Cael Sanderson has been a busy guy lately, not only leading Penn State wrestling to continued success, but also launching his very own protein cookie. Coming in at $24.99 for six cookies, these nutritious sweet treats are packed with organic and non-GMO ingredients, protein, no artificial sweeteners, and are dairy-free and soy-free. With all of these features, how good can a cookie like this really be?

Luckily, his team sent Onward State its very own box to review. Let’s see what our staff had to say.

Sammy Layman

One thing I know is that Cael can make a healthy cookie. The cookie has 10 grams of protein and 350 calories. The chocolate chip cookie kind of resembled a protein bar. It did taste a little healthy, but I could see this cookie being a hit in the nutrition world, especially with athletes. The chocolate chunks were a good size, and the cookie was pretty big. The cookie itself lacked the buttery goodness of a homemade cookie, but that’s probably because it was healthy. With Cael’s notorious reputation for winning, I suspect people have high standards for this cookie. Overall, I would give it a 6/10 because I’m not huge on diet and would probably take the unhealthy cookie over the protein one.

Brandon Hurley

By far, this cookie was one of the greatest things I have ever had (except for a fresh-baked cookie). For being a prepackaged cookie, it still tasted fresh and had an amazing texture. But the best part was the fact that it packed so many good nutrients and healthy aspects into something that usually isn’t considered as such. Packed with protein and superfoods, it filled me up, and I didn’t have any regrets about eating it. The calories may turn some people away, but give it a chance. They are amazing.

Michael Zeno

I didn’t know what to expect with this, as the concept of a “superfood” cookie that bills itself as something that tastes good while being nutritious is pretty uncommon. That said, if Cael Sanderson can win 12 national championships, he can make a good cookie.

There were a few things abundantly clear when you take your first bite or two. It’s a heavy and dense cookie. If you’re a fast eater like myself, this will make you slow down. It takes a while to chew, but is overall pretty chewy.

I wouldn’t describe this cookie as something that you can easily take out of the cabinet and nosh on in one sitting, so in that sense, it isn’t meant to be a sugary snack, and more about sports nutrition, that’s a success.

As for the flavor, it’s decently chocolatey, so it’s not just a doughy, flavorless mess. It’s very solid.

Overall, based on what its intended mission is and grading on a curve, it’s a solid 7. The nutritional information was a tad disappointing, but it’s a cookie, so maybe I set expectations too high. The biggest quarrel? It’s extremely expensive.

Brian Kriley

I thought Cael’s cookie was pretty decent. The macros were a little underwhelming and not as good as you would think, despite that being the primary selling point for a “protein-packed” cookie. Despite that, the cookie itself tasted pretty good, albeit being slightly dry. Overall, I will rate the cookie a modest 6/10, and I will likely not revisit Cael’s Cookies.

James Russell

I was surprised by how good this was. A lot of the “healthy” cookies sold are not the best. But I have to say, I was impressed by the flavor. It had a nice texture, and it didn’t crumble after one bite. Since I’ve tried it, I’ve already looked into buying more. The 400-calorie mark may turn away some, but I’ll take this any day of the week.