Whoever said that you can’t enjoy cookies while following a low-calorie diet has never had the pleasure of biting into one of these Powdered Peanut Butter Protein Cookies.
Let’s be real; we all crave a cookie now and then. The challenge is to satisfy that sweet tooth without going overboard on calories or sugar.
The good news? With these PB2 cookies, you can do just that.
Each cookie is only 55 calories and packs an impressive 6 grams of protein to boot.
If you love peanut butter (and let’s be real, who doesn’t?) then you’re going to love this powdered peanut butter cookie recipe.
Why You’ll Love These Powdered Peanut Butter Cookies
First off, these aren’t just any ordinary peanut butter cookies; they’re made using powdered peanut butter. If you’re not familiar with this ingredient, it’s about time you are.
Powdered peanut butter, especially PB2, is a fantastic way to get that delicious peanut flavor without all the fat and calories of traditional peanut butter. It’s basically roasted peanuts that have had most of the fat extracted and then ground into a powder.
PB2 is the most popular brand out there, but PBFit is another brand that I’ve used in the past and loved. No matter which brand you use, they should all pretty much work the same!
Additionally, this recipe utilizes oat flour, brown sugar substitute, and a special peanut butter-flavored protein powder, resulting in a decadent cookie that’s not just delicious but also protein-packed.
I recommend PEScience protein in all of my recipes, mainly because I prefer to bake with a whey/casein blend, but also because the flavors are unmatched. In particular, the peanut butter protein powder works amazingly well in this recipe for the ultimate flavor.
How to Make PB2 Cookies
Unlike some recipes out there, the ingredient list isn’t lengthy.
The major star here is PB2 or any other brand of powdered peanut butter you might have on hand. Combine that with the oat flour for some structure (or switch to almond flour if you’re keto), a brown sugar substitute to keep the sugar & calories low, and a scoop of peanut butter-flavored protein powder for an added protein kick.
Now, the unsweetened applesauce in this recipe acts both as a sweetener and a binder, giving these cookies a wonderful moistness without adding any unnecessary fats or sugars.
I’ve used canned pumpkin in recipes before to keep cookies soft, so that would likely work as well. Of course, you could opt for creamy peanut butter, but the calories will be much higher.
The prep work is very straightforward. Start by combining all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Add the applesauce to the bowl, then mix it all up until it becomes cookie dough.
One thing to keep in mind here is the type of protein powder you use. Different protein powders might absorb the applesauce differently, so you may need to adjust the amount just a tad if you opt for a different type of protein powder.
After dividing the dough into 8 portions, roll them into balls and set them on a parchment-lined baking sheet or nonstick cookie sheet.
These powdered peanut butter cookies take just 6 minutes to bake at 350 degrees, so they’ll be ready in no time.
As they bake, they’ll puff up beautifully, so don’t let that throw you off. Once the cookies come out of the oven and are still warm, you’ll simply press the tops down with your hands to flatten the cookies. Here’s a little before & after of what that looks like:
Once you flatten the cookies, you’ll notice that they aren’t perfectly round. This isn’t necessarily a problem, but if you prefer a beautiful round cookie, there’s a simple solution.
Ever heard of the cookie rounding trick with a cup? It’s one of my favorites! Using an upside-down cup or mug to give your cookies that perfect circular shape is not only fun but also gives them a professional look.
Simply flip a cup upside down to cover the cookie, then quickly move the cup in a circular motion to round the edges of your cookies.
Once they’ve cooled down for about 10 minutes, they will have set perfectly and it’ll be time to dig in! The great thing about these cookies is that they’re just as delicious days after baking as they are fresh from the oven.
Store any remaining cookies in an airtight container, and they’ll be your go-to sweet bite all week long.
More Recipes Using Powdered Peanut Butter
If you’re looking to cut down on the calorie count, there’s another PB2 recipe I have up my sleeve with only 20 calories per cookie thanks to PB2 and canned pumpkin.
But don’t worry, I have plenty of other recipes for the peanut butter lover you have proven to be. Let’s put that powdered peanut butter to good use with some of these delicious recipes:
- Low Calorie Cookies With Only 20 Calories
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies
- Creamy Protein Peanut Butter
- Little Debbie Peanut Butter Creme Pies Made Healthy
- Protein Popcorn: Low-Calorie & Customizable
Powdered Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
Using powdered peanut butter and a few other very simple ingredients, you can make the perfect low-calorie treat! These cookies are ready from scratch in only about 20 minutes, so you'll have no reason to not give these a try.
Ingredients
- 31g (1 Scoop) Peanut Butter Flavored PEScience Protein Powder (or comparable whey/casein blend protein powder)
- 30g Oat Flour (can be swapped for almond flour if you need a keto-friendly option)
- 39g PB2 (or other powdered peanut butter)
- 30g Brown Sugar Substitute (or regular brown sugar)
- 60g Unsweetened Applesauce
- 1/4 tsp Baking Soda
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, add all of your dry ingredients (everything except the applesauce). Give everything a quick mix to combine.
- Add the applesauce and use a silicone spatula to mix until it forms a peanut butter cookie dough. If you use a different type of protein powder, you may need to adjust the amount of applesauce needed as different types of protein absorb differently.
- Use a small cookie scoop (or spoon) to divide the dough up into 8 pieces. Roll each piece of cookie dough into a ball and place them on a cookie sheet or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 6 minutes.
- Remove the cookies from the oven. They will look puffy at this stage, but that is to be expected. Using your hand, gently press down the tops of the cookies to flatten them. Allow the cookies to fully cool and set for about 10 minutes.
- If you want your cookies to be perfectly round, flip a cup or mug upside down and place it over your cookie. Quickly move the cup around in a circular motion so the cookie moves in a circle- this is a great trick to round the edges of your cookies while they are still cooking.
- Enjoy these PB2 cookies fresh, or store them in an airtight container and enjoy them throughout the week.
Notes
- Want an even lower-calorie option? I have another recipe that utilizes PB2 with only 20 calories per cookie that you can find here.
- These cookies are quite small, but that was the goal with this recipe. You can follow this same recipe to make 4 larger cookies if you prefer.
- All of the ingredients are safe to consume raw, so you can underbake these peanut butter cookies without worry.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1 Small CookieAmount Per Serving Calories 55Total Fat 1gCarbohydrates 6gProtein 6g