Delicious Protein Cookie Dough Bites are an easy, perfect pick-me-up snack! Made with peanut butter and chickpeas (but without the flavor of chickpeas), these chocolate-coated protein cookie dough balls are packed with protein without the use of protein powder. No-bake. Gluten-free. Vegan.

a half-eaten protein cookie dough ball next to a stack of protein cookie dough bites on a white background

Table of Contents

Easy Protein Cookie Dough Bites

In my kitchen, snacks have to adhere to several rules. They must…

contain as little sugar as possible. (And usually this means absolutely zero refined sugar.)
taste delicious.
look relatively appealing.

This recipe for protein cookie dough bites abides by all three of those rules.

But how do we make them without sugar?

Once you have cooked without sugar for awhile, you come to realize that the ideal of doing so is actually much more easy to execute than you originally expected.

For me, I have always loved baking cookies. (And I will admit that those are a bit trickier to make without sugar.)

And I have loved my fair share of milkshakes and homemade ice cream.

And if you look at my cooking habits today, you will see that I still make these things.

Just without sugar.

The adventure and challenge of making these treats for my family without using refined sugar has shown me that there are so many options…and they are actually much more simple than you might realize at first.

Naturally-Sweetened Protein Cookie Dough Bites

Some great options for sweetening protein cookie dough bites naturally:

honey (especially raw organic honey)
maple syrup
bananas
applesauce
molasses (especially blackstrap molasses)

In this recipe, we are after the flavor of chocolate chip cookie dough. So our go-to natural sweetener is actually a combination: maple syrup and raw organic honey.

How to Make Protein Cookie Dough Balls without the Chickpea Flavor

I don’t know about you, but when I used to see recipes for “chickpea brownies” and “chickpea cookie dough,” the thought that there was no way chickpeas could shed their flavor and be mild enough for such recipes was definitely in my mind.

But they literally can “shed” their flavor.

How to take the flavor out of chickpeas:

First, rinse them.
Second, peel the outer “skin” off each individual chickpea. I admit that this is a time-consuming process. However, it is definitely the key to removing the signature legume flavor of chickpeas.
Third, rinse the chickpeas again and dry them well.

A rather involved process, but that’s all it requires.

No chemicals or additives needed.

hand holding a bitten protein cookie dough bite

What Is In These Healthy Protein Cookie Dough Bites

Chickpeas.

Chickpeas are not only high in protein but also offer a good serving of fiber, vitamins, and minerals (source).

Peanut butter.

Another main source of protein in this recipe is peanut butter.

“Peanut butter contains soluble and insoluble fiber, both of which can help heart health, diabetes and digestion,” according to the Hartford HealthCare website.

Additionally, using this protein (as well as the protein in chickpeas) may help prevent blood sugar spikes (source).

Organic quick oats.

By using organic oats, we skip the pesticides and get all the oat goodness.

Maple syrup.

Maple syrup is a great natural sweetener option. In this recipe, it replaces the brown sugar traditionally used in cookie dough, while still retaining some of that caramel-like flavor.

Pure vanilla extract.

Vanilla can have several benefits–but only if you get the real thing (source). And that’s why I prioritize investing a few extra dollars to purchase real vanilla extract rather than imitation vanilla flavoring.

Dark chocolate.

According to Healthline, dark chocolate is “very nutritious” and is “one of the best sources of antioxidants.”

Raw organic honey.

One of my family’s favorite natural sweeteners is raw organic honey. Why? Because, if you ask Dr. Axe, raw honey is a superfood.

According to Save the Bee:

“Packed with plant-producing antioxidants, raw honey is a good source of these immune boosters. Without the intense heating process found in conventional honey, raw honey retains antioxidants—along with pollen and propolis, naturally produced by honey bees, which humans have found beneficial to health for centuries.”

What Makes These Protein Cookie Dough Bites Healthy?

Each and every ingredient in this recipe is carefully selected for its nutritional value.

Protein is the main priority, with chickpeas and peanut butter being the main contributors.

Additionally, we avoid refined sugar by using natural sweeteners like maple syrup and raw honey.

And we also include organic quick oats instead of almond flour to avoid allergens.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This recipe for protein cookie dough bites is awesome because it…

Is relatively quick and simple.
Healthfully nourishes your body while still being a treat.
Uses natural sources of protein. (So there’s no need to buy expensive protein powder!)
Contains no refined sugar.
Tastes like cookie dough.
Uses chickpeas (but without having the flavor of chickpeas).
Can be a great vegan option to serve to guests.

a row of chocolate chip cookie dough protein bites on a white background

Tools You Will Need

a food processor
a reusable silicone baking mat
a small saucepan
a fork or spoon
a mixing bowl

Ingredients for Protein Cookie Dough Bites

Cookie Dough

3/4 cup cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp. organic quick oats
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. raw organic honey
Dash of sea salt
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. mini dark chocolate chips

Chocolate coating

1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate
1 Tbsp. cold-pressed virgin coconut oil

How to Make Protein Cookie Dough Bites (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step One: Line a baking sheet with a reusable silicone baking mat. Set aside.

Step Two: Remove the outer skin from each chickpea. (This is a process, but it must be done for the chickpeas to lose their legume flavor.) Then rinse the chickpeas again and drain thoroughly.

Step Three: In a food processor, blitz the quick oats until they form a fine flour.

Step Four: Add the chickpeas and blitz again until the chickpeas form a fine paste.

Step Five: Scrape down the sides of the food processor and transfer the chickpeas to a mixing bowl.

Step Six: Add the peanut butter and mix well.

Step Seven: Stir in the maple syrup, honey, sea salt, vanilla extract, and mini dark chocolate chips. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Step Eight: Roll the cookie dough mixture into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Put in the freezer for at least 10 minutes, or until firmed slightly.

Step Nine: In a small saucepan, warm together the chopped dark chocolate and the coconut oil, just until melted. Remove from the heat.

Step Ten: Using a fork or a spoon to hold the cookie dough balls, dip each cookie dough ball in the melted chocolate and then return to the lined baking sheet. The chocolate should harden quickly because of the cold nature of the cookie dough. However, if it does not, return the cookie dough bites to the fridge or freezer for a few minutes. Then remove them from the baking sheet and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

What would a recipe be without variety? When you have mastered this recipe and are ready to mix it up a little bit, try these ideas:

Add chopped nuts. Walnuts or pecans would be great options!
Add cocoa powder to the cookie dough batter for a double-chocolate version.
Use homemade Coconut Oil Dark Chocolate as the base for the chocolate coating.
Garnish the chocolate coating (while still wet) with chopped peanuts.

How do you store protein cookie dough balls?

Keep these protein cookie dough bites stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Because of the chickpeas in the dough, these cookie dough balls last for just a few days.

(Personally, my family has kept them for up to four or five days. But please be aware of your own situation.)

How to Freeze Cookie Dough Protein Bites

If you wish to store protein cookie dough balls for longer periods of time, place them in an airtight container or bag and freeze for up to three months. Before eating, allow to thaw slightly.

lots of healthy chocolate-covered cookie dough bites on a white background

Even More Protein Recipes to Try

Protein is one of my top priorities when feeding snacks to my little toddlers. Here are some more easy protein snack recipes:

Whip up More Healthy Chocolate Snacks!

One my favorite flavors is chocolate. (Can you tell?) So there are plenty more healthy chocolate snacks where this one came from! Try one of these recipes next:

Protein Cookie Dough Bites Recipe Card