Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Protein balls are one of my favorite snacks to make! They are easy, healthy and so delicious. Plus they make the perfect grab-and-go snack. I also like to make energy balls, almond joy energy bites and lemon coconut energy balls.
Energy balls have been my jam lately. I’m nursing right now, so I am hungry 24/7! Is it just me, or do the cravings hit even harder when nursing than pregnant? Holy cow. Give me all the chocolate!
These chocolate protein balls are packed with protein so have helped kept me full longer. They are seriously SO good! The texture is perfect and they are almost like eating cookie dough. These protein balls are my go-to snack whenever the chocolate cravings hit! So much healthier than grabbing a Reese’s and much more satisfying! My kids love them too! I have to hide them from my 2 year old, because I’ve found her sneaking them out of the freezer.
They’re friendly to just about every dietary and lifestyle consideration. Need your energy balls vegan? How about raw energy balls? Energy balls Paleo? Gluten free energy balls? Naturally sweetened? Grammatically correct?
Check. Check. Check. Aaaaaand, check. There’s an energy ball option for you.
Energy balls are EASY. Can you stir things in a bowl or put things in your food processor? You can make healthy energy balls.
They are high in protein and fiber, which meals they keep you full, and full = happy.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
NOTES
Energy balls have been my jam lately. I’m nursing right now, so I am hungry 24/7! Is it just me, or do the cravings hit even harder when nursing than pregnant? Holy cow. Give me all the chocolate!
These chocolate protein balls are packed with protein so have helped kept me full longer. They are seriously SO good! The texture is perfect and they are almost like eating cookie dough. These protein balls are my go-to snack whenever the chocolate cravings hit! So much healthier than grabbing a Reese’s and much more satisfying! My kids love them too! I have to hide them from my 2 year old, because I’ve found her sneaking them out of the freezer.
They’re friendly to just about every dietary and lifestyle consideration. Need your energy balls vegan? How about raw energy balls? Energy balls Paleo? Gluten free energy balls? Naturally sweetened? Grammatically correct?
Check. Check. Check. Aaaaaand, check. There’s an energy ball option for you.
Energy balls are EASY. Can you stir things in a bowl or put things in your food processor? You can make healthy energy balls.
They are high in protein and fiber, which meals they keep you full, and full = happy.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups rolled oats (old fashioned oats)
- 1 cup protein powder (I use a vegan brown rice protein powder)
- 1/4 cup raw cacao powder (or substitute unsweetened cocoa powder)
- 1 cup crispy "cheerios" cereal (I use an unsweetened brand)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
- Using a hand mixer, beat together peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth
- Add raw cacao powder and protein powder and beat until combined
- (I suggest taking a taste at this point - it seriously looks and tastes like frosting - I had a hard time making myself stop eating it!)
- Using a blender, process oats into flour, add to wet ingredients
- Process crispy cereal until a crumbly texture (not complete flour), and add to ingredients
- Add salt and mix until everything is well combined
- The mixture should be crumbly
- Form and roll into balls and store in an airtight container in the freezer
NOTES
- You can make these in the food processor as well. Just add all dry ingredients and pulse, then add wet ingredients. I have found I like making them better with just a hand mixer, and so I have changed the instructions to reflect that method.