix in 5 to 10 ml (1 to 2 tsp) of water or milk until you get the perfect doughy texture. |
My protein cookie dough is too wet and sticky! | Add in some more protein powder and fix your low calorie cookie dough. |
I used creamy peanut butter and my dough is now too wet! | Adjust with more protein powder, 1 to 2 teaspoons should be enough. |
Tips for the best protein cookie dough
Here are a couple of tips and tricks that will bring your low calorie cookie dough recipe to the next level!
- For the best taste, make this cookie dough with vanilla, peanut butter or cookie flavored protein powder.
- If you are using unsalted powdered peanut butter or peanut butter, add a pinch of salt to the recipe.
- Use a sweetener with larger grains. It will feel like eating cookie dough made with crystalized sugar!
- Let your cookie dough chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will get you a firmer and more flavorsome cookie dough.
More protein cookie recipes
43 g Protein Low Calorie Cookie Dough Recipe
Ingredients
refer to measurements in grams for best cookie dough
- 30 grams (⅓ cup) whey protein powder (for substitutes see notes*)
- 25 grams (2 tbsp) powdered peanut butter (or 20 g peanut butter, see notes*)
- 20 grams (1 ½ tbsp) granulated sweetener (I use erythritol)
- 30 grams (2 tbsp) 0% Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp sugar-free chocolate chips
- 5 to 10 ml (1 to 2 tsp) water (only if required, see notes*)
Instructions
- In bowl combine protein powder, powdered peanut butter (or peanut butter, see notes*) and sweetener. After quickly mixing, stir in the Greek yogurt. Keep on mixing!
- When doughy, start kneading the mixture with your hands. Only if after kneading for a while your cookie dough is still dry, add 5 to 10 ml of water to consistency (if you add too much water, restore the dough with some more protein powder, see notes 4 and 5*).
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Serve cookie dough right away or pop it in the fridge and let chill (recommended).
Video
Notes
- This recipe uses vanilla whey isolate protein powder. You can replace with whey, casein or a blend of whey and casein (vanilla or peanut butter flavor).
- If making this low calorie cookie dough with vegan protein powder, you will need more water or milk to get a dough.
- For a protein powder free cookie dough, make this recipe with (defatted) almond flour or oat flour. Nutritional values will change accordingly.
- Replace powdered peanut butter with 20 grams (1 ½ tbsp) peanut butter + 1 to 2 tsp protein powder more. Note that this will increase the calorie content of your protein cookie dough (notes 6 for the nutritional values of the recipe with peanut butter).
- Based on the protein powder utilized, your low calorie cookie dough may require up to 2 tsp of water to get a doughy paste. But note that you should add water only if the dough is still dry after kneading for a while.
- Whey protein powder tends to dissolve when mixed with wet ingredients (namely the Greek yogurt here).
- If you accidentally pour in too much water and your dough is now sticky, restore the texture by adding more protein powder.
- Nutritional values for protein cookie dough recipe with normal peanut butter: 298 kcal 35 g protein, 7 g carbs, 14 g fats.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are based on third-party calculations and should be considered approximations. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more. We do not overtake any responsibility.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Aimee Steel
This tasted good, but it was sooo sticky. I added a few grams of oat flour to try and "dry" it out. I didn't add any additional water.
Matteo
Hey dear Aimee,
many thanks for your comment. I am so glad that you liked!
Regarding the sticky texture, this depends on the specific protein powder used. So, great idea to adjust with more oat flour!
Have a great day,
Matteo
Rebecca
It’s the best cookie dough recipe I’ve ever try and it’s so delicious ?. I’m obsessed with pb and I use crunchy pb for this recipe … no words to describe it !
Thanks Matteo for your recipe and I love you for that ❤️
Matteo
Rebecca you are simply amazing!! Thank you SO much for taking the time to review my recipe, this means the world to me. Grateful for you and your words!
Have a wonderful evening,
Matteo❤️❤️
Andrea
This is delicious! Definitely satisfies the sweet tooth craving! Thank you ! ( I used Splenda as the sweetener)
Matteo
Hey my dear Andrea!
Thank you veeery much for your feedback and review. I am incredibly happy that you liked this recipe 😉
I wish you a great Friday and upcoming weekend.
All the best,
Matteo
Elena
Tried it yesterday evening with the standard peanut butter (crunchy) and it's the best thing! ? Well done! ??
Matteo
Hey my dear Elena!
Thank you sooo much for your nice comment and feedback! I am incredibly grateful that you liked this recipe.
And by the way, crunchy peanut butter all life long. Love it too!
Bests,
Matteo
Kjia
Sooooo delicious! going to be my go-to afternoon snack from now on. great way to help hit my protein goals!
Matteo
Hey my dear Kjia!
Thank you very much for your feedback, I am incredibly happy that you liked this recipe. Just made my day!
I wish you a great evening,
Matteo 😉