No baking required for these easy Protein Breakfast Cookies, made to look and taste like a cinnamon roll! They’re loaded with good ingredients and (optionally) drizzled with melted white chocolate.
Protein Breakfast Cookies
These protein-packed breakfast cookies are flavored to taste like a cinnamon roll and they’re my latest obsession. I’ve been meal prepping these almost every Sunday for weeks now and I thought it was time to share them! The base is adapted from a recipe my sister texted me — one of her favorite energy ball recipes.
When I told her I’m trying to increase the amount of protein in snacks (instead of always snacking on this white chocolate chex mix) she suggested those energy bites. They’ve got so much protein in them, from the almond butter to the buttermilk pancake mix, to the actual protein powder. But the best part about these breakfast cookies? They are so flavorful and can actually pass for a healthy-tasting cookie. I mean, my boys inhale these, which is saying something for the flavor.
Ingredients
None of the brands I mention below are sponsoring this post or website; they are just what I use and love in these protein breakfast cookies.
Almondbutter: I like using an all-natural almond butter in these protein breakfast cookies. My favorite is Justin’s® vanilla almond butter, but their plain almond butter is delicious as well.
Pure maple syrup: Maple syrup is high in antioxidants and nutrients (like zinc, magnesium, calcium, and potassium). Maple syrup has a higher concentration of minerals and antioxidants, with fewer calories than honey. (Read more about health benefits here.) It also contributes a good cinnamon roll flavor to these bites.
Vanilla proteinpowder: to keep these bites from tasting overly chalky or protein powder-like, use a good stevia-sweetened Whey protein (or whatever protein is YOUR favorite). I personally like the optimum nutrition gold standard whey vanilla protein powder best (affiliate link).
Kodiak Cakes® Power Cakes Buttermilk Mix: This mix is made of whole wheat flour, oat flour, and lots of protein, so it makes a great base for these bites. If you don’t have access to this mix or don’t want to use it, I have had success by using half almond flour and half oat flour in place of the mix. The bites need to chill a little to set up with the oat flour and almond flour, but they work!
Groundcinnamon: Hence the cinnamon roll flavor!
Vanillaextract: Optional ingredient, but it adds a nice subtle flavor.
Fine sea salt: The salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors — don’t leave it out!
How to make Protein Breakfast Cookies
These steps correspond to the numbered photos above.
Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl.
Stir the mixture; it’s thick and will seem like it’s not coming together, but keep stirring (or use hand mixers to speed up the process).
Here’s how the dough looks when everything is combined.
Use a small cookiescoop (I use a 1-inch one) to form balls.
All the dough in miniature balls — you can stop here and eat these as energy bites (another one of our favorite ways to enjoy this recipe) or…
Flatten the balls to make small cookies.
Add melted white chocolate mixture to a small bag and pipeon the cookies.
Repeat until all the protein breakfast cookies have a cinnamon roll swirl.
No baking required for these easy Protein Breakfast Cookies made to look like a cinnamon roll! They're loaded with good ingredients and (optionally) drizzled with melted white chocolate.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cinnamon breakfast cookies
Servings: 41cookies
Calories: 41kcal
Ingredients
1/2cupalmond butter
1/2cuppure maple syrup
2/3 cup + 1 tablespoonKodiak Cakes Power Cakes Buttermilk Mix
1scoop (1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon (32g)vanilla protein powder
1/2teaspoonpure vanilla extract
1tablespoonground cinnamon
1/8teaspoonfine sea salt
Optional white chocolate drizzle
1/4cupwhite chocolate chips
1/2teaspooncoconut oil
1/16teaspoonground cinnamon
Instructions
COOKIES: In a large bowl combine the 1/2 cup almond butter, 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, 2/3 cups + 1 tablespoon Kodiak mix, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt. Mix well with a hand mixer or a wooden spoon.
SCOOP: 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.
FORM: Press the balls flat and form into a small cookie shape. Place on a parchment paper- lined tray.
OPTIONAL WHITE CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE: In a small bowl combine the 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil (measure when melted). Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, until melted and smooth. Stir in the 1/16 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Transfer to a small bag and cut a tiny tip off the end corner. Pipe a swirl on top of all the cookies.
STORAGE: Allow the white chocolate to harden at room temperature. Then cover cookies tightly and store in the fridge or freezer. I put them in a small airtight bags in the freezer and transfer a bag at a time to the fridge to enjoy.
YUM! I actually totally have cinnamon bun flavoured protein powder on hand ALL THE TIME. So this needs to happen to my belly. I love that drizzle…it’s so small that the unhealthiness TOTALLY doesn’t count 😉
Okay so awesome! I just tried the cinnamon bun protein powder for the first time a week ago and am so obsessed with it now! SO good. And I need to hear all the ways you use yours 🙂 Totally agree with you! So glad it doesn’t count haha 🙂
I am a big fan of anything cinnamon and love the sound of these no-bake cookies! Love how fast they are to make and my skinny jeans will definitely be thanking you twenty-eight or maybe a gazillion times too 🙂
SUCH a good idea, and a great use of protein powder. I’m one of those people who needs sweet things for breakfast, so I always struggle with how to make a healthy eat in the morning.
I am so on board with cookies for breakfast!! Although you’re right, the skinny jeans will be much happier if I stick to healthy cookies like these. They look amazing! I love the swirl of icing – just like a real cinamon roll!
Oh my! No bake? Cinnamon Roll? This sounds like a perfect mix! I am glad I live in a big family otherwise I would eat all of them by myself. I know I would! Love the blog! I will be stopping back soon.
Oh, I love the idea of healthy cinnamon roll cookies. These would be such a treat for breakfast! I need to get me some of that cinnamon bun protein powder! I am so really glad you invented these. 🙂
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
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.
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
YUM! I actually totally have cinnamon bun flavoured protein powder on hand ALL THE TIME. So this needs to happen to my belly.
I love that drizzle…it’s so small that the unhealthiness TOTALLY doesn’t count 😉
chelseamessyapron says
Okay so awesome! I just tried the cinnamon bun protein powder for the first time a week ago and am so obsessed with it now! SO good. And I need to hear all the ways you use yours 🙂 Totally agree with you! So glad it doesn’t count haha 🙂
Sunny says
Where do u get the protein powder?
Joanne says
WHOA. I’m pretty enamored with these. If I COULD, I would eat cinnamon rolls daily, but obviously can’t because, skinny jeans…so these cookies it is!
chelseamessyapron says
Haha exactly! Cookies instead of cinnamon rolls will have to do 🙂 And they are pretty dang good!
Kelly says
I am a big fan of anything cinnamon and love the sound of these no-bake cookies! Love how fast they are to make and my skinny jeans will definitely be thanking you twenty-eight or maybe a gazillion times too 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
Haha! Thanks so much Kelly! 🙂
Beth @ The First Year Blog says
Amazing. Again, more reasons we need to be neighbors 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
Um yes Beth we do because I’m seriously craving those mini cheesecakes you posted! 🙂
Todd | HonestlyYUM says
This is too good to be true!! How can anyone not want breakfast cookies?!?
chelseamessyapron says
Haha totally agree with you! Thanks Todd
Marie @ Little Kitchie says
Cookies for breakfast… especially when they taste like cinnamon rolls… just too good!
chelseamessyapron says
Haha they are my new favorite! Thank you Marie 🙂
Shikha @ Shikha la mode says
SUCH a good idea, and a great use of protein powder. I’m one of those people who needs sweet things for breakfast, so I always struggle with how to make a healthy eat in the morning.
chelseamessyapron says
I’m totally the same way! Thanks Shikha!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
I am so on board with cookies for breakfast!! Although you’re right, the skinny jeans will be much happier if I stick to healthy cookies like these. They look amazing! I love the swirl of icing – just like a real cinamon roll!
chelseamessyapron says
Haha I wish skinny jeans would let us eat lots of cookies for breakfast 🙂 Thanks so much Cate!
Ratherbebaking says
Does anyone have a calorie count on the no bake breakfast cookies?
chelseamessyapron says
If you make 10 cookies out of this recipe each one will be 136 calories 🙂
Layla @ Brunch Time Baker says
Yes!! This is the perfect no back breakfast! They look amazing!
chelseamessyapron says
Thanks Layla!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit says
These are so great! I love no bake cookies, and with a little extra protein, how could you go wrong?
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you Sarah!!
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled says
Cookies for breakfast, sign me up!! Chelsea these look so delicious, I need to make these ASAP! Thanks for sharing, pinned 🙂
Kloesunny @ Kloe's Kitchen says
Oh my! No bake? Cinnamon Roll? This sounds like a perfect mix! I am glad I live in a big family otherwise I would eat all of them by myself. I know I would! Love the blog! I will be stopping back soon.
Beth @ bethcakes says
Oh, I love the idea of healthy cinnamon roll cookies. These would be such a treat for breakfast! I need to get me some of that cinnamon bun protein powder! I am so really glad you invented these. 🙂
marcie says
These cookies sound so delicious, Chelsea, and that darling swirl makes them look even more irresistible! Pinning!
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you Marcie! And thanks for the pin 🙂
Dina says
these are so cute and they look delish!
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you Dina!
[email protected] says
You have the best breakfast cookie recipes Chelsea! I love how healthy but yummy these look! (No fun eating healthy food that doesn’t taste good! 😉 )
chelseamessyapron says
I completely agree! It’s gotta taste good or it’s not worth it 🙂 thanks!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
OMG. I love these! Cookies for breakfast = good day.
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you so much Dorothy!! And I saw you pinned them – thank you! 🙂
nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
My husband is obsessed with cinnamon rolls, OBSESSED! We’re both trying to watch our weight right now, and these would be perfect in our diet!
chelseamessyapron says
Haha! Seriously our husbands have the same taste buds I’m convinced. Cinnamon rolls are my hubby’s favorite too!
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen says
These are so cute. Can’t wait to try them out!
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you Julie!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
WHAAAAT??!!! geeeenius!!! omgosh I love that these are like cinnamon roll cookies that are healthy! YUM!
chelseamessyapron says
Haha!! thanks Kayle 🙂
Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says
Oh my gosh these cookies are so cute. I will have to try them! Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday.
Erin @ Making Memories says
These look beyond delicious! I can’t wait to make them. Thanks for this one!
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you Erin!
chelseamessyapron says
No they do not require any refrigeration 🙂
eileen says
Just what I have been looking for!
Sarah says
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
chelseamessyapron says
So glad these were so well enjoyed! Thank you for the comment Sarah 🙂 I hope you love the double chocolate breakfast cookies!!
Mollie says
Maybe I missed it, but do you have the nutritional information or macros for this recipe? Thanks!
Cheri says
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.
chelseamessyapron says
Hi Cheri! I actually do share nutrition labels on my newer recipes 🙂