Healthy Pumpkin Cookies (with added protein)
These healthy pumpkin cookies (with added protein) are perfectly soft with just the right amount of pumpkin and spice! These cookies are incredibly simple to make and at just under 50 calories per cookie you can’t go wrong – even if you ate two or three in one sitting!
Have you jumped on the pumpkin bandwagon, yet, this year? I know I look forward to pumpkin recipes all year long. Once September hits, it’s all I can do to not make every recipe a pumpkin recipe. Ha! Especially when it comes to dessert and snack recipes. There’s something so comforting about having a soft pumpkin spiced cookie on a chilly fall day alongside my cup of coffee or tea.
Mmmmmm, oh my word and these are so good. The kids really love them too and I find myself always wanting more. Fortunately, this recipe is super easy to make and guilt-free, so these are going to be happening often in our house.
Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Cookies
There’s a good chance you have everything you need for this easy recipe! You will have some yummy healthy pumpkin cookies in no time! Here’s what you need:
- Oats. For these cookies, I like to use regular old-fashioned rolled oats. However, if you want less of an oat texture, you can use quick oats or oat flour.
- Protein powder. I like Tone It Up or PEScience protein best, but feel free to use what you have on hand.
- Sweetener. You can, of course, use regular sugar here. I like to use Swerve sugar replacement because it tastes and bakes just like regular sugar without any calories.
- Cozy spices. This spice combination is what gives these cookies that classic pumpkin pie flavor.
- Salt. Really brings out the pumpkin flavor!
- Baking powder and baking soda. To help these rise a bit.
- Unsweetened applesauce. Applesauce adds some sweetness to the cookies and also acts as a binder.
- Canned pumpkin. Use 100% pure canned pumpkin for these cookies. Don’t grab pumpkin pie filling by mistake, which has added spices and sugar.
- Egg white. Adds a boost of protein while helping to hold these cookies together.
- Optional mix-ins. Chocolate chips are optional, but I highly recommend. Who else loves a pumpkin/chocolate chip combo? I also really love throwing some chopped pecans and craisins in the mix!
Let’s make some Skinny Pumpkin Protein Cookies! I know you will LOVE them!
This recipe is easy and fast! Just 1 bowl, simple methods, and 20 minutes start to finish (cooking and all). And they just so happen to be soooo moist, so tender, so sweet, so spicy, so tasty… SO DREAMY… just without butter, sugar, or oil.
I can’t wait for you guys to try these cookies. And I also can’t wait to whip them up again! They’re:
Soft and chewy
Pumpkin-flavored
Wholesome
& so very perfect for fall!
They pair wonderfully with a steamy cup o’ joe, make an excellent 4pm snack, and are perfectly acceptable to squeeze in right before midnight. Not speaking from experience or anything… 😉
More Pumpkin Recipes To Try:
If you try these healthy pumpkin cookies recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Skinny Pumpkin Protein Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats or 1 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup protein powder or additional 1/4 cup oat flour
- 3/4 cup sweetener that measures like sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or additional cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- If using rolled oats, use a food processor or blender to grind them to a flour-like consistency.
- In a medium mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
- Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir together wet ingredients. Then stir the entire mixture together. It will seem very dry at first, keep stirring. It will become batter-like eventually.
- Scoop 1/8 cup (or 2 tablespoons) of dough onto baking sheet per cookie. Flatten them out slightly, as they don't spread much. Sprinkle with a few chocolate chips if desired before baking, and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until set. Enjoy!
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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What kind of protein powder did you use? The different types all have very different properties.
I’ve updated the notes section of the recipe with that link. I love all of IdealLean protein!
Don’t you just love fall cooking – pumpkins all over the place. What surprises me is that I can buy canned pumpkin all year long and I never think about doing it.
I love pumpkin regardless of the season. The recipe says skinny which means I can enjoy a couple without the guilt.
All about that oatmeal, protein and pumpkin! whoo hoo
I am not a big pumpkin fan but these protein cookies do sound yummy and very healthy. Seems easy enough to make, may have to give them a try to on the go snack ideas! Thanks for sharing
I do love my pumpkin stuff, so I need to make these soon! They look fabulous.
These cookies sound and look so good! And so healthy! Cookies are never healthy! I love cookies so much, I need to find a healthier alternative and these are perfect!
These look amazing, and I don’t even like pumpkin! Haha!
I think I am going to try these with whole grain wheat instead of protein ( I hate these things with a passion) and maybe honey. Have you made them with honey by any chance?
I think whole grain wheat would work just fine. As for the honey, I have not tried that. Good luck and if you do try it… let us know how it turns out.
I saw this on Instagram & found them so amazing! I had to check out this post for the recipe!! 🙂
This looks mouth watering. Kids would love this for sure. It looks easy to make and healthy. I saved your recipe. Thank you for sharing!
These look dangerously good! Skinny + protein means I can have a dozen right? Just kidding!
I’ve been wanting to bake some cookies for a while now. Glad I found this yummy looking one! I can’t wait to try it!
Mmmm…these pumpkin cookies look scrumptious! And I love the color and texture. I need to make a few batches of these beauties this season. Some for me and some to share. 🙂
These pumpkin cookies looks so good. I have to try them I am saving your recipe !!
These look absolutely delicious. Would love to try your recipe. Thank you for sharing.
Oh wow arent these the perfect fall treat to have with a cup of tea. I’m going to be trying to make these tomorrow for a potluck Im having.
These look delicious and easy to make, am surely gonna try this one weekend . Thanks for the recipe
I have an apple allergy (weird, I know). What could I substitute for the applesauce?
You can use additional coconut oil or additional pumpkin or mashed banana and they will be just as delicious!
These pumpkin recipes sound so good, I would love to make these skinny pumpkin cookies and the grandma’s pumpkin pie dessert squares. Yummy!!! Thanks for sharing the delicious recipes.
I’ve never, ever been a pumpkin anything gal until this past Christmas. I was at an event to review/promote and the dessert was pumpkin pie. I’m pretty sure my taste buds have changed because I remember I found myself asking for coffee to go with it. And now? Now, these look like they’d go great with the cup of java I have sitting beside me!
Oh these are perfect for snacking! Must try it this weekend!
these look yummy. i’m all about the pumpkin recipes. love it.
Did you use whey or casein protein? I can’t wait to make these!
Whey. I added what I used to the recipe card in the notes section. Hope you love them!
I made these and used booby body protein powder and yum! They make a great skinny lactation cookie for us nursing mamas. Thanks for this!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed! Thanks so much for taking time to comment!
Did you use chocolate or vanilla protein? Can’t wait to make these!
I used vanilla, but you could totally use chocolate. Enjoy!
In the picture, the oats don’t look like they were grinded down to a flour – do you add some full oats in later? I’m making these today!
I can’t yield 48 cookies with the amounts here. Unsure what is different??
This recipe makes about 16 cookies. The 48 you’re referencing is probably calories.
Oh my goodness you are right!
These are awesome btw thanks for sharing!!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed!
Very good. I used Rsp Protein vanilla powder and substituted whole wheat flour and honey for the sugar. I mixed some sugar free chocolate chips in the batter. So good! I have made on a cookie sheet and a mini muffin pan. Recipe made 24 cookies or mini muffins.
Thanks so much for your feedback! I’m so happy you enjoyed!
These were not as pumpkiny as I hoped. Next time I will do more pumpkin rather than the applesauce. They were good as written though.