No-bake Protein Breakfast Cookies that look and taste like a cinnamon roll. Packed with delicious ingredients and an optional white-chocolate drizzle.
author’s note
Cinnamon Rolls With A Side Of Gains!
I have been trying to reach for snacks with more protein (instead of always snacking on this white chocolate Chex mix), which is how these cookies started.
My sister texted me her favorite energy bite recipe and I could not stop thinking about how good it would be with a “cinnamon roll” twist. I kept the base simple, leaned into vanilla and cinnamon, and shaped the mix into flat little “protein breakfast cookies.”
The swirl is a quick white chocolate drizzle that sets up in minutes. I make a batch most Sundays. My boys inhale them, which is always my best taste test.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Swaps / Tips |
|---|---|
| Almond butter | Any drippy nut or seed butter. Stir well. If thick, warm 10–15 seconds. |
| Pure maple syrup | Honey works. Start with a little less, then adjust. |
| Vanilla protein powder | Whey is softest. Plant protein may need a splash more maple. |
| Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Buttermilk Mix | Swap half oat flour + half almond flour. Chill 20–30 minutes before shaping. |
| Ground cinnamon | Add a pinch more for stronger flavor. |
| White chocolate + coconut oil (optional) | Skip for less sweet. Greek yogurt chips work. Pipe with a tiny snip in the bag. |
How To Make Protein Breakfast Cookies
- Mix: Add almond butter, syrup, Kodiak mix, protein, vanilla, and spices to a bowl.
- Stir: Mix until a soft dough forms. If crumbly, add 1–2 tsp maple.
- Scoop & Flatten: Scoop 1-inch balls, then press into small cookies on a pan.
- Swirl: Melt chocolate with a little oil, stir in a pinch of cinnamon, and pipe a spiral.
- Set & Store: Let the swirl firm up, then chill.
Storage
Allow the white chocolate to harden at room temperature. Then cover cookies tightly and store in the fridge or freezer. Place them in small airtight bags in the freezer and transfer a bag at a time to the fridge to enjoy. Cookies will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
More Filling Snack Recipes:
Shakes And Smoothies
Chocolate Protein Shake
Muffins And Quick Breads
Healthy Blueberry Muffins
Desserts
Protein Cookie Dough
Protein Breakfast Cookies
Video
Equipment
- Hand mixer or wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Buttermilk Mix
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/16 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the almond butter, maple syrup, Kodiak mix, protein powder, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix well with a hand mixer or a wooden spoon.
- Use a 1-inch cookie scoop to measure out the dough; you should get around 40 balls. You can stop here and enjoy these as protein bites or keep going to make the cookies.
- Press the balls flat and form into a small cookie shape. Place on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan.
- Optional White Chocolate Drizzle: In a small bowl, combine white chocolate chips and coconut oil (measure when melted). Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Stir in the ground cinnamon. Transfer to a small, resealable plastic bag and cut a tiny tip off the end corner. Pipe a swirl on top of all the cookies.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I don’t have protein powder and am not looking to get any. If I would like to modify to not have the protein powder, what would you suggest? Increase the pancake mix (by the 1/4 c + 1 T)? Or ok to just cut that out? Thanks!
Unfortunately I don’t think these work super well without the protein powder. The protein adds a lot of flavor and sweetness so they’d probably be pretty bland without it. You could increase the pancake mix, I’m just not sure how flavor would be.
Coconut will kill me. Is there any way you could offer alternate suggestions?
I haven’t tested other options so I don’t want to suggest something that potentially wouldn’t work. I don’t know what other oil would work in place of the coconut here, since coconut will solidify nicely and keep that white chocolate topping solid.
Recipe sounds de-lish! Will definitely try it. Am a post Bariatric patient looking for high protein options in cookies and other snacks. Actually have cinnamon bun powder on hand so this looks like a good fit for me, but I have a suggestion for your blog. Start including nutritional values in it. Folks like me really need that kind of thing to read before trying a recipe. I can take the recipe and input the ingredients into a tool such as that on Allrecipes.com or other cooking sites, but if I have the nutritional value per serving up front, it saves me oodles of time. Just a thought.
Hi Cheri! I actually do share nutrition labels on my newer recipes 🙂
Maybe I missed it, but do you have the nutritional information or macros for this recipe? Thanks!
I love these!! Thank you for such a great recipe! I had a different flavored protein powder on hand, so I used it instead and it worked great. I make a double batch of these on Sunday while baking my peanut butter oatmeal cookies. These become our healthy protein snacks for before and after exercise/sports for the whole family. I have to limit everyone to one or they would eat the whole batch!! Thank you for sharing! Now, on to try your No Bake Double Chocolate Breakfast Cookie………. YUM
So glad these were so well enjoyed! Thank you for the comment Sarah 🙂 I hope you love the double chocolate breakfast cookies!!
Just what I have been looking for!
These look beyond delicious! I can’t wait to make them. Thanks for this one!
Thank you Erin!
Oh my gosh these cookies are so cute. I will have to try them!