These easy trail mix breakfast cookies are jam packed full of protein and flavor! They’re the perfect way to start any day and perfect for both kids or adults! All of the flavors of a delicious trail mix in one healthy protein filled breakfast cookie recipe!
While this post is sponsored by Vital Proteins, all opinions and ideas are 100% honest and my own.
One of my biggest struggles with pregnancy so far has been getting enough protein. Regular sources of protein like meat, eggs, and dairy honestly just don’t sound good as much as I love this sausage breakfast casserole. Honestly, they sound pretty terrible right now.
The problem is that if I don’t eat a good amount of protein in all of my meals, I feel sick. It’s this double-edged sword that I just can’t seem to get right.
So I’ve had to find other things to eat to get my protein – things that actually sound good.
Like trail mix. And cookies.
Trail Mix Breakfast Cookies
These trail mix cookies came about because I went to the store and couldn’t find anything that sounded like what I wanted. Something chewy, filling, protein rich, and without too much added sugar.
I found this recipe and decided to tweak it to my liking and add in extra protein with my family’s favorite Vital Protein Collagen Peptides. They’re flavorless and odorless – the perfect way to add more protein to pretty much anything. Their dark chocolate peptides would be amazing in these too if you want more of a chocolatey flavor to your cookies!
And since trail mix has been keeping me alive during this pregnancy, I decided to go ahead and make these cookies reminiscent of my favorite trail mix with peanut butter (instead of peanuts), dried fruit, chopped walnuts, and of course mini M&Ms. If you want to skip the added sugar, you could totally do sugar-free chocolate chips too.
But hey, I’m eating for two. I can enjoy a few M&Ms here and there.
Breakfast Cookie Ingredients
Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I can eat regular sugar filled cookies all day long. Yes, these are have mini M&Ms but other than that – they’re filled with good for you ingredients.
For instance, instead of using sugar in the cookies – I used honey. And instead of using regular flour, I used a little bit of gluten free almond flour combined with the oats.
And the secret ingredient that makes these really protein packed is the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. They’re flavorless, odorless, and honestly you don’t even know they’re there – other than the fact that you’re not hungry five minutes after eating the cookies because they’re jam packed with protein.
They are my family’s secret ingredient for pretty much all things. We mix them into my son’s juice in the morning, put them in smoothies, mix them into baked goods like this coconut pineapple bread, and even just add them to water for a little morning protein boost.
In fact, I wrote an entire post all about how versatile collagen peptides are and all the ways we use them.
Here’s the full ingredient list for the cookies. Get exact measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Egg
- Coconut oil
- Peanut butter
- Honey
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Almond flour
- Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- Rolled oats
- Dried cranberries
- Mini M&Ms (substitute for sugar-free mini chocolate chips if desired)
- Chopped walnuts
How to Make These Trail Mix Cookies
It’s really easy to make these cookies. There’s just one key – make sure to mix the ingredients as instructed – don’t just pour all the ingredients in a pour and mix together. You’ll end up with the wrong consistency and the cookies may crumble.
And you don’t want to be the one who makes the cookie crumble.
Here’s a quick overview on how to make these cookies. Check out the recipe card at the very end of the post for exact directions, timing, etc.
- Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I love using these pre-cut parchment sheets.
- Combine egg, peanut button, and coconut oil together. Add honey, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder then beat until combined.
- Add flour, almond flour, collagen peptides, and oats and mix everything together.
- Add in the mix-ins – mini M&Ms, dried cranberries, and chopped walnuts then mix lightly until the mix-ins are dispersed.
- Bake on the cookie sheets.
- Allow to cool then enjoy!
Other Protein Filled Baked Goods
If you’re a big baked goods fan like me, you’ll love these other baked goods I’ve made with Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides!
Trail Mix Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup coconut oil softened
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup fine almond flour
- 1/4 cup Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- 3 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries no added sugar
- 1/4 cup mini M&Ms
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Beat the egg, peanut butter, and coconut oil together until smooth.
- Add honey, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder and continue beating until totally combined.
- Add flour, almond flour, collagen peptides and oats. Mix in until just combined.
- Use a wooden spoon to add in the dried cranberries, mini M&Ms, and walnuts. Fold until mixed in completely.
- Use a large cookie scoop (3 TBS) to place round balls of the cookie dough on the prepared baking sheets. Lightly press down on the cookie balls to flatten slightly. Make sure cookies are at least an inch apart on all sides so they don't run together.
- Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes, allowing to cook until edges are slightly golden brown but not dark. They will not be hard when you remove from the oven.
- Immediately move from baking sheet very carefully and place on a cooling rack to allow to completely harden.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Info
Don’t forget to pin these trail mix breakfast cookies for later!
Haley says
now these cookies look amazing.
BritniV says
thank you