NO BAKE PROTEIN COOKIES
I actually started making these as “lactation” cookies due to the ingredients being supportive of milk supply. NOOOO they aren’t just for lactating women, they are for kids, men and everyone in between. The best part about them is they take such a small amount of time to make and you can freeze them for weeks making them easy to bulk prep!
Ingredients
1 cup Old-fashioned rolled oats – whole grains, for breastfeeding women, increase your milk supply by stimulating the prolactin hormone responsible for milk production. They are also just plain rich in some really great minerals like manganese, magnesium, zinc and also B vitamins.
1/4 cup Ground flaxseed – flaxseed contains phytoestrogens and healthy fatty acids including omega-6 and omega-3.
3 TBSP Brewer’s yeast – this is a great natural plant supplement high in iron, vitamins, chromium, selenium, and plenty of other minerals. It’s not only used to boost milk production but also helps with post-partum mood. It has a decent amount of protein per serving too!
2 Scoops Collagen powder or vanilla protein powder – Ora Organics is my go to.
1/2 cup Peanut butter – I like to use a natural drippy nut butter as it makes it really easier to mix. Almond or peanut butter are my go to’s but I could see tahini or cashew butter being super tasty!
1/4 cup Maple syrup or brown rice syrup or agave syrup.
6 TBSP Unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/4 cup Dark chocolate chips – I used dairy-free chocolate chips from Enjoy Life brand.
2 TBSP Pumpkin seeds
2 TBSP Chopped almonds – nuts are packed with protein, calcium, and healthy fat
Few dashes of Sea Salt
Instructions
Add all dry ingredients into a large bowl and combine well.
In another bowl, combine the liquid ingredients: maple syrup, peanut butter, almond milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Then, combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until it forms a dough that you can easily squeeze together to shape balls. Flatten the balls into a pancake with the base of your hand (especially if you plan to freeze, it makes them easier to defrost and bite into).
Tips and Storage
The dough becomes less sticky and easier to work with if you let the ‘batter’ sit in the fridge for 10 minutes before forming into balls.
Slightly grease your hand with coconut oil or even just water first to prevent the dough to stick to your hands.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 days or freeze for MUCH longer. Thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.