Jump to RecipeJump to VideoLeave a ReviewPin Recipe

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Treat yourself to a thick and creamy Cookies and Cream Protein Shake! It tastes like a Cookies and Cream Milkshake from the local ice cream parlor — but this version is low calorie, low sugar, and high protein. The healthy breakfast recipe is an easy way to satisfy your cravings in about 5 minutes!

Glass of Cookies and Cream Protein Shake with two red and white striped straws

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! Today’s Cookies and Cream recipe is definitely one of the best!

What does “Cookies and Cream” mean?

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.

Is “Cookies and Cream” and Oreo the same?

“Cookies and Cream” ice cream or milkshakes are often made by combining Oreo cookies with the vanilla or sweet cream base. Often, “Oreo Ice Cream” or “Oreo Milkshake” is synonymous for “Cookies and Cream.”

That said, you can make the Cookies and Cream flavor without Oreos…and that’s exactly what I’ve done here…

Overhead image of cookies and cream protein shake in a glass with two straws

How to Make a Cookies and Cream Shake:

You’re going to love how simple this protein shake recipe truly is! You only need three basic ingredients, plus ice and a pinch of salt: a scoop of vanilla protein powder, milk, and chocolate graham crackers.

Three ingredients for cookies and cream protein smoothie -- chocolate grahams, cashew milk and protein powder

This IdealLean Cake Batter is my favorite protein powder, which has 0 grams of sugar and only 80 calories per scoop. It adds the perfect thick, creamy texture to the smoothie! I also like this Quest Vanilla Milkshake protein powder.

That said, you can substitute with your own favorite protein powder — or see my notes below for a recipe variation without protein powder.

Canister of IdealLean Cake Batter flavor protein powder

To start, crush a chocolate graham cracker in a plastic bag. Set that aside, because you’ll need it in just a minute!

Crushed chocolate graham cracker in a plastic bag

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!

Dry ingredients for cookies and cream protein shake in a blender

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.”

Adding crushed graham cracker to cookies and cream protein shake

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!

Overhead image of cookies and cream shake garnished with whipped cream and crushed chocolate graham cracker

What to serve with a Cookies and Cream Protein Shake:

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, I like to enjoy my protein smoothies with:

  • Peanut butter toast
  • A bowl of oatmeal or a slice of baked oatmeal
  • A bagel topped with nut butter, butter, or cream cheese
  • Granola on top
  • Pancakes or frozen waffles
  • muffin

Or anything else that you think sounds delicious! 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!

COOK’S TIPS AND 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 impacting the taste of the smoothie).
  • If you’re preparing this healthy smoothie for kids, you can omit the protein powder and substitute with Greek yogurt. Since the protein powder adds not only thickness, but also flavor to the smoothie, you’ll want to use a sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt or use a 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!
  • Keep the protein shake low sugar by using unsweetened vanilla almond milk and a sugar free protein powder.
  • 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.
  • If you have trouble finding chocolate graham crackers at your grocery store, you can substitute with a handful of Chocolate Teddy Grahams or even use the real deal: an Oreo cookie!

Front view of Cookies and Cream healthy smoothie in a glass

You might also enjoy these healthy protein shake recipes:

Cookies and Cream Protein Shake

4 from 4 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings 1 shake
Calories 157.5 kcal
Treat yourself to a thick and creamy Cookies and Cream Protein Shake! It tastes like a Cookies and Cream Milkshake from the local ice cream parlor -- but this version is low calorie, low sugar, and high in protein. The healthy breakfast recipe is an easy way to satisfy your cravings in about 5 minutes!

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
  • 1/8 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!

Notes

*For purposes of calculating nutritional information, I used my favorite IdealLean Cake Batter protein powder. You can substitute with a similar vanilla or cake batter flavored protein powder, but the nutritional stats will change. As an alternative, I also like Quest Vanilla Milkshake protein powder in this recipe.
COOK'S TIPS AND 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 impacting the taste of the smoothie).
  • If you’re preparing this healthy smoothie for kids, you can omit the protein powder and substitute with Greek yogurt. Since the protein powder adds not only thickness, but also flavor to the smoothie, you’ll want to use a sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt or use a 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!
  • Keep the protein shake low sugar by using unsweetened vanilla almond milk and a sugar free protein powder.
  • 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.
  • If you have trouble finding chocolate graham crackers at your grocery store, you can substitute with a handful of Chocolate Teddy Grahams or even use the real deal: an Oreo cookie!

Nutrition

Serving: 1shakeCalories: 157.5kcalCarbohydrates: 13.5gProtein: 21.5gFat: 2.5gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.8gSodium: 800.7mgPotassium: 202.6mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 4.5g
Keyword: cookies and cream milkshake, cookies and cream recipe, protein shake, smoothie recipes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan

This post was originally published in April, 2015. It was updated in January, 2019.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

Read More

Square overhead shot of hands serving a chicken pot pie recipe with biscuits
Overhead image of a bowl of chili mac on a dinner table with cornbread
Hands serving a platter of sheet pan sausage and potatoes

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. 5 stars
    All of your smoothies and shakes look wonderful, Blair. I just got a new blender, and I can’t wait to try some! 🙂

  2. I think I love you! 🙂 this looks amazing. I normally take my protein shake by itself but this is perfect.

    1. Hah! I hope that you enjoy it! I think I’m on a mission to create as many jazzed-up protein shakes as possible. 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    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 =(

  4. o wow! my husband and i love it and we tried this recipe and it turned out to be super delicious. Thanks for sharing

  5. 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

    1. 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!

      1. 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

  6. 1 star
    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?

    1. 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. 🙁 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. 🙁

  7. 5 stars
    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.

    1. 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, you’ll want to use a sweetened vanilla Greek yogurt or use a plain Greek yogurt and add your own sweetener, to taste. Hope you enjoy!