These chocolate peanut butter protein balls are my favourite go-to snack. They satisfy my sweet tooth while also providing a boost of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. The result? I feel full after eating just one or two.
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This post is all about how to make chocolate peanut butter protein balls.
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Let's be honest, you can't beat the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate. And if you don't' have these ingredients on hand in your kitchen then I would be quite concerned! 🤣
You can also use this recipe as a base and customise it to suit your preferences. Whether you add nuts, seeds, or desiccated coconut, I guarantee that these protein balls will become a favourite in your snack rotation.
And did I mention they can easily be made vegan and gluten-free?
🙋♀️ To Snack or not to snack
My clients often ask me if snacking is healthy. And it most certainly can be. But the key is that you are choosing balanced snacks. You really don't need to arrive at every meal ravenous! In fact, including balanced snacks can prevent you from overeating at your next meal.
That said, I encourage my clients to choose their snacks wisely and prioritize nourishing snacks that will keep them full between meals. An ideal snack would contain a combination of protein, fiber, and even some healthy fats. This is the best way to crush that hunger. And I guarantee, with one or two of these energy balls, you will start to feel full pretty quickly!
Should you meal prep your snacks?
Meal-prepping snacks can be a game changer. It means you have nourishing snacks ready to grab whenever that hunger pang may strike. I particularly love these chocolate peanut butter protein balls because they have the added bonus of satisfying my sweet tooth. When I have these at hand, I never feel deprived if saying no to cookies or chocolates!
These protein balls are probably the most basic, easy meal prep snack you can start with. You can also customize them with your favorite mix-ins (ideas listed below!) or keep them simple.
Give them a try this week, and let me know how they go!
💛 Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick & Simple: These chocolate peanut butter protein balls are made with just a few basic ingredients and can be prepared in no time. Simply combine the ingredients in a bowl, mix well, and shape into balls—it's that easy!
- On-the-Go: They’re easy to grab, portable, and mess-free!
- Kid-Friendly Cooking: Want to get your kids involved in the kitchen? This recipe is ideal for little helpers! Even toddlers can assist with adding the ingredients, stirring the mixture, and rolling it into balls (and maybe sneaking a taste too!).
- Adaptable: his recipe can be easily adapted to be gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan, making them suitable for a variety of dietary needs.
🥣 The ingredients:
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Peanut butter (I always look for one made with 100% peanuts where possible, as many varieties now have added sugar. Quick tip - check the ingredient list to figure this out)
Liquid Sweetener, e.g., maple syrup or honey
Oats: When making these protein balls, you can use rolled oats (also known as old-fashioned oats) or quick oats depending on what you have on hand. If you prefer a chewier consistency, rolled oats are the better option. If you like a very smooth consistency quick oats will work better, or you can ground down your oats in a food processor to make them into a finer oat flour. Use certified gluten-free oats if there are any gluten intolerances. I don't recommend steel-cut oats, as they do not absorb moisture the same way and will not form a soft energy ball.
Chocolate Chips - Adds a rich flavor and additional texture to the bites. Use darker chocolate chips for higher antioxidant content. You can use regular sized or mini chocolate chips.
Protein Powder is optional but recommended if you want a higher protein content.
🔪Step by Step Instructions
Below are the instructions for how to make this recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, oats, protein powder, honey (and chocolate chips is using).
Step 3: Allow the mixture to sit in the fridge for 30-60 minutes (this will make rolling easier as the mixture will become less sticky)
Step 2: Mix until fully combined. Add in any other mix-ins (if using) and stir until incorporated.
Step 4: Using your hands roll the mixture into 16 equal sized balls.
💡Additional toppings/Mix-Ins:
You can add these to the mixture or roll the ball in the topping at the end to make an outer coating.
- M&Ms
- White, milk, or dark chocolate chips
- Dried fruit (cranberries, chopped apricots, raisins)
- Crushed peanuts
- Desiccated coconut
- Freeze-dried strawberries or raspberries
- Seeds (hemp, flax, pumpkin)
- Melted chocolate
- Flaked almonds
- Sea salt
You can also switch out the peanut butter for an almond butter for another nut butter you prefer.
🥑 Dietary adaptions
To make gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats.
To make nut-free: Use sunflower seed or soy butter instead of peanut butter. If your seed/soy-based butter is much thicker than natural peanut butter, I recommend heating it up slightly or adding 1-2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil until it has a runny texture.
To make it dairy-free: Use dairy free chocolate chips or omit these completely.
To make vegan: Follow dairy-free swaps and use maple syrup instead of honey.
Always check the ingredients you’re using to be sure they are compliant with your particular dietary needs.
🥣 Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Your hands!
📦 Storage
Room temperature: You can store the protein balls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, but I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator (see below).
Refrigerator: These chocolate peanut butter protein balls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Freezer: These can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you choose to freeze them, let them sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before eating. If you’re stacking the protein balls, separate them with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
🌟Top tips for making this recipe
- After mixing everything together, I like to let the mixture sit in the fridge for 30-60 minutes before rolling it into balls. This makes it less sticky and, therefore, easier to roll it out with my hands. This allows the oats and flax to absorb some of the liquid and thicken up a bit. If you try to roll the balls right after mixing, you might find that the mixture is still too sticky and messy.
- You may also need to adjust the recipe depending on the nut butter you're using. Different brands of peanut butter (or other nut or seed butters) will have various consistencies, so you might need to adapt the recipe accordingly. If you find that the mixture is too dry, add a bit more nut butter, honey or a bit of water. If it’s too wet, slightly increase the oats until the desired consistency is reached.
- The right consistency: The texture should be sticky enough that the mixture adheres together but not so sticky that it’s gooey and sticking to your hands.
- Make up a double batch: These balls freeze really well, so I highly recommend doubling or tripling the batch to keep on hand for easy snacking! Take a few out at the start of each week and you have meal prepped snacks ready to go!
🙋♀️ FAQS
I always recommend looking for peanut butter with 1-2 ingredients. These are typically just peanuts and salt. This helps reduce added sugar in the diet. However, any peanut butter will work. You can use either crunchy or smooth, depending on your preference.
You can use quick oats or rolled oats. I don't recommend steel-cut oats as they do not absorb moisture the same and will not form a soft energy ball.
Oatmeal-based energy balls can be a nutritious snack because they’re made with wholesome ingredients that offer a mix of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Adding ingredients like flaxseed boosts their fiber content and supplies omega-3 fatty acids, enhancing their nutritional value even more.
Another benefit is they are made in pre-portioned sizes, making them a great option to have ready when you need a quick snack.
📖 The Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 50 g oat flour You can make your own oat flour by adding oats to a food processor, and blending until it turns into a fine dust
- 50 g protein powder I recommend vanilla for this recipe
- 200 g peanut butter I like to use a nut butter with 100% peanuts
- 100 mls honey or maple syrup
- 60g chocolate chips (these can be omitted if preferred)
Instructions
- Blend your oats in a food processor until you have a fine dust. You can skip this step if you have oat flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, oats, protein powder, honey (and chocolate chips is using).
- Mix until fully combined.
- Add in any other mix-ins (if using) and stir until incorporated.
- Allow the mixture to sit in the fridge for 30-60 minutes (this will make rolling easier as the mixture will become less sticky)
- Roll the mixture into 16 equal sized balls.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was all about how to make chocolate peanut butter protein balls.
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Sean says
Love these!!
Eleanor says
Hi Maria, made your protein balls this morning for our local 500 parkrun celebrations. Went down a real treat !
Got loads of compliments thanks to your great receipe !
Maria Lucey RD says
Amazing, delighted to hear this! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and rate my recipe, I truly appreciate it 💛