Gooey Monster Eye Cookies (Flourless, High Protein)

If you're looking for a healthy, easy halloween dessert, these gooey Monster Eye Cookies are it! They're completely flourless, dairy free, gluten free, eggless and high in protein so they're the perfect small batch treat to have on hand at your next halloween party for those with gluten or dairy intolerances. Halloween Monster Cookies are the perfect mix of crunch & chewy cookies loaded with chocolate, sprinkles & googly eyes! 

These easy halloween cookies are a dressed up version of my Viral Protein Monster Cookies. Packed with chocolate chips, colorful sprinkles and garnished with cute candy eyes, they're a super fun way to celebrate the halloween season while also getting in some extra protein.

I love making desserts using wholesome ingredients & adding protein to them because I am always craving dessert but I don't love how I feel after eating traditional baked goods. These Monster Eye Cookies are the perfect treat for getting in the halloween spirit while still feeling good & fueling your body.

If you're looking for more spooky treats, you might like these Pumpkin Peanut Butter Crunch Cups or these Gluten Free Spellbook Brownies. You can also check out this post full of the best gluten and dairy free desserts you can find at the grocery store for the next time you need a treat but don't want to make it from scratch!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's easy. This easy recipe uses just a handful of pantry staple recipes and one bowl.
• It's healthy-ish. When you need a sweet treat but also want to reach your protein goals for the day, these cute monster eye cookies are the perfect option.
• It's a small batch recipe. This recipe makes three large cookies or 6 small cookies.

​Monster Eye Cookie Ingredients & Tested Substitutions

• Chocolate Protein Powder. 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 naturally 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.
• Peanut Butter. Peanut butter is crucial to the success of this recipe and should not be substituted. Use natural peanut butter but stir well 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 almond milk but you can substitute in oat milk or dairy milk if you prefer.
• Vanilla Extract. Opt for high quality if you can.
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Candy Eyeballs. I recommend getting candy eye balls that come in different sizes. You can alternate small, medium and large eyes placed around the cookie for an extra spooky look.
• Sprinkles.  Opt for dye free sprinkles made with natural food colouring. Bright colors like blue, green, purple & orange make for a fun halloween cookie.
• Chocolate Chips. I used Hu Kitchen refined sugar free chocolate gems but you can use whatever brand you prefer.
• M&M Type Candies. I like to use the candy gems from Unreal Snacks because they're made with better ingredients and come in different colors that are perfect for halloween. I used the milk chocolate but they have a vegan option if you're dairy free.

Monster Eye Cookies Step By Step Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the batter. Add all of the dry ingredients to the bowl & mix with a fork to combine. Then add the wet ingredients to the bowl. Mix together with a fork until a thick batter forms and all ingredients are fully incorporated. Note: the batter will resemble traditional cookie dough, but may be a touch stickier depending on the type of protein powder you are using.

3. Add ins. Fold in chocolate chips, sprinkles and candies.

4. Scoop the dough. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet into three large cookies, leaving space on the baking sheet in between for spreading while baking. Alternatively, you can use a cookie scoop & make 6 smaller cookies. Press the scoops down gently with your palm or the back of the ice cream scoop to form a cookie shape as they will not spread as much as traditional cookies while baking, so this will help them out.

5. Bake. Bake for 8-10 minutes in the preheated oven until cookies are set & golden brown. If the cookies aren't quite set when you remove it from the oven, instead of baking longer than 10 minutes, place it in the fridge for 5 minutes to help it set after you add the monster eyes. These need to be added to warm cookies.

6. Decorate. Press the monster eyes into the centers of the cookies immediately after baking, adding them in pairs around the top of the cookies. You can add a small amount more of sprinkles or m&ms if you prefer.

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 these halloween monster eye cookies with is a grass fed beef isolate protein. This recipe will work with your favorite protein powder, but you will find the texture to be different, especially if using whey protein.
• Chill the cookies in the fridge after baking for around 5 minutes to help them set after baking.
• Add in leftover candy or candy corn to the cookie dough balls instead of m&ms
• Whip a batch of cookies fast on Halloween night for a quick & easy treat you don't have to share!

How to Store Monster Eye Cookies

These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for around 2 days for max freshness. You can store them up to 5 but I find that they tend to lose their freshness a bit by day 3.

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!