I recently tried out The Lift Box (a monthly subscription box for weightlifters), and found something pretty cool inside:
It was a giant peanut butter cookie (with extra protein, of course).
Cookies for getting jacked? That is a concept I can get behind.
Upon further inspection I realized I was looking at The Complete Cookie by Lenny and Larry’s.
I had seen this in the store frequently (giant cookies tend to catch my eye) and was really excited to give it a try.
So without further ado, here’s my Complete Cookie review, and whether it’s good for weight loss and bodybuilding:
Overall, The Complete Cookie is absolutely delicious and pretty well-nutritionally balanced. It’s low to medium on sugar levels with great taste, without being loaded with artificial sweeteners, and uses mostly whole, real ingredients.
It won’t compare to regular bakery-style cookies in taste (obviously), but is a better option for diets or bodybuilding meal plans — though, as a warning, the whole cookie is pretty high in calories.
Image | Product | Details | |
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Complete Cookie |
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Compare ToQuest Cookie |
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Compare ToClif Bar |
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Let’s dive in to some more details!
What is the Complete Cookie?
Essentially, The Complete Cookie is a relatively healthy and nutritionally balanced sweet snack, with an added emphasis on stuffing extra protein inside.
They come in an impressively wide variety of flavors including classic chocolate chip, double chocolate, snickerdoodle, peanut butter, lemon poppy seed, white chocolate macadamia nut, oatmeal raising, birthday cake (!), and more.
Whew. That’s a lot.
The Complete Cookie is also, well, huge. I’d measure it at around 4.5 to 5 inches across. Enough to make a pretty hefty dessert or even split between two people.
These cookies are also vegan (completely dairy free), non GMO, and don’t contain any soy.
(Pro Tip: I was pleasantly surprised by the price of the Complete Cookies on Amazon.)
How does The Complete Cookie taste?
In a word, good!
But let’s be real, this is a nutritionally balanced protein-heavy snack meant for exercisers, weightlifters, bodybuilders, and people on a diet mainly.
So, no, taste-wise it doesn’t really stack up to The Great American Cookie or whatever those treats you get at the mall are.
But I found the flavor to be on point. The peanut butter flavor was really smooth and tasty, with just the right amount of sweetness.
The cookie wasn’t as moist as I’d normally like (you could maybe describe it as dry or even a bit chalky) but it was perfectly enjoyable with a glass of milk.
I split it with my wife after dinner and half was enough to fill me up.
The Complete Cookie is no joke.
The Complete Cookie Ingredients and Nutrition
Let’s break this so-called nutritionally balanced cookie down:
Nutrition (for HALF the peanut butter flavored cookie):
- Calories 210
- Total Fat 10g
- Cholesterol 0mg
- Sodium 290mg
- Total Carbs 30g
- Fiber 4g
- Sugars 12g
- Protein 8g
It’s also got 8% of your Vitamin A, 7% of your Calcium, and 11% of your daily Iron (again, per half the cookie).
And here are the top ingredients according to the manufacturer:
- Enriched wheat flour
- Niacin
- Iron
- Thiamine
- Mononitrate
- Riboflavin
- Folic Acid
- Cane Sugar
- Palm Margarine
- Peanut Butter
Get the latest pricing & read customer reviews of the Complete Cookie on Amazon.
Overall Impressions & Recommendation
I really liked The Complete Cookie.
A lot of protein-based snacks are tasty and offer a little bit of that sweet taste, but few of them truly qualify as a dessert. This cookie does.
And though it may not be as moist or as tasty as a real cookie (full of tons of sugar and butter), this one can actually fit into your diet or other nutrition program. So that’s a major plus!
UPDATE April 2018: I’ve made the Complete Cookie a staple of my diet the past few weeks. I find they are a perfect high protein, but still well-rounded snack for intermittent fasting, helping me round out my day and getting in those last 200 calories or so and hitting all of my macros. And I love ending the day with something sweet!
These are absolutely worth a try, in my opinion.
You’ll get a great deal by picking up a pack at Amazon.
FAQ
The Lenny and Larry’s Complete Cookie gives me gas or stomach pain. What should I do?
This is common in protein shakes, foods with protein powder, or really any foods that are high in protein.
Breaking down protein is tough on your digestive system and can result in some gurgles here and there.
(Read my entire guide to protein farts for more.)
The Complete Cookie uses some protein isolate from peas and brown rice, so that could be the cause.
Shoot for only eating half the cookie at once to ease things up a bit.
What’s the best Complete Cookie flavor? (Reviews)
The best flavor of Complete Cookie is, undoubtedly, peanut butter.
You’ll also find Apple Pie, Snickerdoodle, and Birthday Cake on Amazon and in-stores, which aren’t as good. (Though Snickerdoodle is a close 2nd to peanut butter).
In my experience, peanut butter flavored treats hide the extra protein flavor best because peanut butter is naturally protein-heavy. Chocolate and vanilla based protein snacks usually taste a little bit off.
Is the Complete Cookie keto friendly?
No, the Complete Cookie is not keto. It has 27g of carbs per serving, including 12g of sugar.
And that’s only half the cookie.
Sorry, you won’t be able to fit this in on your keto diet!
Are Lenny and Larry’s cookies healthy?
That depends on your definition of healthy?
Are they keto or low carb? No.
Are they low sugar? Not really.
Are they made with mostly whole ingredients? Mostly, yes.
Are they low calorie? Not especially.
But they do give you some nice nutrients using mostly real ingredients and a delicious flavor.
Whether you can ultimately fit this cookie into a healthy diet is totally up to you and the other foods you eat.
Is The Complete Cookie a meal replacement?
I wouldn’t use the Complete Cookie as a meal replacement.
Yes, the entire cookie has about 400 calories and 16 grams of protein, which stacks up to a small meal, but it won’t be nearly as filling, satisfying, or nutrient rich as a real balanced meal.
The Complete Cookie is best used as a snack during the day or before bed, especially if you break it into two servings.
Is The Complete Cookie vegan?
Yes, the Complete Cookie is vegan and soy free!
Woohoo!
Don’t forget to grab a pack of Complete Cookies from Amazon.