Delicious Cookies Recipes That Are Packed With Protein and Fiber

The aroma of fresh baked cookies filling your home is a surefire mood-boost. Double that bliss if they're actually on the healthier end of the dessert spectrum. While there's nothing wrong with noshing on a classic chocolate chip cookie, there are plenty of creative cookie recipes that are just as healthy as they are delicious. A few simple swaps transforms decadent cookies into nutrient-packed snacks perfect for munching all day long. (Hello endless mix-and-match protein cookie possibilities.)

Loading the mixing bowl with whole grain flours, like oat meal and whole wheat flour is a healthier way to start any cookie recipe thanks to the extra fiber. "Fiber may help lower cholesterol levels, satiety," says Keri Gans, RD. She also notes that adding some fruit to your cookie (think: bananas, apples, apple sauce, and unsweetened dried fruit) contributes a boost of flavor and sweetness, while decreasing the need for added sugar. Another great tactic: Adding some protein powder or nut butter to the mix can help make your cookie more satiating, too.

But no matter what you add to your recipe, "a cookie is a cookie, even if might be a better-for-you cookie," says Gans, so you may not want to eat the whole batch in one sitting (hello, sugar rush).

That said, packed with protein, nutritious nuts and seeds, flavorful flours, and naturally-occurring sweeteners, these better-for-you cookies are a scrumptious way to get your baked good fix. Pre-heat your oven, grab your baking pans, and get set to bake your way through these delicious and healthy cookies.