These chocolate peanut butter protein balls taste like no baked cookies but healthier! These make the perfect pre-workout snack, breakfast, or dessert!
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Healthy Grab and Go Snack
Protein balls are one of my favorite snacks to make! They are easy, healthy and so delicious. Plus they make the perfect grab-and-go snack. I also like to make energy balls, almond joy energy bites, and lemon coconut energy balls.
Energy balls have been my jam lately. I’m nursing right now, so I am hungry 24/7! Is it just me, or do the cravings hit even harder when nursing than pregnant? Holy cow. Give me all the chocolate! These chocolate protein balls are packed with protein so have helped kept me full longer. They are seriously SO good! The texture is perfect and they are almost like eating cookie dough. They actually remind me of no-bake cookies, but healthier!
These protein balls are my go-to healthy snack whenever the chocolate cravings hit! So much better than grabbing a Reese’s and much more satisfying! My kids love them too! I have to hide them from my 2-year-old because I’ve found her sneaking them out of the freezer.
Ingredients
All you need to make them is oats, peanut butter, honey, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and vanilla. I like to add in a scoop of protein powder as well for a little extra protein. Sometimes I’ll add flaxseed and chia seeds as well as sprinkle a dash of cinnamon or salt for extra flavor as well.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Oats: This is the main ingredient! Oats give the most texture and structure to the protein balls.
- Cocoa powder: Gives a little hint of chocolate!
- Chocolate protein powder: An optional add-in would be your favorite protein powder. I do love clean eats protein powder but know that everyone has their favorite flavor and brand.
- Peanut butter: Stick your protein balls together using smooth and creamy peanut butter.
- Honey: Add in a natural sweetener that helps holds the ingredients together as well as gives a delicious flavor.
- Chocolate chips: A sweet chocolate that is tasty to bite into.
- Vanilla: Just a splash helps balance the flavors and give it a boost of vanilla flavoring!
- Optional: Chia seeds and flaxseeds are always simple to add in if you have them available. This takes the protein balls to the next level of healthiness.
How to Make Protein Balls
If you’ve ever wondered how to make protein balls, I’m going to show you how. They are seriously SO easy to make and come together in minutes. The base of this recipe is similar to my 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls, but with added chocolate for good measure.
- Mix together. Once you have all your ingredients ready, you literally just mix them all together in a bowl. Add the dry ingredients first, then mix in the wet ingredients and stir until smooth.
- Scoop. Then scoop them into little balls and place them on a lined baking sheet. I like to use a small cookie scoop to make things easier. You should end up with around 40 protein balls.
- Chill and enjoy. I like to par-freeze them by placing the whole pan in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes. Then I place them all in a ziptop bag and put them back in the freezer. You can also put a couple of the protein balls in snack-size bags when you need a quick snack on the go. Once I take them out of the freezer, I like to let them thaw a little bit so they have the soft cookie dough texture that makes them so amazing!
Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips for the best protein balls yet! Learn what you can add in, substitutions or modifications if needed, and how to make the protein balls perfectly when rolling them. It is a simple recipe that comes together quickly and easily!
- Add in. If adding chia seeds or flaxseed, add them in with the wet ingredients.
- Substitutions. Feel free to make substitutes, like cashew butter instead of peanut butter or maple syrup instead of honey.
- Too dry. If the mixture feels too dry, add an additional Tablespoon of peanut butter + 1/2 Tablespoon of honey.
- Too sticky. If it feels too sticky, add 1-2 more Tablespoons of oats or protein powder.
5 star review
“Delicious!! Super easy and tastes like no bake cookies in cookie dough form.”
– Monica
Recipe FAQs
Yes! These are a great form of snack that is healthy and good for you. Leave out the chocolate chips to make them even more healthy. These are also not low-calorie but can be altered with modifications to the ingredients.
Each protein ball is between 100 to 150 calories per protein ball depending on the size of the scoop you use. Most people will average between two to three a day.
Protein balls are best in the morning, snack, or before and after a workout at the gym. These are packed with protein and other nutrients that will help build, repair, and replenish your body throughout the day.
Storing and Freezing
These peanut butter protein balls are best stored in the fridge or freezer. I prefer to store them in the freezer because they last longer and the texture is amazing. Just let them thaw for a few minutes, then they’ll have that delicious cookie dough consistency.
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container or bag for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: To prevent sticking, par-freeze the balls on a pan in the freezer until hard, about 10 to 20 minutes. Then place it in a zip-top bag or container and add a freezer label (or write the date on the bag). Store for up to 3 months.
More Healthy Snack Ideas
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup quick oats
- ¾ cup old fashioned oats
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 70 grams chocolate protein powder , 2 scoops
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- splash of vanilla
Optional mix in's: 1-2 Tablespoons chia seeds, ground flaxseed, hemp protein, collagen and/or mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Stir together the oats, cocoa powder and protein powder in a large bowl. Next stir in the peanut butter, honey, chocolate chips (if adding I like to start with about 1/4 cup) and vanilla. Add chia seeds and flaxseed with the wet ingredients if desired. Stir until smooth.
- Line a small baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Using a small cookie scoop (2 teaspoons), scoop out 40 balls. Place in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes, or until ready to eat.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, American, Breakfast, Energy Balls + Bars, Freezer-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Make Ahead, Meal Prep, Snacks, Sweet Breakfast, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
Used extra crunchy peanut butter because my husband thinks smooth is boring. :) Turned out great!! Will be making again.
My family loves peanut butter balls, and these chocolate ones are even better!
Yum – these are my favorites. Makes a great on the go snack!
These protein balls are amazing!!! I have been keeping some on hand for a daily treat, YUM!!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I had some flaxseed on hand so I ground up a bit and added it. My kids gobbled these right up! I love that they taste good and are so much cheaper than buying protein bars.
These are absolutely delicious! I love the combination of quick oats and old fashioned oats in this recipe. The texture is amazing and is so reminiscent of the famous no bake cookies. I used unflavored protein powder because that’s what I had and just simply added another Tbs. of cocoa powder. My family loves these! Thank you for a terrific recipe.
These chocolate protein balls are going to be my legacy! I have never tried anything so delicious yet healthy and easy to make. I will definitely be coming back to this recipe again and again!
Made these nut balls yesterday. All I can say is: yummy. Absolutely yummy! I used almond butter and maple syrup. Didn’t have any honey. As I said: they turned out fabulous. I would have liked to have added chocolate chips but didn’t have any on hand. Would be extra great with some. So glad I found this recipe. My husband would like them in the refrigerator all—the— time… Want to keep that man happy! :-)
Thanks so much for your nice comment, Donna :) I’m so happy to hear you and your husband loved them so much!
You have 3/4 cup quick and 3/4 cup old fashioned oats listed in the recipe but you said you prefer quick oats . Please explain .
I like to use a mixture of both instead of using all of one kind or the other. That way they aren’t overly chewy from the old fashioned oats, but just chewy enough :)
So easy to put together and every single member of my family will eat them. I add hemp protein powder, chia seeds and ground flax seed along with the mini chocolate chips. Super yummy!
Love all the extras you add in. So glad everyone in your family enjoys them!
I was hesitant to make these because I’m not big on honey and my husband does not like no bake cookies. I’m so glad I went ahead and tried them. We both love them! They are currently sitting in the freezer and will make the perfect afternoon snack when I need just a little something.
Hoping to try this on the weekend; would natural peanut butter ok, and is there a difference if less honey is added?
Thank you! :)
Natural peanut butter should be fine. Since it is a little thinner, you may want to decrease the honey a bit.
Awesome. Easy. Added chia and replaced agave with honey and cocoa with Cocao for an added health boost.
Delicious!! Super easy and tastes like no bake cookies in cookie dough form.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! :)
I’m confused, the recipe says 3/4 cup quick oats and 3/4 cup old fashioned oats.
Yet your write up says quick oats taste best.
Am I supposed to pick 3/4 of a cup of one or the other? Or 1 1/2 cups?
I typically use both. But if you use 1, I would recommend quick oats. :)
Hi!
I added chia seeds to mine (2 tablespoons)
, would you say this increases the calories to 75 per ball?
Hi Lindsay! I think it would be about 70 calories per ball!