Trust me when I say that these nutritious energy balls taste like dessert! In fact, they are kind of like eating peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough. (But I promise they're wholesome and nutritious!) You're welcome. 😉
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I created this no bake protein balls recipe out of a desire to have a filling but still wholesome snack on hand (that actually has protein in it), and they turned out to be that and so much more. This energy balls recipe ticks all the boxes when it comes to taste, texture and awesome ingredients.
And once you learn how to make protein balls, you'll find they make a super easy on-the-go breakfast option, satisfying snack or post-workout treat. (They can also 100% be a cookie dough protein balls dessert.) If you love peanut butter as much as I do and are craving actual cookies though, you should also try these 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies. Or, try these peanut butter overnight oats or protein overnight oats recipes for two more great high protein breakfasts.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- No bake PB protein balls!
- Only 15 minutes of prep time
- Incredibly tasty but still wholesome snack balls
- Great protein balls for kids 🙂
- Nutritious energy bites for breakfast or workouts
🌿 Ingredients
The only sweetener in this recipe is pure maple syrup and some added sweetness from the chocolate chips and vanilla protein powder. I used unsweetened sweetened coconut, but if you can only find a sweetened version that works fine too.
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
Pro tip: Keep in mind that not all protein powders are created equal and some are sweetened with alternative sweeteners such as stevia which may or may not go well with this recipe. I like the Vega Protein Made Simple powders because there are no added gums, stevia or artificial ingredients.
📝 Instructions
Step 1: Place all of the ingredients in a medium-large mixing bowl and use a silicone spatula to mix everything really well until incorporated. The "dough" should resemble slightly textured raw cookie dough.
Step 2: Next, place the dough in the fridge for about 15 minutes so that it can firm slightly and the dry ingredients can meld with the wet. Important: don't skip this step! It'll make the consistency just right for forming your protein balls.
Step 3: Line a flat surface with parchment paper or use a non-stick baking sheet to place your formed balls on while you work. Use your hands to roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the parchment paper or baking sheet.
Step 4: Carefully place the balls in a lined container and chill in the fridge for at least one hour. I like to use a separate sheet of parchment paper for each layer in the storage container if necessary, so that the balls don't stick together.
📋 Substitutions
These vegan protein balls are gluten free, grain free and dairy free to accommodate many dietary needs, but feel free to make any of the substitutions below!
- Almond flour - both blanched almond flour or almond meal work well for this recipe, or substitute oat flour
- Unsweetened shredded coconut - use sweetened coconut instead, but cut back a little on the maple syrup if desired (to make sure the recipe isn't too sweet)
- Protein powder - if you don't have a vegan or dairy free requirement, feel free to use whey protein instead which also works great (if it's unsweetened, you may also want to add a little extra maple syrup and a dash of vanilla extract to the recipe)
- Cinnamon - feel free to leave out if you don't have any on hand
- No stir peanut butter - you can also use natural peanut butter for this recipe, but just make sure to fully mix and incorporate any separated oil before using
- Coconut oil - replace with the same amount of peanut butter if desired
- Maple syrup - you can substitute honey if you don't have a vegan protein ball requirement, or use agave syrup
- Chocolate chips - feel free to use mini peanut butter chips or white chocolate chips instead (or none at all!)
📖 Variations
- Chocolate protein balls - replace vanilla protein powder with chocolate protein powder; I love these just as much!
- Peanut butter oatmeal protein balls - replace shredded coconut with rolled oats (make sure they are certified gluten free oats in the case of Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity)
- Almond butter protein balls - replace peanut butter with almond butter (or try cashew butter for another delicious variation!)
- Nut free protein balls - replace almond flour with oat flour, and replace peanut butter with SunButter (add a little extra maple syrup to balance the stronger flavor of the SunButter)
🔪 Equipment
Only a few items are required to make this recipe:
- Large mixing bowl
- Silicone spatula
- Storage container
- Parchment paper (optional but recommended for easy prep, cleanup and storage)
🍱 Storage
Peanut butter protein balls should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge and will stay fresh for at least a week.
🎉 Top tip
Don't forget to cool the dough for 15 minutes before forming your protein balls, and make sure to chill the final balls for at least an hour in the fridge. Trust me, it's worth the wait. 🙂
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
The main ingredients you'll need to make PB protein balls are peanut butter, almond or oat flour, protein powder such as vanilla or chocolate, and some coconut oil and a liquid sweetener such as maple syrup or honey. Optional add-ins are shredded coconut, chocolate chips, cinnamon and a little sea salt.
If your protein ball batter is too wet or sticky, make sure you've let it chill in the fridge for at least 15 minutes after you mix everything together. If it is still too sticky to handle, mix a little extra almond meal into the batter and try to roll them again.
If your protein ball batter is too dry and not sticking together, you can add a tiny bit of water and mix everything again until it sticks well enough to roll into formed balls.
A good rule of thumb for peanut butter rolled balls or other flavored protein balls is about an inch in diameter. This will allow for easy storage in different kinds of containers and it's a good size for snacking.
🍳 Recipe
Peanut Butter Protein Balls (No Bake)
Ingredients
- ½ cup almond flour (see notes)
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder make sure it's plant-based for vegan/dairy-free; I used Vega Protein Made Simple Vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup salted creamy no-stir peanut butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil no need to melt
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine: Place all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and use a silicone spatula to mix very well until incorporated.
- Cool: Place the dough in the fridge for 15 minutes to firm slightly. (Don't skip this step!)
- Form: Use your hands to form 1-inch balls and place on parchment paper or a non-stick baking sheet.
- Chill: Carefully place the balls in a parchment paper-lined container and chill in the fridge for at least one hour. Balls should stay stored in the fridge and will stay good for at least a week. Enjoy!
Tonja Pavlovic
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