High-Protein Cream Cheese Cookies
These soft, creamy cookies are rich in flavor and made with cream cheese, butter, and protein-rich ingredients. With a tender texture and lightly sweetened flavor, they make a delicious snack or dessert. Use almond flour and a scoop of protein powder to create a low-carb, higher-protein version.
Servings: 12 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 10–14 minutes
Total Time: 40–45 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (56 g) butter, softened
- 2 oz (56 g) light cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (100–112 g) blanched almond flour
- ½ cup (about 45–60 g) vanilla protein powder
- ⅓ cup powdered erythritol or monk fruit sweetener
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Optional additions:
- 2 tablespoons sugar-free chocolate chips
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1–2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk if the dough is too dry
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese
In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and powdered sweetener until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla
Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Step 4: Add the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the cream cheese mixture. Stir until a soft cookie dough forms. If the dough feels too dry, add almond milk one teaspoon at a time.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Refrigerate the dough for about 20 minutes. Chilling helps make it easier to shape and prevents the cookies from spreading too much.
Step 6: Shape the Cookies
Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie and roll gently into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Flatten slightly with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
Step 7: Bake
Bake for 10–14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look set. Avoid overbaking, as protein powder can make cookies dry.
Step 8: Cool and Serve
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5–10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They will firm up as they cool.
Enjoy them plain or with a few sugar-free chocolate chips mixed into the dough.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Serving tip: These cookies taste delicious chilled, when the cream cheese flavor becomes more pronounced.
Approximate Nutrition
Per cookie, assuming 12 cookies:
- Calories: 115–145
- Protein: 5–7 g
- Fat: 9–11 g
- Total Carbs: 2–4 g
- Net Carbs: 1–3 g
Nutrition varies depending on the protein powder, almond flour, sweetener, and cream cheese used.
Are These Cookies High-Protein, Keto, and Weight-Loss Friendly?
- High-protein: They contain more protein than traditional cream cheese cookies, especially when made with protein powder. The exact amount depends on the brand.
- Keto-friendly: They can fit a keto diet when made with almond flour and a zero-sugar sweetener. Check the carbohydrate content of your protein powder.
- Weight-loss friendly: They can be enjoyed in controlled portions, but calories still matter. Pair them with a balanced, protein-rich diet rather than relying on the cookies alone.
Tip: For the best texture, use a vanilla whey or casein protein powder that works well in baking. Different powders absorb moisture differently, so adjust the almond milk as needed.
Make the nutrition estimates more preciseClarify the protein powder measurements
