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    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    Published: May 14, 2020 · Updated: Mar 1, 2022 by Natalie · 118 Comments

    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!

    Table of contents
    • Why you need to try them?
    • Ingredients used
    • How to make Peanut Butter Protein Balls
    • Substitutions
    • Recipe variation
    • Tips for storing
    • Recipe tips
    • 📖 Recipe
    • More recipes to try
    • 💬 Comments
    Peanut Butter Protein Balls PIN

    I'm under a lot of stress lately. Stress snacking is reality and I'm barely holding up. I often find myself raiding kitchen cabinets or our fridge, looking for easy snacks.

    Luckily, I don't 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.

    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 proteins and 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.

    Ingredients used

    These protein balls are very simple. You will only need a few simple ingredients.

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls ingredients
    • Rolled oats. Oats are rich in fiber, especially beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that keeps our heart healthy. They also support healthy digestion, which is essential for strong immunity.
    • Peanut Butter. I used creamy all-natural peanut butter. Peanut butter is a versatile protein-packed spread that is not only super tasty but super healthy too. It’s packed with proteins and healthy fats, as well as fibers. (1)
    • Protein powder. I used unflavored whey protein powder. You're welcome to use any protein powder you like or use regularly.
    • Sweetener. I used pure maple syrup. You can use other sweeteners. Please check the "Sweetener recommendation" section below.
    • Flax seeds. Flax seeds are packed with Omega-3s which improve mood, boosts immunity, and fights inflammation. Also, flax seeds are packed with fibers.
    • Ceylon cinnamon. Besides amazing flavor, cinnamon is packed with powerful antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties. (2, 3)
    • Vanilla extract. Just a splash is enough to make this beauty taste even more delicious.
    Peanut Butter Protein Balls served in a bowl

    How to make Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    Usually, to make energy balls, you would need a food processor. But these protein balls are easily made without any extra equipment.

    Equipment used

    • Measuring cups.
    • Large bowl.
    • Silicone spatula.

    Step bt step instructions

    • Step 1: Prepare the ingredients.
      • Start with preparing and measuring all the ingredients. Use measuring cups.
    • Step 2: Mix the ingredients.
      • Take a large mixing bowl and put in peanut butter, syrup and vanilla. Mix ingredients using the whisk until you get nice tick and sticky mixture.
      • Add in oats, protein powder, cinnamon and ground flax seeds.
      • Mix everything using spatula or spoon for a few minutes until the dough is formed.
      • Don't worry if the dough seems dry in the beginning. Just continue mixing.
    • Step 3: Check the dough.
      • After a few minutes, stop the mixing and check the texture by pinching the dough between your fingers. It should be sticky and able to keep its shape.
      • At this point, it's a good idea to taste the dough. If you feel like dough needs a bit more sweetness, feel free to add some sweetener. See the "Recipe tips" section for recommendations. Make sure you mix the dough again after adding the sweetener.
    • Step 4: Form the balls.
      • Using a spoon, scoop out the dough and roll it between your palms to form a little ball. Repeat with remaining dough.
      • Place balls on a plate, serving tray, or in an airtight container and refrigerate to harden.

    These ingredients will give around 20 small balls. The recommended serving size is 2 balls.

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls served in a bowl

    Substitutions

    • You can use rolled oats or quick oats. Even oat flour for softer texture.
    • You can substitute flax seeds with chia seeds or hemp seeds. 
    • You can substitute maple syrup and use honey. Make sure honey is in liquid form.
    • You can substitute cinnamon with Gingerbread Spice or Pumpkin Spice.
    • You can use any protein powder here.

    Recipe variation

    • Make it vegan: Use vegan protein powder. Use pure maple syrup.
    • Make it gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats.

    Tips for storing

    • Keep protein balls in air-tight food container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
    • To freeze: Place the balls in a zip-lock bag. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw for 5 minutes on the room temperature before using.
    Peanut Butter Protein Balls served in a bowl

    Recipe tips

    You can use a high-speed food processor or chopper to mix ingredients.

    Make sure you grind flax seeds before using them. Using ground flax seeds is the best way to make the most of their health benefits.

    If peanut butter is too hard, microwave it for a few seconds to soften. Use creamy peanut butter. Crunchy won’t work well here.

    You can sift protein powder before adding it to the mixture to get rid of lumps.

    If you notice that the mixture is too dry and crumbly, add a bit of warm water, just a teaspoon. NOTE: Add water little by little and check the dough.

    If you accidentally add too much water and the dough turns out to be too mushy, just add more oats.  

    Sweetener recommendation

    I used pure maple syrup in this recipe. Maple syrup is unprocessed sugar, it gives mild sweetness and has fewer sugary calories. You can use other sweeteners.

    • You can use date syrup or liquid honey.
    • Other sweeteners like liquid stevia or low-carb sweeteners won't work well here.
    Hand holding Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    Looking for more high-protein snack ideas? Try these:

    • Chocolate Prune Energy Balls
    • Peanut Butter Balls
    • Gingerbread Energy Balls
    • Lemon Coconut Energy Balls

    📖 Recipe

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls

    Peanut Butter Protein Balls recipe

    By Natalie
    These Peanut Butter Protein Balls are the perfect energizing snack that is both satisfying and nutritious. Sweet, nutty, and full of flavor, these protein balls are utterly delicious.
    4.9 from 126 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American, British, International
    Servings 20 balls
    Calories 72 kcal

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups
    • Mixing bowls
    • Flexible silicone spatula

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ cup rolled oats
    • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
    • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or liquid honey
    • 1 scoop protein powder
    • ¼ cup ground flaxseeds
    • 1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • In a large mixing bowl add honey, creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract. Mix using spatula or whisk until you get nice tick and sticky mixture.
    • Add in rolled oats, protein powder, cinnamon and ground flaxseeds. Mix everything together using spatula.
    • Using a spoon, scoop out the dough and roll between your palms to form a little bite-size ball. Repeat with remaining dough.
    • Place balls on a plate, serving tray or in an airtight container and refrigerate to harden.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    These ingredients will give around 20 small balls. The recommended serving size is 2 balls.
    Substitutions
    • You can use rolled oats or quick oats. Even oat flour for a softer texture.
    • You can substitute flax seeds with chia seeds or hemp seeds. 
    • You can substitute maple syrup and use honey. Make sure honey is in liquid form.
    • You can substitute cinnamon with Gingerbread Spice or Pumpkin Spice.
    • You can use any protein powder here.
    FOR GLUTEN-FREE: Use certified gluten-free oats.
    FOR VEGAN: Use vegan protein powder. 
    • Keep protein balls in air-tight food container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
    • To freeze: Place the balls in a zip-lock bag. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw for 5 minutes on the room temperature before using.
    Please see "Recipe tips" for more information about the recipe. 
    As a measure, I used a US cup (240ml).

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ball | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keyword easy peanut butter protein balls, no bake peanut butter balls, no bake peanut butter protein balls, peanut butter balls recipe, peanut butter protein balls
    Tried this recipe?Don’t forget to rate it and leave the comment. I would love to hear what you think.
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but I have endeavored to be as accurate as possible.

    More recipes to try

    • Peanut Butter Energy Balls
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
    • Peanut Butter Coconut Balls
    • Almond Butter Energy Balls

    This post is originally published in May 2020. It's updated with new information and republished in March 2022. The recipe stayed the same.

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    About Natalie

    Natalie is a writer, recipe developer, and creator of Natalie's Health. She combined knowledge of nutrition, diet and exercise and specialised in developing healthy recipes and writing about a healthy lifestyle. Her recipes and articles have been featured in many popular media outlets, like Shape, Greatist, Pure Wow, Mashed, The Huffington Post, ELLE Magazine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Victoria says

      January 10, 2023 at 5:32 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for this recipe! This is the first protein bite I've ever made, and they turned out. terrific. I really wanted one without chocolate chips in it, which I know I can leave out of any recipe but I wanted one designed without them. I made this one with some protein peanut butter I had and King Arthur flour Festive Cheer spice blend rather than the cinnamon to give it a little bit more complexity. I made them in the evening and it was a perfect dessert substitute!

      Reply
      • Natalie says

        January 14, 2023 at 2:57 pm

        Glad you like them, Victoria. Happy t hear that. Thanks for coming back and leaving the feedback. ;)

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