Cookies and Cream Protein Shake (SO GOOD!)

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS COOKIES AND CREAM PROTEIN SHAKE

• Protein packed treat that fuels your body.
• Low in calories and carbs! 🙌🏼
• So much room for fun and yummy toppings. Yay, more Oreos!
• Makes so much. Hellooooooo volume!
• Amazingly thick milkshake texture.
• INSANE cookies and cream flavor all throughout!!

COOKIES AND CREAM PROTEIN SHAKE INGREDIENTS

• Protein powder – I used PEScience Cookies ‘N Cream. If you don’t have a Cookies ‘N Cream flavor, no worries! A vanilla or neutral flavor will work just great! You can always add (more) crushed up Oreos to get as close to cookies and cream flavor as possible. Not all protein powders are the same, and since this is the MAIN ingredient of this milkshake, please make sure you use a good quality one and one that you actually like the taste of! For all Pescience products, you can use my affiliate code LaurenFitFoodie to save 10% off your purchase.
• Ice cream – Who doesn’t love ice cream? It’s going to help make our milkshake nice and creamy. Just a little amount is needed and it goes a long way in this recipe! I highly recommend using Edy’s Slow Churned French Vanilla ice cream but any ice cream works! If you’re fresh out, you can sub for some half and half or coffee creamer in a pinch to help achieve that thick, delicious milkshake consistency.
• Black cocoa – Not to be confused with normal cocoa, black cocoa brings some major cookies ‘n cream vibes! I use Wincrest Black Cocoa or HIIT Nutrition Jet Black Cocoa.
• Vanilla extract – Highlights and complements all of our delicious and sweet flavors!
• Stevia – I use Better Stevia Liquid Drops.
• Xanthan gum – Helps create thickness. I use Bob’s Red Mill. You can omit if you want, it may just not get as thick.
• Almond milk – You can also use cashew, oat, or whatever other milk you wish!
• Ice – For the best consistency, make sure it’s nice and fresh (AKA NO SUPER OLD ICE!)

HOW TO MAKE THIS COOKIES AND CREAM PROTEIN SHAKE

1. Add all ingredients (except the Oreo’s) to blender.
2. Blend until ice is broken up and you have a smooth milkshake texture.
3. Add half the Oreo’s; pulse to slightly break up.
4. Pour into glass or bowl, top with remaining Oreo’s, and enjoy!

Depending on your blender, you may need to shake it around or stir the ingredients with a spoon to make sure all the ice is broken up. Do this until you achieve your desired consistency.

TIPS FOR THE BEST CONSISTENCY

• Use a good quality blender – I used a Ninja IQ for this recipe. I am not saying you need that exact blender. Obviously, use what you have and try to make it work. But I will say that the appliance you use does matter here. You need a blender or food processor that is strong enough to break the ice up. Otherwise, the consistency of your milkshake will be off.
• Use fresh ice – It breaks up and blends better than old ice! Older ice does not break up as well and it’s going to result in a more icy milkshake.
• Measure your ingredients – No you don’t need to buy a food scale, but it really makes life so much easier! You don’t have to use and wash measuring cups and spoons– you just zero the scale, add the ingredient and repeat for the next ingredient! I have a Large Platform Kitchen Scale that I use and love. If you don’t need one that big, this smaller (and cheaper) Kitchen Scale does just the job! The ratio of ingredients is important for overall consistency and the digital scale helps so much. But if ya don’t have one, don’t sweat it, just do your best to make sure you add the right portions!
• Use a good quality protein powder – Not all protein powders blend equally. So you make sure you know the one you use blends well! AND one that you like the flavor of because that is going to be the main ingredient in this recipe. I used PEScience Cookies ‘N Cream. But you can definitely use normal vanilla or cake pop. I usually don’t recommend chocolate protein in blended drinks because it doesn’t blend as well (still not sure why this is, it just doesn’t! So if you ever want a chocolate shake, use vanilla protein powder and add cocoa). But love PEScience. It doesn’t have a weird protein taste and brings an amazing texture to the milkshake (and whatever it’s used for that matter). Use code Laurenfitfoodie to save 10%.
• Use Xanthan gum – You could technically omit this, but if you have it on hand, go ahead and add a little! It helps a ton with achieving the milkshake thickness we are looking for. I would stick to 1/4 tsp, though. Anything more and things start to get weird! 

COOKIES AND CREAM PROTEIN SHAKE TOPPINGS & MIX INS

• Chocolate syrup – I mean of course!!!
• Oreo’s – Toss on more Oreos or crumble up another cookie of your choice!
• Cool Whip – I LOVE adding Cool Whip to add creaminess! Reddi Whip and marshmallow fluff are also delicious.
• Black Cocoa – Stirring in a little more black cocoa makes magic happen! I am so not kidding. TRY IT.
• Oreo pie crust – a little goes a long way with this stuff for cookies and cream texture with lower calories than adding straight Oreo’s.
• Peanut butter powder – Sprinkle on or blend in some peanut butter powder to make this a peanut butter Oreo flavored shake! Total Parent Trap vibes. And we’re here for it 🤩
• Oreo Balls – You SERIOUSLY must try my No-Bake Oreo Protein Balls! Topping your milkshake with these makes it even more indulgent. Like for-real, cannot recommend this enough!
• Oreo Protein Cookie Dough – Top with my Oreo Protein Cookie Dough, crumbled up on top. Cookies and cream milkshake AND cookies and cream cookie dough? I mean, things are getting wild!!!
• Chocolate Chip Cookies – not dough but actual COOKIES mixed in! 😍 I love crumbling up and adding some of my Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies when I have some made. It’s like cookies and milk but better!!
• Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Squares – I started adding pieces of my Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Squares to the shake this year and oh my heavens!! It may be my favorite mix in yet. I just let them defrost from the freezer for 10 or so minutes then chop them up into tiny squares and mix them in!
• Cereal – Top your milkshake with your favorite cereal for a crunch! Oreo O’s, Cocoa Pebbles, fruity pebbles, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, there are no wrong answers here!