These cute little bites need to be in your fridge or freezer ASAP. They truly have the flavor of your favorite peanut butter cookie dough but without the risky business of eating raw eggs!
My absolutely perfect protein cookie dough bites are made with simple ingredients, plus mini chocolate chips (for happiness) and you know I shared plenty of easy ways to make them your own.
I always have no bake snacks and treats in my fridge or freezer because I’m a firm believer that “lunch dessert” is an essential part of mealtimes. You’ll LOVE how easy and delicious these cookie dough bites are, so watch the video to learn how to make them HERE roll them up this week and enjoy!
Everything you’ll need to make these protein cookie dough bites
These little bites couldn’t be easier to make and require just 7 super simple (and customizable!) ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Peanut butter: be sure to use a natural creamy peanut butter made from just peanuts and salt. More nut butter options below!
- Honey: I like to sweeten them with honey because PB + honey = love.
- Protein powder: add the perfect boost of protein with any unflavored protein powder. I used Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. It also helps hold them together!
- Vanilla extract: a touch of vanilla brings out the natural sweetness in these bites. Learn how to make your own here.
- Oat flour: a little oat flour also helps the bites stay together so that they’re not too “wet.”
- Flaxseed meal: get a little boost of fiber and omega-3s with flaxseed meal.
- Chocolate chips: what’s life without a little chocolate? I always add mini chocolate chips to these cookie dough protein bites.
- Sea salt: you all know I’m topping these with flaky sea salt. Duh.
Simple ingredient swaps
Yes, you can make these cookie dough protein bites your own with a few simple ingredient swaps:
- Choose your nut butter. I LOVE the flavor of peanut butter in these bites but feel free to use any creamy natural nut butter you’d like. I think cashew butter would be perfect!
- Keep them vegan. Simply use maple syrup instead of honey, dairy-free/vegan chocolate chips, and regular unsweetened protein powder instead of collagen peptides.
- Swap the protein powder. If you don’t have protein powder or collagen peptides, you can use fine blanched almond flour instead.
Make your own oat flour for these little bites
If you don’t have any oat flour on hand, no worries! You can easily make your own by blending up rolled oats into a fine flour. Learn how to do it here!
Cookie dough energy bites in 3 easy steps
- Mix the “dough.” Add all of your wet and dry ingredients to a bowl and mix well until a cookie dough texture forms. If it’s feeling a little too wet, simply add a bit more oat flour.
- Add the chocolate. Fold in the chocolate chips (I sometimes just do this with my hands!)
- Roll, chill & enjoy. Use a small cookie scoop to roll the dough into 10 balls, place them on a plate, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Then refrigerate for an hour before digging in!
Try this fun dessert option
As I mentioned, I love rolling mini chocolate chips into these protein cookie dough bites, but you could also melt extra chocolate chips or a chocolate bar and dip the bites in the melted chocolate for an extra treat! Just remember to chill the bites first, dip them in the chocolate, and then chill them again so that the chocolate hardens. SO GOOD.
Storing & freezing tips
- To store: keep these no bake cookie dough protein bites in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- To freeze: you can freeze these energy bites in a freezer-friendly bag or container for up to 2 months. If you’re eating them straight from the freeze I recommend letting them soften up a bit in the fridge or at room temp before doing so.
More no bake snacks you’ll love
- Monster Cookie Energy Bites
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Birthday Cake Cookie Dough Energy Bites
- Salted Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Shake
- No Bake High Protein Peanut Butter Cereal Bars
Get all of my no bake snacks here!
Good Mood Food Episode 5
I hope you love these peanut butter protein cookie dough bites! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
Protein-Packed Cookie Dough Bites
Ingredients
- ½ cup (128g) creamy natural peanut butter or cashew butter (just nuts and salt)
- ¼ cup (80g) honey (or pure maple syrup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (40g) unflavored protein powder (I used Vital protein collagen peptides)
- 3 tablespoons (18g) oat flour, plus more as necessary
- 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal
- 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (regular is fine, too)
- Maldon sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips and salt. Mix together until ingredients are well combined and it resembles cookie dough. If it is too wet add another tablespoon of oat flour. Fold in chocolate chips. Note: Sometimes I use my hands to mix them into the batter more easily!
- Use a small cookie scoop to grab dough, then roll into balls and place on a plate. Repeat with remaining dough batter, placing 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with flaky salt, if desired then chill the balls in the fridge for 1 hour. Once cold, you can keep them in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the fridge. Alternatively, store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Enjoy whenever you need a sweet treat. Makes approximately 10 cookie dough bites.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on May 12th, 2024, and republished on May 29th, 2025.
I have been making this recipe every week for many weeks now, and it’s a hit with me, my kids, and our friends. The texture is just like cookie dough. This is so much fresher than a commercial protein bar and has none of the additives. When we ran out of our Vital Proteins, we started using unflavored Orgain Collagen Peptides and it works just as well, no real difference. Yum!
So happy to hear that! Such a great snack 🙂
Ummm these are DELICIOUS! They have a great smooth texture and are easy to make. I did add 2 tablespoons of chia seeds and they did not affect the texture. Have you ever used the PB powder before that you mix with water? I tried doing that with my second batch but it was way too wet.
So glad you enjoyed! I don’t typically use PB powder, so I wouldn’t recommend it in place of peanut butter in recipes as the texture is much different.
Exquisite! My whole family loves these for dessert and I love how nourishing they are. They taste just like cookie dough!
So happy to hear that!
These are sooooo tasty. I love to make them as an alternative to packaged protein bars. Kids love them too!!
The perfect snack!
This recipe is the best! I have made it too many times to count. As for substitutions, I have made it with almond butter for the peanut butter , almond flour for the protein powder, and exempted the flaxseed meal all together. It never fails to be delicious. I gave one to my best friend once, and she immediately asked for the recipe after one bite. Thank you , Monique , for a versatile and delicious recipe.
I’m so happy to hear it’s been a repeat recipe for you!
Got an email about this recipe this afternoon and need a little something extra for kiddo lunchboxes tomorrow. I don’t have protein powder so used almond flour. Used 4 total TB of oat flour. Super easy and very tasty! Will make it again! Thanks!!
Perfect! Such a great snack!
Can I substitute almond flour instead of oat flour?
I think that should work, or you can try coconut flour!
Would vanilla protein powder work or is the flavor best with collagen?
They’ll be a bit sweeter with vanilla protein powder but it will work!
Has anyone tried baking these?
I haven’t tested it!
Has anyone tried almond butter?
That should work!
Can these protein balls be made with almond or coconut flour I don’t eat oats or 1:1 gf flour! Thanks
I think a little coconut flour should work! Try adding it 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach a cookie dough texture 🙂
Have you ever tried these using almond flour instead of oat flour? Or using a flavored/sweetened protein powder and reducing the honey to lessen the amount of sugar in these?
Those little swaps should work! Just make sure the texture is cookie-dough like and easy to roll up when you mix it 🙂
Absolutely love these protein balls and so does my entire family! This is my go-to pre-workout snack. I make them every week to have consistently on hand! I add a little more protein powder than what it calls for and sometimes add a bit of crispy rice cereal for a little added crunch!!
I’m so glad! Perfect snack 🙂
These are fantastic!!! Toddler and adult approved!
The best snack!
I made these with the maple syrup option and with peanut butter powder in place of the protein powder. So ridiculously peanut buttery! Very tasty- the perfect little snack. These are also super straight forward and come together very quickly. Thanks for the recipe!
Perfect! Such a great snack or treat!
These are delicious! The perfect breastfeeding snack. I’ve made them 3 weeks in a row. I’ve subbed the honey for maple syrup and think I like them better that way. Delicious from the fridge or freezer!
Absolutely! Perfect snack 🙂
Love this recipe!!! It reminds me of Perfect Bars but even better!
YES absolutely! So easy to make and have on hand 🙂
These are DELICIOUS!! So quick and easy to throw together.
These are SO good! I always like to have a little healthier sweet treat on hand and these were perfect. The only thing I didn’t have was flaxseed so I used a tablespoon of hemp hearts instead and they still tasted great. Definitely adding these to my weekly meal prep!
Absolutely! Great idea to add hemp hearts 🙂
Thes look delicious! Can they be made with a different flour? Any substitute for flax? I can’t have either of those ingredients. Thanks!
You could try coconut flour! And feel free to add an extra tablespoon of the flour or protein powder in place of the flax.
I’ve made these a few times and will keep making them! They’re great for breakfast when I don’t have much of an appetite but need to get in some protein. One thing I’ve done differently is to add some rolled oats that have been toasted in the oven. I just roll the balls in the toasted oats to coat them.
Absolutely! Great idea to add toasted oats 🙂
I have made the recipe as written and it’s delicious! This time (trying to watch added sugar), I subbed cacao powder for the oat flour, skipped chocolate chips, and used whole flax seeds. Fudgy and delicious.
So glad you love these!
Wanted a recipe that tasted similar to my favorite refrigeratored protein bar and this was it! Came together quickly and tastes great!
So happy to hear that!
So good! I love how the collagen adds 10g of protein! Perfect for an after lunch treat or even dessert!
Absolutely!!
I love these delicious protein-filled sweet treats! They are a delicious snack or the perfect way to end a meal. Knowing they are made with protein powder makes it easier to hit my protein goal and satisfy my sweet tooth.
Absolutely! Glad you found this one!
These are seriously addicting! I love grabbing a cookie dough ball from my freezer and having it as a little dessert each night. It’s a great way to have a dessert that is loaded with protein and not send my blood sugar through the roof. It is also a great way to use up protein powder.
Can I sub almond or coconut flour for the oat flour???? can I add water or almond milk if dry?
I think that should work! And you shouldn’t need water or milk, but a little melted coconut oil should help if it’s a little dry.
These were sadly WAY too sweet. I even swapped cocoa nibs and thinned it out with more PB and flour and the honey overpowered everything. My protein was unflavored and same brand so I don’t know why it was so sweet but I’d try again adding honey one tablespoon at a time.
Sorry to hear that! Let me know how it goes with less honey.
Can I sub almond flour for the oat flour? I can’t have oats…
I think that should work, or you can try coconut flour!
I used maple syrup the third time I made these instead of the honey and I definitely prefer and recommend the maple syrup. The honey is good but there’s just a hint more or honey unlike the maple syrup which really let’s just the peanut butter shine. Perfect post-workout snack!
These cookie dough bites are everything I wanted and more! They’re so easy to make and balancing healthy ingredients for a tasty treat is a difficult thing to do, but this recipe hits all the marks! Highly recommend!!
YES new favorite snack! So happy you loved them!
Sub for flax meal if I don’t have any in the house?
Feel free to use another tablespoon of oat flour!
Perfect fridge snack. I used almond meal instead of oat flour. Delicious
So good!!