These chocolate peanut butter protein balls have simple ingredients and take only 10 minutes to prep. They are the best healthy no bake snack or treat anytime you need a pick- me-up!
Healthy Grab and Go Snack
Protein balls are one of my favorite easy healthy snacks to make! Whether it’s 3-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls, energy balls or monster energy balls, they are the perfect grab-and-go snack recipe.
These chocolate peanut butter protein balls are packed with protein to keep you full longer. The texture is perfect and they are almost like eating cookie dough. They remind me of no-bake cookies or my Reese’s no bake peanut butter bars, but healthier!
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.
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 love clean eats protein powder but use your 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, they are seriously SO easy to make and come together in minutes.
- 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. 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.
- Enjoy. I like to let them thaw a little bit once I remove them from the freeze so they have the soft cookie dough texture that makes them so amazing!
Tips for Best Results
Follow these tips for the best chocolate peanut butter protein balls yet!
- 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.
Storing and Freezing
- Fridge: Store peanut butter chocolate protein balls in an airtight container or bag for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: To prevent sticking, par-freeze the chocolate peanut butter protein 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 no-bake snacks we love include trail mix recipe, cereal bars and cinnamon roll breakfast smoothie!
More Healthy Snack Recipes
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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: 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 the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These are my favorite protein balls! Easy to make, delicious and they satisfy my chocolate craving too! I used the maple syrup in place of honey and regular oats and they came out fantastic.
Just what my kids needed at the moment. Helping to relieve the boredom of being at home so much but in a healthier way than munching on chocolate. Fab recipe we all loved.
If we don’t have access to protein powder, do you recommend just leaving it out?
Yes, that should be fine! :)
These are a family favorite at our house. All my kids love them.
I’m so glad to hear they are a favorite! :)
I plan on making these today, but my protein powder doesn’t come to 70 grams. How can I calculate the total amount of protein per ball?
70 grams would be about 4.5 Tablespoons. There are 4 grams of protein per ball.
Soooo good! I didn’t use instant oats I just used regular old fashioned Quaker Oats and I also added cinnamon… mmmmm. I got 30 balls instead of 40.
I’m so glad you liked them! Thanks for your comment Erin!
What type of protein powder do you use? Does it contain what? How much hemp protein would you add? Also how much collagen? Do you add together or different batches?
Hi Karen! I use the clean simple eats protein powder. I usually add 1 Tablespoon of hemp and 1-2 servings or collagen. I add it all in the same batch :)
I love peanut butter protein balls, but I’ve never tried adding cocoa powder. I think I’ll try that with my next batch! :)
Hope you enjoy! :)
Brilliant recipe, made these 4 times in the last two months and we can’t get enough of them. Varied the recipe each time by using ground flaxseed, tiny chunks of 75% dark chocolate, manuka honey, almond butter mixed with peanut butter. Each variation has tasted delicious.
Sounds so delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Look at this.
I see in the recipe calls for 1 cup quick oats 3/4 cup old fashioned oats.
What if I only have steel cut oats and old fashioned oats? Would there be a substitution for the quick oats?
Yes you can definitely substitute! I would use old fashioned oats!
These are great! Perfect substitute for those unhealthy cookies! I had to make a couple adjustments but they were still super good!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! :)
Oh shoot I am so sorry! One ball is a serving I imagine!! Apologies again haha
Thanks for listing the nutritional information, that’s super helpful! I’m just wondering how many protein balls equals one serving.
I make these all the time and have been asked for the recipe by multiple people! So quick and easy! I am curious on the serving size, how many is too many to eat in a day? I could snack on tons of them since they’re so yummy!
Each ball is 70 calories. I usually have 1-2 when I am snacking! :)
These sound great! I’m planning to make them but wonder how peanut butter powder would work (if I make it first with water) instead of regular peanut butter. Any body try it this way?
Hi! I would love to make these, but I wondering how big is your serving of chocolate protein powder? Thanks!
About 3 Tablespoons :)
How many balls would you say per serving? Thanks!
Each ball is 70 calories. I usually eat 1-2.