Peanut butter protein balls are no bake energy bites made with simple ingredients such as peanut butter, protein powder and chocolate chips. These protein balls are easy to make and are perfect for a quick, healthy snack or on the go breakfast.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
I love quick, easy and healthier for you recipes. My Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse, Protein Overnight Oats, Oat Flour Pancakes, Strawberry Parfait, Date Snickers and Egg White Bites, are healthier recipes that I absolutely adore. This protein peanut butter balls recipe is another healthy, protein packed recipe I know you will love just as much as I do.
- Quick and healthy on the go breakfast or snack. This peanut butter ball recipe takes about 5 minutes to assemble using a handful of simple ingredients. Simply mix everything together, scoop and let the balls set for about 30 minutes. Now you have a healthy, calorie and nutrient dense snack or breakfast option.
- Perfect for meal prep. Peanut butter energy balls are perfect for making at the beginning of the week and enjoying over the next week as a snack or part of breakfast.
Ingredients
This peanut butter protein balls recipe requires only a handful of basic pantry ingredients. Here’s what you will need.
Gather peanut butter, protein powder, honey or maple syrup, almond flour, vanilla extract, salt and chocolate chips.
Substitutions
Here are my recommended substitutions to make these no bake peanut butter balls if you need them.
- Protein Powder: Use your preferred vanilla or chocolate protein powder. I personally love this one.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Feel free to use any creamy peanut butter (no stir) you like. Natural peanut butter (the kind you have to stir) can also work as long as the peanut butter is every thoroughly mixed.
- Maple Syrup or Honey: Feel free to use your preferred liquid sweetener. I personally love using honey or maple syrup.
- Almond Flour: Blanched almond flour is the correct almond flour to use in this recipe. If you would like to use almond meal, know that the texture of the energy balls will be coarser.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding a splash of vanilla extract really makes these energy balls shine.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Mini chocolate chips are preferred because they are easier to eat than regular sized chocolate chips. Feel free to use your preferred size and brand of chocolate chips.
How To Make
Learn how to make peanut butter protein balls in a few easy steps.
- Add the peanut butter, protein powder, honey or maple syrup, almond flour, vanilla extract and salt to a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients well until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips until thoroughly mixed in.
- Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon sized spoon to scoop about 1 tablespoon sized ball into the palm of a clean hand. Roll the dough into a ball and place on a small lined baking sheet or large plate. Repat scooping and rolling until all the pb protein ball dough has been used. Chill the balls in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Transfer the chilled pb energy balls to an airtight container stored in the fridge and enjoy for up to 2 weeks.
How To Make Ahead, Store, Freeze and Thaw
- Make Ahead: Peanut butter energy bites are perfect for meal prep. Prepare the recipe through to the chilling step and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Store: Place the protein energy balls in an airtight container and store in the fridge for for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze and Thaw: Place the protein balls on a lined baking sheet or large plate. Transfer to the freezer to flash freeze the balls for about 20 - 30 minutes. Then transfer the energy bites to a freezer proof and air tight container to store in the freezer for 2 - 3 months. Allow the energy balls to thaw on the counter for a few hours or in the fridge overnight.
M’s Expert Tips
- Use a kitchen scale. For the easiest, fastest and best peanut butter protein balls, I recommend using a scale. This energy ball recipe has weight in grams which makes measuring out all the ingredients into the bowl super fast.
- Customize the ingredients to what you prefer. Don’t want to include chocolate chips, feel free to skip them or swap them with dried fruit. Use your favorite protein powder or swap half for a collagen powder. Swap the peanut butter for sunflower butter or even tahini.
- If you want, add some oats. Rolled oats, old fashioned oats or steel cut oats make a good addition to these peanut butter energy balls. Feel free to add up to 1 cup (90 g).
- Add chia or flax seeds. The addition of chia or flax seeds adds healthy omega-3 fats and fiber. Feel free to add 1 tablespoon chia or flaxseeds to the mix.
- Use a small cookie scoop. To make these pb energy bites consistently the same shape and size, use a small 1 tablespoon (15 ml) cookie scoop.
- Allow for some chill time to fully set. These no bake energy balls should keep their shape relatively easily without chilling. However, the balls are fully set after 30 minutes of chilling.
FAQs
Yes, these pb energy bites can be frozen. Place the protein balls on a lined baking sheet or large plate. Transfer to the freezer to flash freeze the balls for about 20 - 30 minutes. Then transfer the energy bites to a freezer proof and air tight container to store in the freezer for 2 - 3 months. Allow the energy balls to thaw on the counter for a few hours or in the fridge overnight.
Protein peanut butter balls last 1 -2 weeks in the fridge when stored in an air tight container. They last 2 - 3 months when stored in an air tight container in the freezer.
Yes, protein balls made with peanut butter can be considered healthy. They’re small bites packed with satiating ingredients filled with healthy fats, protein and healthier sweeteners such as maple syrup and honey.
Other No Bake Recipes to Try
If you try this Peanut Butter Protein Balls recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to make. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking!
Peanut Butter Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 large spoon
- 1 food scale or measuring cups
- 1 small cookie scoop (1 tbsp, 15 ml) optional
- 1 small baking sheet or large plate
- 1 sheet parchment or wax paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup (256 g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup (100 g) protein powder about 6 scoops
- ½ cup (168 g) honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup (60 g) almond flour
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (44 g) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the peanut butter, protein powder, honey or maple syrup, almond flour, vanilla extract and salt to a large mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients well until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips until thoroughly mixed in.1 cup (256 g) creamy peanut butter, 1 cup (100 g) protein powder, ½ cup (168 g) honey or maple syrup , ½ cup (60 g) almond flour , ½ teaspoon vanilla extract , ½ teaspoon salt , ¼ cup (44 g) mini chocolate chips
- Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon sized spoon to scoop about 1 tablespoon sized ball into the palm of a clean hand. Roll the dough into a ball and place on a small lined baking sheet or large plate. Repat scooping and rolling until all the pb protein ball dough has been used.
- Chill the balls in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Transfer the chilled pb energy balls to an airtight container stored in the fridge and enjoy for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Store: Place the protein energy balls in an airtight container and store in the fridge for for up to 2 weeks.
- Add some oats. Rolled oats or old fashioned oats make a good addition to these peanut butter energy balls. Feel free to add up to 1 cup (90 g). Omit the almond flour if you add the oats.
- Add chia or flax seeds. The addition of chia or flax seeds adds healthy omega-3 fats and fiber. Feel free to add 1 tablespoon chia or flaxseeds to the mix.
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