I came up with this one-bowl wonder when writing my book. I needed something quick and simple to satisfy my family’s sweet tooth. These basic chocolate cookies kill any chocolate and sweet cravings and they are also easy to tweak.
My cookie experiments
I got the idea to this recipe actually from my Vanilla Toffee Butter Cookies. After jotting down my ideas for chocolate cookies I had to make several test batches before I was satisfied. First I used too much erythritol and that made too strong cooling effect to the cookies. I was a bit afraid if the cookies are not sweet enough if I reduce the amount of erythritol, but they actually tasted really good and sweet enough to my family.
After I had reduced the amount of erythritol I noticed that there is too much whey protein. The cookies were chewy and sticky but not in a nice way. I also wanted to try if more cocoa powder would give better chocolate flavor. In my next experiment I added one tablespoon more cocoa powder. The cookies were better but I still wanted to continue experimenting.
I kept the amount of cocoa powder, butter and erythritol the same, but decreased the amount of whey protein from 1/3 cup (80 ml) to 1/4 cup (60 ml). I also increased the amount of almond flour to 4 oz (115 g). Previously I had used 3 oz (85 g). Now I was finally really satisfied with the recipe. So was my family. All in all, I was happy with the crunchy texture of the cookies, the flavor just needed some fine-tuning in the end.
(Note to self: If I’ll ever need “cat poo” when creating a litter box cake to my low-carb Halloween party, I’m definitely going to use this dough!)
- 1 cup = 240 ml almond flour
- 1/4 cup = 60 ml vanilla-flavored whey protein OR this one
- 3 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
- 3 oz = 85 g organic grass-fed butter, softened
- 1/4 cup = 60 ml erythritol crystals
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Mix and knead with clean hands until the dough is smooth and without any lumps.
- Shape the dough into small walnut-sized balls, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and flatten the balls with wet fingertips.
- Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the center of the cookies is slightly higher than the edges. Be careful, the cookies get overbaked very easily. It’s better to bake them too little than too long.
- Let cool completely before removing from the baking sheet or even touching them. (Important!)
- Store in a cool and dry place.
| Nutrition information | Protein | Fat | Net carbs | kcal |
| The whole batch: | 48.7 g | 140.3 g | 12.1 g | 1512 kcal |
| Per cookie if 12 cookies in a batch: | 4.1 g | 11.7 g | 1.0 g | 126 kcal |
| Per cookie if 16 cookies in a batch: | 3.0 g | 8.8 g | 0.8 g | 94 kcal |
| Per cookie if 20 cookies in a batch: | 2.4 g | 7.0 g | 0.6 g | 76 kcal |
| Per cookie if 24 cookies in a batch: | 2.0 g | 5.8 g | 0.5 g | 63 kcal |
| Per cookie if 28 cookies in a batch: | 1.7 g | 5.0 g | 0.4 g | 54 kcal |
Tips for variation
If you would like to make these cookies even more chocolatey, feel free to add 1/3 cup (80 ml) dark chocolate chips.
Instead of vanilla whey protein you can use chocolate-flavored whey protein, but personally I prefer a hint of vanilla with chocolate, that’s why I chose vanilla-flavored whey protein. You can also use 1/2 teaspoon or even 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract for more prominent vanilla flavor.
I keep this blog post really short because I still have to recover from writing my book. Simultaneously, my son began to sleep in his own bed which meant some more almost sleepless nights for me. So those two processes really took it out of me! Hope you understand.
I made these (twice now) using a combination of natvia and xylitol, so they probably ended up a little more crumbly – but they actually do have a nice delicate crunch! I also added some chopped roast walnuts. Thanks this recipe is a keeper.
Hi and thank you for your comment. Great to hear that you liked them and the Natvia+xylitol combo works!
I kept the amount of cocoa powder, butter and erythritol the same, but decreased the amount of whey protein from 1/3 cup (80 ml) to 1/4 cup (60 ml). ** I also increased the amount of almond flour to 4 oz (115 g).** Previously I had used 3 oz (85 g). Now I was finally really satisfied with the recipe. So was my family. All in all, I was happy with the crunchy texture of the cookies, the flavor just needed some fine-tuning in the end.
Reading this paragraph is hard for me to put with the recipe that calls for 1 CUP of Almond flour. Did the Recipe end up with 1 Cup or should it only be 4oz?
Hi Dana, thanks for trying out and tuning the recipe! I have to try with those measurements as well. Usually 1 cup almond flour weighs 4 oz (115 g), that’s what I have used when developing the recipe. Fine-textured almond flour weighs more per cup, but this recipe uses more coarse almond flour, like Bob’s Red Mill.
Just made my first attempt at the choc cookies. I had to add more butter and the mixture was so crumbly that when I was finally able to squeeze them in to balls after adding extra butter I tried flattening one gently with wet fingers and it just collapsed into a crumbled pile. I persevered and they are cooling now. I tried the crumbled one while it was still warm and it tasted quite nice if a little powdery. I had to leave them all in balls which is fine.
Hi Natalie and thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear that the cookies didn’t turn out as expected. I wonder what could have gone wrong. I guess you used the exact ingredients? Was the almond flour very fine? Sometimes if you use very fine almond flour it requires more fluid — or in this case butter. However, even you added more butter, the cookies didn’t turn out well. I try to think more what could have caused that. I did quite extensive testing when developing this recipe, and I’ll check my notes. Thanks for trying out my recipe anyway!
Amazing tasty food god bless you dear.
Thank you, Nicky! I’m pleased to hear that you like them!
Hi Elvira, just made a batch of these tonight. They are super, so tasty and easy to make! I only had unsweetened plain whey protein so I added some vanilla extract and some extra stevia. Will definitely make these again. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Hi Sarah, and thanks for your comment! So great to hear that the cookies appeal to you! The recipe is easy to vary, so you can play with different flavors!
Awesome! I can’t wait to make these. One question, do you think I could use unflavored whey protein, as that is all I have, in place of the flavored, and add some vanilla extract?
Thank you!!
Hi Sandra! Sure, unflavored whey protein works fine, however I recommend to add some more sweetener like 10-20 drops liquid stevia or simply use 1/3 cup (80 ml) erythritol crystals. Stevia addition might work better since erythritol tends to have its cooling effect if used in big amounts. Hope you like the cookies!
These look delicious!!
Do you think the whey protein can be replaced by something else? I am not keep on it, too many added ingredients.
Thanks a lot
By the way, got your book: Lots of good ideas for the summer!
Hi Annita! Thanks! 🙂 I have done similar cookie experiments with plant-based protein (especially rice protein), but I cannot say if that works here, since whey protein tends to make the cookies hold well together. You can try plant-based protein, but just don’t flatten the balls but bake them like that. That should help with the texture and that the cookies hold well together.
Also pure, unflavored whey protein works well in case you don’t like too much added stuff. Just increase the amount of sweetener a bit.
Many thanks for getting my book! Btw, if you like, you can leave a review of the book to the Amazon pages. Would be highly appreciated!