Easy Peanut Butter No Bake Protein Balls Recipe

These peanut butter protein balls are an easy, no-bake treat that you can make in bulk, and store in the freezer for a quick easy snack. Protein balls are made with simple ingredients, and no refined sugars. Learn how to make this crunchy, delicious sweet treat for the peanut butter lovers!

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Tools You Might Need:

• Large Bowl
• Large Spoon for Mixing
• Cookie Scoop (optional but makes forming balls much easier).
• Large baking sheet 

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Protein Balls

You only need a few healthy ingredients for delicious, peanut butter protein balls! 

Oatmeal

I prefer old fashioned oats, as they are bigger and hold the mixture together better. However you could also use quick oats, if that is what you have on hand. Try to buy organic when you can, because non-organic oats very well could have been treated with chemical pesticides or fertilizers. 

Peanut Butter

Since we are making peanut butter energy balls here, don’t forget the peanut butter! Natural peanut butter is always best, because we want to avoid nut butters that contain seed oils, or highly-processed oils. The best peanut butters have two ingredients: peanuts and salt. I have made them with chunky or creamy peanut butter and both options are good!

Peanuts (or Nut of Choice)

To really seal the deal on the peanut butter flavor, choose peanuts. Otherwise slivered almonds are good, or any other nut like pecans or walnuts. Nuts give these protein bites a nice crunchy texture!

Honey

Honey gives these protein balls a delicious sweet flavor and also helps keep them together so they don’t fall apart. I like to use raw honey, for the nutrients and enzymes. If you prefer, pure maple syrup would also be delicious. 

Protein Powder

Use your favorite type of protein powder! I like to use chocolate protein powder in this recipe, but vanilla protein powder or any other flavor will work well. This time around I used transparent labs grass-fed whey protein powder,  but I have also used ancient nutrition bone broth protein, or chocolate collagen from perfect supplements. You could also use a plant-based protein powder if that’s your thing. 

Chocolate Chips

I like to use dark chocolate chips in my protein balls, but use whatever you like. Mini chocolate chips work the best because they hold together a little bit better. 

How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Step 1: Combine All Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine:

• 2 cups dry old fashion oats
• 2 scoops protein powder
• 1/2 cups peanuts or other nut
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 5 Tablespoons water

Stir together with a large spoon until all the ingredients are combined.

Step 2: Form Into Bite-Size Balls

Using a cookie scoop or your hands, shape the mixture into small balls (bite size) and place on a baking sheet. If you find that the mix is too dry, you can add a little more peanut butter or honey. Continue making protein balls until all of the mix is used up. 

Step 3: Flash Freeze Protein Balls

Place the cookie sheet with protein balls into the freezer for about 30 minutes. 

Step 4: Store & Enjoy! 

After 30 minutes, move the protein balls into a gallon zip-lock bag or large airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for about a week, or freeze them for a few months! 

Tips for Making Perfect Peanut Butter Protein Balls

• If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle in a little more protein powder or oatmeal. 
• If the dough is too dry, add a little more peanut butter or honey.
• If you are using your hands to form the balls, try wetting your hands first to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands. 

​Have Fun With It! Recipe Variations

What makes peanut butter balls so great are you can really mix in anything you want. They are hard to mess up! Use this as a base recipe, and experiment with different variations. Try different sweeteners, protein flavors, or mix ins. A few ideas to try:

• Salt: Sprinkle in some mineral salt or sea salt to really bring out the peanut butter flavor
• Spice them up with cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice or cardamom. 
• Try adding in 1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder for chocolate peanut butter protein balls (YUM!)
• Hemp seeds, flax seeds or chia seeds
• Try different nut butters, like almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter
• If you prefer a smoother texture, you could mix all ingredients together in a food processor before forming them into balls. 

Conclusion

There you have it. These easy protein balls are delicious snacks for anytime of day. They are one of my favorite recipes to make ahead before having a baby. When I’m up nursing in the middle of the night and get hungry I can grab one before I go back to sleep. They are also nice for a quick post-workout snack, or my toddlers love them. Healthy options for snack time are a must!