Peanut Butter Protein Balls

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!

Jump to:

• 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

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.

Ingredients used

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Recipe

More recipes to try

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