Gluten-free Protein Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Reduced Sugar Option

• Use a 1:1 brown sugar replacement (affiliate link); I’ve had good luck with this one.
• Use a 1:1 powdered sugar replacement (affiliate link); I’ve had good luck with this one.

I’ve had a few people say that they love GreenBites Sandwich Cookies, but that they’d like to see a recipe that they can easily make at home for cheaper. So, this is my gluten-free protein chocolate sandwich cookie offering for you guys that want a more affordable option!

I made this one with pea protein as the main protein source, because it’s a cheap baking option that is also gluten-free. If you’re looking for some other gluten-free high protein snacks, be sure to check out my Rice Crispy Treats and Chocolate Crunch Bar recipes.

If you don’t have a gluten-intolerance and maybe don’t like pea protein, I also have this protein chocolate sandwich cookies that use vital wheat gluten instead.

Ingredients

• Pea Protein Powder – I used pea protein powder for this recipe, specifically the one shown below. Baking with protein powders can be kind of weird and they all cook a little differently, so I would not recommend using a protein powder other than pea protein, because it I can’t guarantee it will turn out like the cookies shown.
• Sweet White Rice Flour – this is a gluten-free flour option, and it provides a little more structure to the cookies than the pea protein powder can on its own.
• Xanthan Gum – this is a thickening agent and stabilizer. Baked goods made with pea protein have a tendency to weep (drop water) after they cool off. Xanthan Gum and Rice Flour help retain the moisture and prevent it from dropping out.

• Flax Seed – this is my personal favorite egg replacement. It also has a decent amount of protein and fiber.
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Salt – adjust to taste

• Brown Sugar – if you’re reducing your sugar intake, you could replace this with a 1:1 sugar alternative. I have had good luck with monk fruit personally.
• Cocoa Powder
• Vanilla Extract
• Cinnamon

• Avocado Oil – this is my oil preference because it’s fairly flavorless. If you don’t have avocado oil, you could also use Canola oil.
• Powdered Sugar – if you’re trying to reduce your sugar intake, you could swap this with a 1:1 sugar alternative; I’ve had good luck with monk fruit.

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 F (177 C).
• In a large bowl, mix together water, brown sugar, ground flax and vanilla extract.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together pea protein powder, rice flour, cocoa powder, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together well (I use a spatula). Your mixture should look like this.

• Divide the cookie dough and roll into little balls (should be about 2 – 2.5 tablespoons each).
• Flatten the cookie balls and lay them out on a parchment paper-line baking sheet. They expand a bit so make sure they have a little space in between them.

• Bake for 9 – 10 minutes.
• While the cookies are baking, get a medium-small bowl and mix the powdered sugar and avocado oil together. I use a fork for this step. Your frosting should be about the consistency of the frosting used in Oreo cookies.

• Once the cookies are done baking, allow them to cool for at least 4 hours (longer if possible). Baked goods made with pea protein powder (specifically) have a tendency to “weep” or leak water after they have cooled off. We have used xanthan gum and rice flour in this recipe to counteract that, but it still happens a little. So just leave these on your counter for several hours until they’ve essentially stabilized; you may even throw in the fridge for a couple hours as well for good measure.
  • This step is vitally important and should definitely be done before adding the frosting to the cookies. Because the frosting is a powdered sugar base, if water leaks into it, it will melt like Frosty at the end of the movie. So just trust me on this.
  • If you’re going to eat these immediately, you don’t have to wait to frost them.

• Spread the frosting onto 5 of the cookies. It’s thick frosting so you really need to do some smooshing. I honestly just use my fingers when I make them for just me and my partner. If I was making them for you, I would obviously spread it with a spoon or knife, because I’m not a monster.
• Put the remaining cookies on top of the frosted cookies and enjoy!

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Easy to make and yummy

Pea protein powder