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Cookies and cream protein bars are a homemade version of the Quest Cookies and Cream protein bars. Soft, chewy, and made with healthy ingredients, these cookies and cream protein bars take 10 minutes to make! Vegan and Gluten Free.
I am a certified snacker. If I’m not snacking on peanut butter cookies or oatmeal cookie bars, I’m definitely noshing on these cookies and cream protein bars.
After being a die hard quest protein bar fan, I just couldn’t justify spending tons of money each week on store bought protein bars. My all time favorite protein bar flavor is Cookies and Cream, so I decided to make my own!
Not only was it much cheaper and more delicious, I knew EXACTLY what was going in them.
The texture was spot on- Thick, soft and chewy protein bars that are stable at room temperature. The taste was fantastic- Sweet, satisfying and loaded with chunks of chocolate cookie pieces.
These protein bars are completely vegan and gluten free, with tips to make them keto and paleo!
How to make cookies and cream protein bars
The Ingredients
- Oat Flour– It’s just ground up oatmeal. You can make your own or store bought. Be sure you use gluten free oats, to keep it gluten free.
- Coconut Flour- Works well with the oat flour, to keep the bars extra chewy. If you don’t want to use coconut flour, add more oat flour.
- Protein Powder– You can use vanilla flavored or unflavored. Be sure you like the taste of it, as it will be quite evident.
- Granulated sweetener of choice– Optional, but recommended if your protein powder is unflavored or unsweetened.
- Almond butter– Smooth and drippy almond butter, with no added sugar or salt. You can use any nut or seed butter butter, provided it has a smooth texture.
- Maple syrup– Gives the protein bars sweetness, and holds them together. You can use agave nectar or brown rice syrup if you prefer.
- Chocolate Cookies– Crumble up some chocolate cookies for the delicious cookie flavor. Feel free to use store bought cookies if that is what you have on hand.
- Milk of choice– To help form the dough into bars! Use any milk that you prefer!
The Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients and mix well. Add in your almond butter and syrup, and mix until a crumbly texture remains. Slowly add the milk, until a thick batter remains. Gently fold through your crumbled chocolate cookies. Transfer the protein bar batter into a lined 8 x 8-inch pan. Refrigerate until firm, around 2 hours. Once firm, cut into bars.
Can I make this keto and paleo?
To make these keto friendly, replace the oat flour with 1 cup of coconut flour (total- do not add the extra coconut flour). Instead of using maple syrup, use keto maple syrup. The rest of the ingredients are already keto, so you’ll be good to go!
Storing and Freezing Tips
- To store: Cookies and cream protein bars can be stored at room temperature, in a sealed container. They will keep well for at least 1 week. Store them in the refrigerator to keep them for longer.
- To freeze: These protein bars can be stored in the freezer in a ziplock bag or freezer friendly container. They will freeze well for at least 6 months.
More homemade protein bar recipes
No Bake Cookies and Cream Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups oat flour
- ½ cup coconut flour can sub for almond or more oat flour
- ½ cup protein powder
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice * See notes
- 2-3 chocolate cookies crumbles
- ½ cup almond butter can sub for any nut or seed butter
- ½ cup maple syrup can sub for agave nectar or brown rice syrup
- 1/4 cup milk of choice ** See notes
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In large mixing bowl, combine the flour, protein powder, granulated sweetener and set aside.
- Add the almond butter and syrup, and mix well, until a crumbly batter remains.
- Using a spoon, add the milk of choice one spoonful at a time until a thick, firm batter is formed. Gently fold through the crumbled cookies.
- Transfer to lined baking dish and press firmly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Notes
** Depending on the flour/protein powder combination, you may need more or less. I used up to 3/4 cup milk.
Nutrition
Yeah, college, I remember those days! Love cookies and cream and will definitely try these ! Pinned!
Please do, Mira! 🙂
I literally have no words. These look amazing. Do you ship to Canada? Better yet… do you deliver in person?
Your a gem. I will deliver in person! 😀
Just wait until you’re using that blender to guzzle fruit smoothies. Mark my words, it’ll happen.
I love the look of the frittata with cheese. Mmm.
I made zucchini roll ups once. They were inedible. Maybe I should have busted out the blender instead.
Someone made a ball gown out of Quest Bars? I think I might hurl.
I like your sketch free version. Speaking of sketchy, in college, I lived on Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and cheap beer.
Hahaha it was you, wasn’t it! 😉
I’m not going to lie, most of my budget went on alcohol… Then food! But the legal age in the UK is 18 so at least it was all above board! Haha!
Favourite grab and go snack is dates – although I have found these date rolls here that are either coated in coconut, almonds or pistachios! So addicted!
Hahahaha YES team legal at 18! Ohhhh you’re in for a treat- I’m recreating the ‘Summer roll’ in a paleo style 🙂
My money went to books. Not textbooks, books for pleasure I bought off Amazon because there was no fiction section in the library. I was still reading, so I told myself I could slack off on other studies.
Oh nice! I love reading!
My college student is pretty pathetic in the cooking dept although I imagine he will learn at some point. Right now all he ever cooks is kale. I know, that’s a bizarre one, isn’t it? Anyway, I might just have to make these and send a care package!
If I was your son, I would be bribing you to fedex some home goodies on a consistent basis! But KALE? Wow. That’s impressive!
Well since I will eventually run out of quest bars, this could be a good option, although I own none of those ingredients. Not yet!
YES! Do it, Tonya- I wish there was a way to send stuff, I’d send you all my no bakes seriously!
I love this cookie and cream bars, and you used my favorite flour! 🙂 And, I have to admit I love the chocolate chip cookie dough Quest bars — they are always in my pantry.
ooooo I love that- That’s coming up in the new future 🙂
These look like healthy quest bars to me!! Cookies n Cream anything is a win in my book.. and when you take out any nasty ingredients – I’m all for it!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth!
Coming from someone who doesn’t like Quest bars, I am so excited to try these out! I’m going to be an incoming college freshman, so I don’t know exactly where all my “extra” money is going to go, but I have a suspicion it is going to all go to food 😀
Thanks for the natural, high quality protein bar recipe! I have a feeling this is going to be one of my new favorite treats!
Please do, Alison- I like where all your money will be going towards 🙂
Not in college yet, but my money usually goes into food and other knacks I find at the mall or online!
My go-to snack is Greek yogurt with peanut butter or cacao powder and Stevia–but sometimes I go crazy and make a mini stack of coconut flour pancakes! If I’m out and about, I like a nice Quest bar or any healthy bar out there 😀
Hahaha love it!
Ahhh the college budget. I’m impressed with you saving up and not phoning your parents when times got a little tougher. I think I’m more on the same boat as your sis ;). But anywhooo, these look amazing! King of the No-Bake ANYTHING.
Hahaha such a princess :p
Thanks buddy!
I’m glad I didn’t really know about the delight of Quest Bars until recently. These creations you’ve come up with sound just divine … if only you could send me a batch! 🙂
Haha, promise I will make them for you in person when I’m on the West coast 🙂