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Home » Recipes » Snack

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls Recipe

Modified: Feb 27, 2024 · Published Feb 9, 2018 · by Jacqueline Piper · Leave a Comment · This post may contain affiliate links. Read our privacy policy.

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Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl with text for Pinterest.
Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl with text for Pinterest.
Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl with text for Pinterest.

This peanut butter chocolate protein ball recipe is easy to make with only 6 simple ingredients. Made with dates, peanut butter, protein powder, and oats, these peanut butter energy balls have no added sugar, and are easily adaptable for dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan diets.

Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl.
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions
  • Instructions
  • Tips for making protein balls
  • Storage
  • FAQs
  • Recipe

These protein bites take only about 10 minutes to prep and require only a handful of ingredients. These little no bake snacks are great for meal prepping at the beginning of the week.

With 5 grams of protein per portion (about the same amount of protein as an egg or half a cup of some types of beans), and the combination of chocolate and peanut butter with oats, these are the perfect mid-day snack.

You can make these chocolate protein balls fit in with a lot of special diets with small modifications. 

  • For a gluten-free diet, make sure to use gluten-free certified oats. 
  • If you follow a vegan diet, use Vegan Protein Powder. 
  • For dairy free diets, use a dairy free/vegan protein powder. 
  • For peanut allergies, try almonds and almond butter or cashews and cashew butter.

Love the combo of chocolate and peanut butter? Me too. Try chocolate peanut butter Rice Krispie treats, chocolate peanut butter overnight oats, or chocolate chip peanut oat butter cookie bars next.

Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl.

Ingredients

See the recipe card for exact amounts.

  • peanuts: for a crunchy bite.
  • peanut butter: I use creamy peanut butter. for protein, flavor, healthy fats, and keeping the ingredients together.
  • dates: Medjool dates act as a sweetener and a binder, helping to hold the ingredients together.
  • protein powder:  I like chocolate protein powder in this recipe for a chocolate and peanut butter combo.
  • oats: the combination of quick oats and large flake oats gives the best results. The quick oats kind of swink into the mixture and the large flake oats give a nice bite.

Substitutions

  • peanut butter: try natural peanut butter instead or a different nut butter.
  • protein powder: try vanilla protein powder and mini chocolate chips together like a cookie dough protein ball. Or try another type of protein powder.
An icon with a black cast iron skillet and the word Tip in white handwritten font.

Try other protein powders or nut butters to customize this recipe to what you have on hand.

​

Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl.

Instructions

Prep Tips

  • Soak the dates in ¼ hot water for 10-15 minutes, until soft. Remove the dates from the water but reserve the water.

To make these, I use a food processor. If you don't have one, chop the peanuts and dates with a knife and mix everything in a large bowl.

  1. Add the peanuts to the food processor and pulse a few times to chop.
  2. Remove them to another small bowl and repeat with the dates. 
  3. Add a scoop of protein powder to the date water and mix well.
  4. Add this plus all other ingredients to the food processor bowl and pulse until combined.
  5. Use a small cookie scoop to portion them out evenly. Mine is a 1 ½ tablespoon cookie scoop. This gives me 20 portions. 
  6. Roll the portions into balls and refrigerate.
Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl.

Tips for making protein balls

  • Customize: Try adding some hemp seeds, chia seeds, or ground flax seeds to the mix. You may need to add a splash of water to accommodate the addition. Try different flavored protein powders to suit your taste.

Storage

Store protein bites in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl.

FAQs

How much protein is in protein balls?

This recipe for protein balls delivers 5 grams of protein per ball.

Recipe

Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl.
5 from 1 vote

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Author : Jacqueline Piper
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 20
Easy little snacks made with dates, peanuts, peanut butter, oats, and chocolate protein powder.
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Equipment

  • Ninja Food Processor or similar

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup peanuts
  • 1 cup Medjool dates pitted + ¼ cup water
  • 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • ¼ cup peanut butter
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • 1 cup large flake oats
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Instructions

  • Set dates in a small bowl and cover with about ¼ cup or hot water. Let sit until softened.
  • Pulse the peanuts in the food processor, until chopped. Set aside.
  • Drain dates (save the date water) and pulse in the food processor until finely chopped.
  • Mix protein powder with date water then add to processor, along with the peanut butter and pulse to mix.
  • Add the peanuts and oats and pulse to mix again. You may have to switch to mixing by hand here.  
  • Use a cookie scoop if you want to, to get perfect 1 ½ tablespoon portions, then roll them between your hands to get round balls. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or so and then serve.

Notes

Try a different flavor of protein powder or another nut butter to customize this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 6g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is an estimate. Values vary based on products used. Read our full Nutrition Disclaimer.

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Round protein balls made with oats in a bowl with text for Pinterest.

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