Can I Freeze These
Yes! I suggest doubling up on the recipe and freezing these no bake protein balls in an airtight glass container for up to 3 months. Place parchment paper between the balls so they dont stick together as they freeze.
Allow the coconut date balls to thaw for just 10-15 minutes from the freezer before enjoying!
Can I Swap The Agave Nectar For Another Sweetener
Yes, if you arent a fan of agave nectar or just happen not to have any, you can still make these protein balls. Maple syrup would be a great option. Additionally, if you dont eat a strict vegan diet, you could also use honey.
If you are a huge fan of agave nectar, be sure to try out my insanely good Coconut Cream Chia Pudding Popsicles too! They are so amazing.
Nutritional Yeast Popcorn Ingredients:
The best thing about nooch popcorn? All of the ingredients are easy to keep on hand in your pantry so that you can pop up a quick batch when the craving strikes. You will need:
- Popcorn kernels: Im a big fan of the jumbo kernels, but any kind of popcorn kernels will do.
- Oil: Ive always used coconut oil for this recipe, which gives it a super-subtly-sweet undertone that everyone always comments on and loves. But avocado oil, olive oil, or safflower oil are good alternatives too.
- Nutritional yeast: I always use Braggs!
- Salt: Fine sea salt will do. Just add however much you like, to taste.
Also, very importantly, you will need:
- A saucepan or stockpot: Ive written the recipe below to work in a medium saucepan. But feel free to increase the proportions a bit for it to work in a larger stockpot for a bigger batch.
- Large food storage container : Its also essential to have some sort of large food storage container with a lid, such as this one, in order to shake the popcorn together with the nooch and salt.
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How To Make Banana Bread Protein Balls
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
Can I use vanilla protein powder?
Absolutely! Simply replace the chocolate protein powder with an equal amount of vanilla protein powder.
What kind of protein powder should I use?
Use 60 grams of your favorite kind of chocolate or vanilla protein powder! This is typically about 2 scoops, but make sure to read the label or weigh the powder before adding.
Can I skip chilling the protein ball mixture?
I dont recommend it. This step allows the mixture to firm up a bit before scooping and shaping into balls.
How long do these protein balls last?
Store protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Make sure theyve chilled in a single layer in the refrigerator first to prevent the protein balls from sticking to each other.
I love keeping a batch of these protein balls on hand for a quick breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, or a healthy dessert.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls: Ingredients & Substituions
Lets discuss the ingredients in this recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
- Creamy peanut butter. Any nut or seed butter can be used in this recipe, you can also use crunchy if you like little bits of peanuts in your protein balls.
- Honey. any liquid sweetener can be used in place of honey if desired . I suggest maple syrup as a great alternative.
- Old-fashioned oats. Quick-cooking oats can be used as well.
- Shredded coconut. I prefer to use unsweetened coconut so there are no added sugars. If you dont prefer coconut you can omit it all together and replace it with and additional ½ cup oats.
- Flaxseed. Almond meal can be used in place of flaxseed if you dont have any on hand, or it can simply be omitted.
- Mix-ins. We love adding mini chocolate chips to these peanut butter energy balls because theres no better combination than chocolate and peanut butter! Ill discuss more mix-in options later.
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Next Choose Your Flavor
Blueberry Muffin Protein Balls
If blueberry muffin flavored protein balls are your jam, achieve this flavor by throwing in 1/2 cup of dried blueberries!
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Enjoy chocolate peanut butter goodness by making two ingredient changes to the base ingredients listed above. First, swap the almond butter for peanut butter, and then swap plain protein powder for chocolate!
White Chocolate Cranberry
Next up is my favorite flavor: white chocolate cranberry. This flavor is so easy to make just add 1/3 cup of cranberries and 1/3 cup of chocolate chips!
Chocolate Peppermint
To achieve chocolate peppermint protein balls , throw in 1/2 tsp of peppermint extract. Then, skip regular protein powder in favor of chocolate protein powder!
Oatmeal Raisin
Last but not least, enjoy oatmeal raisin protein balls by including 1/3 cup of raisins and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon.
Faqs About This Protein Balls Recipe
Are protein balls good for you?
Generally, yes protein balls can be very good for you. As long as youre eating protein balls that are made with natural healthy ingredients and arent made with too much sugar or processed add-ins. This recipe is the perfect example of a healthy protein balls recipe. It uses all nutrient-packed ingredients like nut butter, rolled oats, and protein powder.
What is the purpose of protein balls?
Protein balls are ideal for healthy snacking and make for a great dessert if you have a sweet tooth. They are a nutritious way to solve sugary snack cravings and give you extra energy. These energy balls are packed with healthy fats, fiber, and protein to keep you full and satisfied in between meals, improve your workout, or aid in recovery post-workout. Also, theyre a popular alternative to the usual protein powder shakes as they deliver all the benefits of your favorite protein powder but in a delicious bite-sized form.
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How To Make Protein Balls
Though these protein balls pack a powerfully flavorful and nutritious punch, they’re shockingly simple to make. You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect:
Stir all the ingredients together until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Scoop and roll the chilled mixture into evenly sized balls.
What Exactly Is A Protein Ball
A protein ball is usually made up of your favourite vegan protein powder, and a combination of nut butter, oats, and dried fruits. They are so simple to make, easily adaptable, and can be tailored to your personal likes.
You can hold them at an ambient temperature, which makes them perfect for popping into a container and throwing in your gym bag or handbag, ready for a mid-afternoon pick me up or post-workout fuel up. Because there is no cooking involved, they are also a snack that can be made quickly.
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How To Store Protein Bites
You can store these breakfast protein bites at room temperature but chilling them in the fridge prevents them from getting too soft or mushy.
Just place the energy balls in a single layer in an airtight container or in zip-lock bags.
FOR MEAL PREP AND FREEZER:
You can make a double batch of this healthy protein balls recipe ahead of time and place them on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for about 30 minutes to set. Then we store them in freezer-friendly zip-top bags.
Then you just grab one or two in the morning or any time you need a quick pick-me-up.
How To Make No Bake Protein Balls
STEP 1: Add oats, protein powder, cinnamon and chia seeds to a large mixing bowl and stir. Add in peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Add in raisins . Mixture should be slightly sticky but still crumbly.
STEP 2: Slowly add in liquid 1 tablespoon at a time and using hands combine until it comes together in a sticky ball that holds together. If mixture is too dry, add in more liquid but not so much that it wont hold shape. Roll into balls using hands. Roughly a tablespoon each.
STEP 3: Place in a container to set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Store in fridge until ready to eat.
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Why You Need To Try Them
- They are sweet, nutty, and perfectly flavored. Soft and chewy. Wholesome and seriously delicious.
- They are no-bake, made with simple pantry ingredients in 15 minutes.
- They are nutritious full of fibers, packed with proteinsand healthy Omega-3s.
- They are made without processed unhealthy sugars.
- Low in calories, and very satisfying.
- Perfect high-protein pre-workout, post-workout, or midday snack.
Why Youre Going To Love Protein Balls
These sweet and healthy protein balls have a delicious chocolate/peanut butter combination.
Heres why theyre going to become a favourite in your house:
- healthy these balls are made from raw ingredients theres no additives, flavourings or nasties!
- protein-packed great for a post workout pick-me-up, lunch box or after school snack
- energy boosting the dates and almonds give you a nice little boost
- 5 minute prep time if youve got a food processor, Thermomix or blender, youll have a batch of protein balls ready in just a couple of minutes
- less than 55 calories per serve making them a deliciously healthy treat.
Also Check: Best Vegan Sources Of Protein
The Best Protein Balls Recipe
Im the person who ALWAYS needs a snack between meals.
For as long as I can remember, Ive always had a morning snack and an afternoon snack. Ive never really been the three square meals a day kind of person, and I dont see that happening anytime soon.
When I started regularly weight lifting, I had to ensure every meal and snack had protein in it. Breakfasts were fine, with either a bagel or a smoothie. Lunches included pasta or meal prep, and dinners were well, pretty much anything. For snacks, though, I started making protein balls.
How To Make Protein Balls Without A Food Processor
One thing thats great about this recipe is that it can be made with or without a food processor.
My personal preference is to use a food processor, mainly because Im lazy and it does the mixing for me but if you dont have a food processor or just prefer to use a bowl, you can simply just mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
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Peanut Butter Protein Balls
by Natalie ·
These Peanut Butter Protein Balls are the perfect energizing snack that is both satisfying and nutritious. They are sweet, nutty, and full of flavor, utterly delicious. Also, super easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. The best protein balls!
Im under a lot of stress lately. Stress snacking is reality and Im barely holding up. I often find myself raiding kitchen cabinets or our fridge, looking for easy snacks.
Luckily, I dont keep anything in kitchen cabinets that would ruin my healthy diet. And our fridge is full of fresh fruits, salads, and healthy spreads.
I also have a freezer stocked with energy balls. They are the perfect quick snacks. The combination of fiber, protein, and fats in energy balls helps control blood sugar levels and suppress hunger.
Chocolate Maca Balls are my favorite right now. The perfect treat for the stressful exhausted mind. Also, I made Peanut Butter Protein Balls. These high protein balls are extra energizing and delicious.
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How To Make Healthy Strawberry Homemade Protein Balls
Homemade protein balls are one of my all-time favorite healthy snacks to keep on hand for when I want something quick, easy and to curb the sweet cravings. I confess that once in a while I eat so many that it feels like Im defeating the purpose but we can all splurge once in a while right? Along with all of my delicious smoothie recipes, there are always homemade protein balls, muffins and/or donuts in my grab and go stash of snacks. These have played a large part in my clean eating journey to losing 45 lbs!
Disclosure: This homemade protein balls post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy.
Also Check: Nutrition Facts On Whey Protein Powder
Ways To Customize Energy Bites
There are so many ways to make these no bake energy bites your own! Try adding in:
- Seeds: Add 2-3 tablespoons of ground flax seed, chia seeds, or hemp seed.
- Dried fruit: Dried cranberries, raisins, blueberries or your favorite.
- Vanilla extract: Just a teaspoon of vanilla extract would be delicious.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, pumpkin spice, or ginger.
- Zest: Orange would be a great complement to these coconut protein balls.
You can also use flavored protein powders or other nuts to switch up the taste!
Protein Ball + Energy Bite Ingredients:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats I always use rolled oats for protein balls because during processing they get steamed and flattened/rolled. This makes the texture way better for no bake recipes!
- Nut butter My one tip for nut butter is to make sure its drippy! It can be hard to mix when you have a more solid or dry nut butter, so I recommend finding a runny nut butter. You can use any nut butter you want for the base . . . even a seed butter like sunflower butter or tahini if youre allergic to nuts.
- Honey I add a hint of sweetener to my base because, in my opinion, it is the key to balanced flavor! Feel free to use maple syrup if you want these balls to be vegan.
- Protein powder For these protein balls, Im using a plant-based, organic protein powder. This obviously majorly increases the protein content, which Im a huge fan of, but it also brings in some fun flavors like vanilla or chocolate and a little sweetness to the mix.
Thats it! Thats your base recipe. I like to add in fun mix-ins to make the flavors really unique, and Ive included four simple recipes below. Try these first and when you feel comfortable mixing on your own, go for it and get creative!
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No Need For A Blender
You really dont need any specialist equipment to make your own protein balls. A good food processor will be a huge advantage as you can pretty much add all the ingredients and blitz. But if you dont own a food processor, fear not, all you really need is a mixing bowl and an ambition to get your hands dirty.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
These chocolate peanut butter protein balls taste like a Reeses peanut butter cup. Dead serious. When youre searching for a pick-me-up snack, or just a low calorie protein ball recipe.. this is it! Not to mention it tastes AMAZING! In fact, my husband made multiple comments saying, These are by far the best protein balls youve ever made.
It doesnt stop there. He continued with:
These are so good, I eat them as dessert.
When are you making more of those chocolate peanut butter protein balls?
Are you planning on posting them to your blog? Because you should. I really like them.
And last but not least, Sunday night we sat down to eat a slice of leftover chocolate birthday cake and my husband turned down the cake because hed rather eat one of these healthy balls. You guys!! I was stunned.
For another delicious and healthy peanut butter treat, try my Peanut Butter Bliss Balls!
Never before has he made soooo many comments about one particular recipe.
Im considering this hands down the BEST protein ball recipe ever. Obviously I needed a breakfast recipe that tastes just like this one, so I made chocolate peanut butter protein oatmeal. Its amazing!
I also have a snickerdoodle protein balls recipe that is absolutely delicious too!
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How Much Protein Do You Need
People often ask us how much protein they should be getting. The answer varies, depending on your body size, fitness level, and goals. Thats why we love the Protein Calculator, a helpful tool created by The Strong Inside. You can discover your appropriate daily protein range based on your target goal weight. You can also get a range based on your goals, whether that is healthy aging, general fitness, weight loss, or muscle building.
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Why Youll Love This Protein Ball Recipe
- Easy to make. These healthy peanut butter balls are made with just 7 simple ingredients and come together directly in a food processor or mixing bowl. Within 15 minutes youll have a delicious protein-packed snack!
- Great for most diets. This recipe is vegan, refined sugar-free and gluten-free, so its great for most diet types! If you wanted to make this recipe grain-free you could also substitute the oats for more almond flour.
- Customize it. Any mix-ins or flavours you want to add to these energy balls? Go for it! This recipe is totally customizable and you can change it up or add whatever you like to it.
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Homemade Protein Balls With Peanut Butter
These Peanut Butter Protein Balls are packed with a balance of fibre, protein and carbs to keep you feeling full andenergized. Theyre the perfect bite-sized snack you can grab before or after a workout, or when that afternoon slump hits.
These balls are similar to my Peanut Butter Protein Bars but are made with oats for some filling whole grains. You can make this recipe in a food processor, or you can make it directly n a mixing bowl.
These peanut butter oatmeal balls are perfect to grab on the go when you need an energy-boosting snack and will help keep you full since they are packed with protein!
This recipe is also naturally vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free.