Indulge in a thick, creamy cookies and cream protein shake that tastes like a milkshake — but it’s low-calorie, low-sugar, and packed with protein. Ready in just 5 minutes, it’s a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth!
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Oh wow! My husband and I love it and we tried this recipe and it turned out to be super delicious. Thanks for sharing.
– Angela
In my experience, including protein in each of my meals and snacks seems to be one of the best ways to power through my days and keep my hunger at bay. But you know what? Hardboiled eggs and cottage cheese don’t always sound appealing. I’d much rather indulge in a milkshake! Can you relate?
Protein shakes and smoothies are some of our favorite go-to snacks when we need to stay energized and satisfied. They taste great, and the flavor combinations are endless! This cookies and cream recipe is definitely one of the best!
This Cookies and Cream Protein Shake is a Healthy Twist on the Classic Milkshake
Put simply, “cookies and cream” or “cookies n’ cream” is a common ice cream or milkshake flavor based on chocolate cookies. Cookies and cream ice cream uses sweet cream ice cream (often vanilla) and chocolate cookies, especially chocolate sandwich cookies with a white cream filling (such as Oreos). Often, “Oreo ice cream” or “Oreo milkshake” is synonymous for “cookies and cream.” That said, you can achieve the cookies and cream flavor without Oreos…and that’s exactly what I’ve done here!
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- You’ll need a scoop of vanilla protein powder or cake batter protein powder. You can use any variety/brand that suits your dietary needs and taste preferences. This cookies and cream powder would probably be great, too!
- If you prefer to skip the protein powder, you can substitute with Greek yogurt. Since the protein powder adds not only thickness, but also flavor and sweetness to the smoothie, you’ll want to use about 6-8 ounces of sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt. Alternatively, use plain Greek yogurt and add your own sweetener, to taste. The taste and texture of the smoothie recipe with yogurt will not be quite the same as the protein powder version, but your family will still love it!
- For that chocolate cookie flavor without the added fat and sugar of Oreos’ cream filling, I recommend chocolate graham crackers, chocolate cookie thins, chocolate bunny grahams, or chocolate Teddy grahams.
- A pinch of salt might sound like an odd ingredient, but it’s similar to adding salt to cookie dough when baking. The salt enhances the sweetness, adds depth of flavor and more complexity to the shake. It won’t actually taste salty!
- Keep the protein shake low sugar by using unsweetened vanilla almond milk and a sugar free protein powder.
How to Make a Cookies and Cream Protein Shake
This high protein breakfast or snack comes together in just minutes! You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- To start, crush a chocolate graham cracker in a plastic bag. Set that aside, because you’ll need it in just a minute!
- Place the ice, protein powder, and salt in a blender. Slowly add just enough milk to get it smooth and creamy. The key to a thick and creamy milkshake-like smoothie is a lot of ice and just a bit of milk!
- Once the creamy base of the smoothie is blended, add the crushed graham cracker. Pulse the blender just a few more times to incorporate the “cookies.”
- That’s it! If you like, go ahead and garnish the protein shake with some whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, or some additional crushed graham cracker. I highly recommend that finishing touch!
Serving Suggestions
On its own, this smoothie is probably not enough to serve as a stand-alone meal. You’ll either need to boost the calories and fat content by mixing in nut butter, coconut oil, or flax; or, you can serve the smoothie as a side along with a larger breakfast. For instance, we enjoy protein smoothies with peanut butter toast, a bowl of muesli or a slice of baked oatmeal, the best nut free granola recipe on top, baked pancakes with pancake mix, our favorite Bisquick waffle recipe, or the best bran muffin recipe. Just make sure that you’re pairing the smoothie with enough carbs and healthy fats to create a satisfying meal that won’t leave you starving an hour later. That said, the smoothie makes a perfect light snack on its own — at any time of day!
I made my smoothie with chocolate protein powder, a small amount of unsweetened cocoa powder as per your notes, ice, unsweetened coconut almond milk, a few slices of frozen banana (and the salt) and it was very delicious!!!
– Donna
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Cookies and Cream Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 ½ cups crushed ice (or more as needed to thicken)
- ½ cup unsweetened vanilla cashew milk, almond milk, or regular milk of choice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 chocolate graham cracker, crushed
- Optional garnish: whipped topping, additional graham cracker, or chocolate syrup
Instructions
- Combine protein powder, ice, milk, and salt in a high speed blender. Puree until thick and smooth.
- Add crushed graham cracker, pulse a few times just to combine, and serve immediately.
- Garnish with optional toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Make this a triple chocolate cookies and cream protein shake by using chocolate protein powder and about 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder, chocolate almond milk, and the chocolate grahams!
- Try a mint cookies and cream shake by adding 1-2 drops of peppermint extract.
- Blend in healthy mix-in’s for a nutritional boost. For instance, I often toss in some spinach, frozen sliced banana, flax, oatmeal, peanut butter, or almond butter to give my breakfast a healthy dose of fruits, veggies, and fats (without significantly impacting the taste of the smoothie).
- I prefer whey protein for flavor and thickness in this smoothie, but if you prefer a plant-based breakfast, you can substitute with a vegan protein powder.
More Protein Shake Recipes to Try
Easy Key Lime Pie Protein Smoothie
5 minutes mins
Apple Pie Protein Smoothie
5 minutes mins
Chunky Monkey Protein Smoothie
5 minutes mins
Originally published in April, 2015, this post was updated in May, 2025.
All of your smoothies and shakes look wonderful, Blair. I just got a new blender, and I can’t wait to try some! ๐
That’s awesome, Dee! Enjoy that blender — I know you’ll love these treats! ๐
I think I love you! ๐ this looks amazing. I normally take my protein shake by itself but this is perfect.
Hah! I hope that you enjoy it! I think I’m on a mission to create as many jazzed-up protein shakes as possible. ๐
This looks so good! Your photos are amazing, too!
Thank you so much, Lindsay! ๐
Oh my goodness this just looks delicious! I love it ๐
Thanks, Kayla!
Blair, I do not have words to explain how tasty does your shake look. I wish I had time to make such shake every time I go to gym =(
Thanks so much, Kate! I hope that you have a chance to try one soon! ๐
Great post.
Thanks, Patti!
o wow! my husband and i love it and we tried this recipe and it turned out to be super delicious. Thanks for sharing
This sounds fabulous! Would you please share what the salt is used for? I think I like the idea but I’m not sure if it will taste salty.
Thanks.
Donna
Hi, Donna! I find that the salt just helps the smoothie not taste “bland.” It’s kind of like adding salt to cookies, cakes or other baked goods. It brings out the sweetness, but doesn’t actually make the smoothie taste salty. That said, if you’re unsure, you can just leave out the salt, taste it, and if you think it needs the salt add a touch at the very end and give it one more whirl to blend. Enjoy!
Hi Blair, thanks for your quick response! I used the salt. I thought of how I use salt when I bake cookies and didn’t realize it could do the same thing – “to bring out the sweetness”. I made my smoothie with chocolate protein powder, a small amount of unsweetened cocoa powder as per your notes, ice, unsweetened coconut almond milk, a few slices of frozen banana (and the salt) and it was very delicious!!! Donna
That’s great, Donna! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! ๐
This is not good at all. In fact, it tastes really bad. You need to add something else to the recipe. Otherwise it’s just a protein shake, made thicker. Which makes protein shakes even more gross than with just water. Who is giving all of these 5 star reviews?
I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy it, Jess. But yes — it’s still a protein shake, so if you don’t care for the taste or texture of protein shakes, then this probably isn’t the recipe for you. ๐ It helps to use a protein powder that you like, and that can take some experimenting to find one that you enjoy. Again, sorry it wasn’t a hit. ๐
wonderful recipe, thanks for making protein friendly milkshakes. i agree with what you said in another reply, finding a protein powder you enjoy is key.
Thanks, Kay!
How much Greek yogurt would you use if you can’t use Protein Powder?
Hi, Nanc! I would start with about a 6-ounce container of Greek yogurt. Since the protein powder adds not only thickness, but also flavor to the smoothie, youโll want to use a sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt or use a plain Greek yogurt and add your own sweetener, to taste. Hope you enjoy!