Aunt Rocky’s No-Bake Protein Cookies

Chop the dried cranberries in half and place in a small bowl. Cover with very hot water, and add 3 drops of liquid sucralose or other liquid sweetener to taste. Allow to sit on counter for at least 10 minutes to soften and sweeten.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, melt the almond butter and coconut oil in the microwave or over a double boiler. I microwave for about 30 seconds.

Add all remaining ingredients, except the cranberries, and mix well. Drain and fold in the cranberries. The dough should be thick enough to scoop by this point.

Using a 1 1/2-inch cookie scoop, scoop out 14 dough balls onto your parchment-lined cookie sheet. Dampen your fingers and flatten the dough balls into cookie shapes, about 2 1/2 inches wide (not too thin). Place cookie sheet in the freezer until the cookies have frozen, or at least become very solid.

Transfer to a freezable storage container with a lid, separating the cookie layers with bits of waxed or parchment paper to keep them from sticking together. Store in the freezer.

These cookies may be eaten directly from the freezer. I like to have one for a mid-afternoon protein snack with coffee, or sometimes have two or three for breakfast with tea.

Notes:
• I but low moisture unsweetened cranberries on Amazon and store them in my pantry for baking year-round. They are lower in carbs than raisins, but serve the same purpose in any recipe that calls for raisins, as did this inspiration recipe.
• I prefer to use Isopure Whey Protein Isolate in baking because it is a super fine powder (no grit), and it is zero net carbs. For a dairy free version, use your favorite dairy-free fine ground protein powder. If you use a different protein powder, your results and nutrition information may vary.
• Nutrition estimates are based on My Fitness Pal’s online recipe analyzer. Brand names are included only to assure more accurate estimates. The recipe is stored on and available to MFP users for logging in their food diaries. Sugar alcohols, Allulose, and liquid Sucralose are not absorbed by the body and rate zero on the glycemic index, so are excluded from nutrition counts.
• For more Atkins/low carb/Keto recipes and cooking tips, look for Aunt Rocky’s Low Carb Recipes & Tips Group on Facebook, or follow me on Pinterest at auntrocky2.

Each cookie: Calories 129, Total Fat 13 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Sodium 30 mg, Potassium 79 mg, Total Carbohydrate 4 g, Dietary Fiber 2 g, Net Carbs 2 g, Sugars 1 g, Protein 6 g. Macros: 79% fat, 16% protein, 5% carbs.

December 2, 2019 Roxana Lopez for Aunt Rocky’s. Modified from a breakfast cookie recipe on The Little Pine.