Chunky Monkey Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie Recipe

These Chunky Monkey inspired Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies went viral for a reason! These small batch protein chocolate chip cookies are loaded with bits of walnut & banana just like the Ben & Jerry's ice cream they're named after! Easy to make, gluten free, dairy free, egg free & refined sugar free, they're a protein powder dessert you can feel good about eating when you need to balance satisfying your sweet tooth with your health & fitness goals.

Getting enough protein each day is so important but for many people this can feel incredibly challenging to do. I like to ensure that I eat 150 grams of protein each day, with around 130 grams coming from whole food sources like lean meats & beans. The remaining 20 or so grams of protein I usually supplement with a super high quality grass fed beef isolate protein powder in a healthy dessert because I have a sweet tooth! I can confidently say that these truly are the best protein cookies; they went viral on Instagram & Tiktok, as did some of the other flavors of protein cookies I made like these Protein Monster Cookies & these Double Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies.

In fact, these cookies have been so popular I've made many more flavors, like these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Turtle, Hot Chocolate or these Single Serve Protein Monster Cookies.

If you don’t already know, ingredients are super important to me which is why I only use this type of protein powder, because it is made with simple ingredients and doesn’t have any weird additives that are difficult to digest. My favorite brands are Equip Foods (use code PRETTYDELISH to save 15%) which is sweetened with stevia leaf or Be Well By Kelly which is sweetened with monk fruit. Both taste amazing, bake amazing and are made with just 3 ingredients. If you want your gluten free protein cookies to have the same texture as mine do, you must use this type of protein powder.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s easy. Requiring just a few simple ingredients you likely already have at home, these high protein cookies are quick & easy to whip up.
• It’s decadent. When you need a decadent treat but also want to reach your protein goals for the day, this healthy protein cookie recipe is the perfect option.
• It’s a small batch recipe. This recipe makes three large cookies or 6 regular sized protein powder cookies.

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Chunky Monkey Protein Cookie Ingredients & Tested Substitutions

• Vanilla Protein Powder.This recipe calls for vanilla protein powder, but if you wanted to use unflavored instead, you can.
  • IMPORTANT PROTEIN POWDER NOTES: It is important to note that you should always choose to make protein dessert recipes using a protein powder you actually enjoy the taste of, or you will not enjoy the dessert. Especially important for this healthy protein cookie recipe: USE THE PROTEIN POWDER I RECOMMEND! Sorry to yell at you, but I just want to make sure you hear me. 🙂 I have tested these cookies using several different types of protein powder and the grass fed beef isolate protein powder I recommend from Be Well By Kelly Paleo Protein is the only type of protein powder brand I recommend for the best flavor & texture. If you prefer a plant-based protein powder, the recipe will work however you must note that the texture will be much different; a little cakier and a bit more crumbly but still delicious. I do NOT recommend using whey protein as it is not easy to digest nor will the texture be favorable. People have done it & the opinions I’m hearing are mixed so I would steer clear of whey protein powder. If you haven’t found a protein powder you love yet, you can check out this helpful guide where I share some of my favorites.
• Oats. Although oats are by nature gluten free, not all oats are certified gluten free due to cross contamination. Make sure you choose certified gluten free oats if you are gluten free. Rolled oats are preferred but quick oats will work. Do not use oat flour.
• Peanut Butter. Peanut butter is crucial to the success of this recipe and should not be substituted unless you would like to use almond butter. Use natural peanut butter for best results.
• Maple Syrup. My preference is to use real maple syrup if you can find it at your grocery store or have access to it.
• Almond Milk. I used chocolate almond milk to enhance the chocolate flavor, but you can substitute in any non-dairy milk or dairy milk if you prefer.
• Vanilla Extract. I love adding vanilla flavor to chocolate recipes as it really amps up the richness of the chocolate.
• Dark Chocolate Chips. My preference is to use a dark chocolate bar & chop it up into larger chunks, but chocolate chips work just fine.
• Banana & Walnuts. Necessary for making Chunky Monkey inspired cookies!
• Baking Powder
• Salt

Chunky Monkey Protein Cookie Recipe Step By Step Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350F and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the batter. Add all dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl & mix gently to combine. Next add the wet ingredients except for banana, walnuts & chocolate chunks. Mix together with a fork until a thick batter forms and all ingredients are fully incorporated. The batter will resemble traditional cookie dough, but may be a touch stickier depending on the type of protein powder you’re using.

3. Add mix ins. Fold in chocolate & walnuts until fully incorporated, then gently fold in the banana (try not to mash it in!)

4. Scoop the dough. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the dough into three large cookies & plate on the parchment lined cookie sheet. The cookies will spread a bit when baking, but I like to smoosh them down just a bit with my hand & form them into cookie shapes. Be sure to leave room in between so they don’t bake into each other.

5. Bake. Bake in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the cookies are set & golden brown. If the cookies aren’t quite set when you remove it from the oven, instead of baking longer than 12 minutes, place it in the fridge for 5 minutes, this will help it set.

6. Enjoy! Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight sealed container at room temperature up to 2 days.

Expert Tips & Tricks

• Be sure to use natural peanut butter as it will work best for these high protein cookies.
• The protein powder I prefer to bake with is a grass fed beef isolate protein and I do HIGHLY recommend using this type of protein powder over any others. If you need to use vegan protein powder, this recipe will work & be delicious but the texture will be slightly different.
• Chill the cookies in the fridge after baking for around 5 minutes to help them set.
• You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days for best results.

If you're looking for other great protein cookie recipes or protein desserts, you might enjoy:

• Protein Monster Cookies
• Double Chocolate Protein Cookies
• Edible Protein Cookie Dough
• No Bake Protein Truffles

Did you have a chance to make this recipe? If so, please leave me a 5 star rating and review below. I always love and appreciate hearing from you!