Peanut Butter Protein Balls: Quick and Delicious!

February 19, 2023February 20, 2023 Stan

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If you’re looking for a quick snack that’s packed with protein, these peanut butter protein balls will fuel your day in the tastiest way – peanut butter lovers stand to attention!

A white plate with peanut butter protein balls that is on the wooden tray with linen napkin under it. Near it there is a small bowl with ground nuts | Hurry The Food Up

I love homemade protein balls, don’t you? They’re my favorite healthy snacks, and they’re great for breakfast too.

In fact, these peanut butter energy balls are made with really simple ingredients and are ready in only 20 minutes, meaning I can make them the night before so they’re ready to grab as I run out of the door in the morning.

There’s something about no bake protein balls that make them feel like a sweet treat, I think it’s the little bit of maple syrup.

However, they’re a great option for time-pressed people and they’re packed with protein so they’ll help you stay full until lunchtime.

I have been trying to get this recipe out for you guys for a while now, but there were a few delays in testing – every time I made a batch to try one of my kids had taken it, so I guess they passed the test!

Let’s take a look at what healthy ingredients make up these peanut butter protein balls.

Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients in this recipe:

Protein powder

First up, I chose vanilla protein powder as it has a sweet taste but isn’t so flavorful that you can’t taste anything else. That being said, you could easily add your own favorite protein powder, as long as it isn’t spinach or something.

This ingredient helps us to give you a whopping 27 grams of protein in just one ball!

Now I know I said my kids had sneaked almost every ball I made in testing, and some people may question if protein powder is suitable for children.

Personally, I believe if they have a healthy balanced diet it isn’t necessary for children to gain their protein from supplements. However in this situation, I don’t believe it will hurt as a one-off.

That being said, I would always encourage you to do your own reseach and make your own decisions. Below are a couple of links I found useful in making mine.

If you want to learn more here is an article from Healthline on protein powder for kids, and WebMD asks the question, is protein powder safe for children?

Oats

I love good old-fashioned oats for breakfast no matter what form they come in, but sometimes I don’t have the time to make porridge or baked oats.

So adding whole grain into a recipe like this is a great way to do it, protein balls with oats almost taste cakey!

Cacao powder

Cacao powder, or cocoa powder it’s all the same, but the important thing here is to use a sugarless kind as the bitterness will cut through the sweetness from the protein powder nicely.

Think peanut butter cup vibes! I have recommended 2 tablespoons but you can just use one if you prefer.

Peanut butter protein balls ingredients like protein powder, vanilla, rolled oats, cacao powder, yoghurt, maple syrup | Hurry The Food Up

Greek yogurt

Another protein powerhouse in this recipe comes from greek yogurt. Again, I chose this variety to keep the sweetness down but it is also high in protein which is kind of key in protein ball recipes.

Peanut butter

This recipe is not for people with nut allergies that’s for sure! Try and use the crunchy kind if you like it – it adds the best texture and crunch!

I think this ingredient is one of the best things in this recipe. I prefer natural peanut butter just because it doesn’t have as much added sugar.

I love anything with peanut butter in and it’s also giving us a final boost of protein to our healthy protein balls recipe.

Maple syrup

f you have a bit of a sweet tooth these little no-bake energy bites are perfect. The sweetness from the protein powder and maple syrup really hits the spot.

Pure maple syrup would be my choice as it doesn’t have any artificial ingredients. Of course, too much sugar of any form isn’t great, so we’ll stick to 1.5 tbsps in the recipe.

How many calories are in peanut butter protein balls?

Due to the healthy fats from the peanut butter, there are 89 calories in each ball.

That may seem a lot but one serving is one ball so you need a substantial amount of calories or you’d need to eat more than one.

The protein is what helps and there are a fantastic 7 grams of protein in each bite!

The rest of the nutritional facts look like this:

kcal 89kcal

Carbs 10g

Fat 3g

Protein 7g

Health benefits

You may think of protein balls and think – those are only for gym bunnies. But actually, as my kids proved, protein balls can be for anyone. And they’re actually a really great way to up your daily protein intake.

Protein is great at keeping us feeling full, it reduces cravings, helps stabilise blood sugar levels, and increases satiety levels.

So making sure you have protein in every meal or snack is really important as many of us sadly don’t get enough protein each day.

It’s also a great tool if you’re trying to lose weight, and it can also help you build muscle more easily.

The great thing about being vegetarian or vegan is there are lots of plant-based protein options out there.

If you’re looking for more high-protein meal ideas why not download this Free 7-Day High Protein Meal Plan?

Want more regular inspiration? There’s a Weekly High-Protein Plan too!

How to make peanut butter protein bites?

Time needed: 20 minutes.

Prep time:
Pop the following into a food processor – protein powder, half the oats, cacao powder, greek yogurt, peanut butter, salt, maple syrup, and water. Blitz it up until smooth.
Make time:
Combine the rest of the oats and lay the mixture on a baking sheet. It should be doughy but not too wet, so add more oats if necessary. Put the mixture into the freezer to rest for 10 minutes.
Rolling time:
Roll the dough into 8 balls.
To finish:
You can eat them as they are, or you can coat them with extra cacao powder or even ground pistachios.

Protein balls FAQs

Here are the answer to your top questions:

How to store protein balls?

When you’ve made your batch of protein balls you can store them in an airtight container. It’s best to keep them in the fridge as they contain yogurt.

They should last a couple of days, however, they’ve never lasted more than a few minutes in my house!

What to serve with protein balls?

They’re great to eat on their own or you could have a piece of fruit with it if you wanted.

Can I make protein balls ahead?

Yes, this is a great recipe to make in large batches. They freeze well for up to 3 months and just need thawing overnight in the fridge before you can start tucking in again!

Are protein balls healthy?

Protein balls are great as part of a balanced diet. They are higher in calories so watch you don’t have too many.

However, as they are high in protein they are good at keeping you full and therefore help you to avoid making unhealthy choices.

How many protein balls should I have a day?

It’s probably best to stick to only 2-3 protein balls a day if you’re watching your calorie intake.

Recipe variations

This is a simple peanut butter protein ball recipe, but you could also make some alterations where you need to.

Different protein powder: If you don’t have vanilla, you could always use chocolate protein powder to add an even more chocolatey hit.

Different nut butter: If you don’t like creamy peanut butter, why not try cashew butter or seed butter like almond butter?

Different sweetener: If you can’t get hold of, or don’t like, maple syrup you could always try a touch of honey instead if you prefer.

Bird's-eye view of peanut butter protein balls that are on the white plate | Hurry The Food Up

More recipes like this

If you loved this recipe, let me know in the comments, and check out these recipes as well:

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Fueled with protein power! These protein balls are easy to make but hard to keep your hands off. Chocolate included!

Diet: egg-free, gluten-free

Servings:8 servings (1 ball per serving)

In the food processor add the vanilla protein powder, half the rolled oats, the cacao powder, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, salt, maple syrup and water. Process until smooth.
2 ½ tbsp protein powder, ¾ cup rolled oats, 2 tbsp cacao powder, 4 tbsp Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp peanut butter, ¼ tsp salt, 1 ½ tbsp water, 1 ½ tbsp maple syrup
Combine mixture with the remaining oats until you have a homogenous dough. You should be able to create a ball with the dough, if necessary, add a little more oats. It should not be liquidy.
Rest in the freezer for 10 minutes.
Divide the dough into 8 portions (about 1 ½ tbsp each) and form into balls with your hands.
Optional: Coat the balls with extra cacao powder or ground nuts like pistachios.
Eat immediately or store in the fridge until ready to consume.