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 plated and ready to be enjoyed.

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. 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.

Assortment of ingredients for the high protein breakfast cookies, featuring Kodiak Cakes buttermilk mix and more. 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.

  • Almond butter: I like using 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. Because there is no egg, this really binds the ingredients.
  • Pure maple syrup: Maple syrup is full of antioxidants and nutrients like zinc, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. It has more minerals and fewer calories than honey, and it adds a tasty cinnamon roll flavor to these bites. (Read more about health benefits here.)
  • Vanilla protein powder: To keep these bites from tasting chalky or like protein powder, 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.
  • 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. Alternatively, 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!
  • Ground cinnamon: Hence the cinnamon roll flavor!
  • Vanilla extract: Optional ingredient, but it adds a nice subtle flavor.
  • Salt: The salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors — don’t leave it out!

Creating the healthy snacks, from mixing ingredients to forming and baking.

How To Make Protein Breakfast Cookies

These steps correspond to the numbered photos above.

  1. Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl.
  2. Stir the mixture; it’s thick and will seem like it’s not coming together, but keep stirring (or use a hand mixer to speed up the process).
  3. Here’s how the dough looks when everything is combined.
  4. Use a small cookie scoop (I use a 1-inch one) to form balls.
  5. Shape all the dough into miniature balls — you can stop here and eat these as energy bites (another one of our favorite ways to enjoy this recipe) or…
  6. Flatten the balls to make small cookies.
  7. Add melted white chocolate mixture to a small bag and pipe on the cookies.
  8. Repeat until all the cookies have a cinnamon roll swirl.

Delicious snacks plated and ready to enjoy.

Storage

Storing High Protein Breakfast Cookies

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 Healthy Snacks:

5 from 8 votes

Protein Breakfast Cookies

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.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 41 cookies

Ingredients 
 

  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Buttermilk Mix
  • 1 scoop (1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

Optional white chocolate drizzle

  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 1/16 teaspoon ground 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 small airtight bags in the freezer and transfer a bag at a time to the fridge to enjoy.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 41cookies | Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.2g | Protein: 1.3g | Fat: 1.8g | Cholesterol: 0.1mg | Sodium: 30.8mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2.9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hi there! Iโ€™m Chelseaโ€“the recipe developer, photographer, writer, and taste tester behind Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron (although my little ones help me out quite a bit with the taste testing part!). I LOVE getting creative in the kitchen and then posting my creations here for you to enjoy.

Thanks again for stopping by!

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5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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50 Comments

  1. Kayle says:

    5 stars
    WHAAAAT??!!! geeeenius!!! omgosh I love that these are like cinnamon roll cookies that are healthy! YUM!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Haha!! thanks Kayle ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Julie says:

    These are so cute. Can’t wait to try them out!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thank you Julie!

  3. Dorothy says:

    OMG. I love these! Cookies for breakfast = good day.

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thank you so much Dorothy!! And I saw you pinned them – thank you! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. 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!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Haha! Seriously our husbands have the same taste buds I’m convinced. Cinnamon rolls are my hubby’s favorite too!

  5. Renee 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! ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      I completely agree! It’s gotta taste good or it’s not worth it ๐Ÿ™‚ thanks!

  6. Dina says:

    these are so cute and they look delish!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thank you Dina!

  7. marcie says:

    These cookies sound so delicious, Chelsea, and that darling swirl makes them look even more irresistible! Pinning!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thank you Marcie! And thanks for the pin ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Beth says:

    Oh, I love the idea of healthy cookies. These would be such a treat for breakfast! I need to get me some of that protein powder! I am so really glad you invented these. ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Layla says:

    Yes!! This is the perfect no bake breakfast! They look amazing!

    1. chelseamessyapron says:

      Thanks Layla!

  10. 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.