Protein Macadamia White Chocolate Cookies

1.Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.In a large mixing bowl, combine the gluten-free oats, vanilla protein powder, almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir until well mixed.

3.In a separate bowl, whisk together the unsweetened applesauce, almond butter, sugar-free maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth.

4.Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

5.Fold in the sugar-free vegan white chocolate chips and chopped macadamia nuts until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

6.Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.

7.Gently flatten the cookies with the back of a spoon or your fingers, as they will not spread much during baking.

8.Top each cookie with a few more macadamia nuts and white chocolate chips, pressing them lightly into the dough.

9.Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are set.

10.Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.