These are perfect for portable snacking too! Toss some in your purse for a park day with the kids, a long day of running errands, airline travel, or in the fridge to curb late night sugar cravings.

Peanut Butter Protein Ball Ingredients

All you need are handful of easy to find ingredients!

• Almond flour
• Protein powder (both vanilla and peanut butter -- I like the PB Fit powder and get it in bulk at Costco.)
• Sea salt
• Peanut butter
• Coconut oil
• Honey
• Vanilla
• Freeze-dried strawberries (optional, but it creates a subtle peanut butter and jelly situation that's lovely)

Tip: Make sure your coconut oil is somewhat soft, but not melted to make sure it gets incorporated well. This is especially important if you're mixing by hand.

What is the best protein powder for protein balls?

There isn't a "best" protein powder to make protein balls. Use whatever protein powder that you prefer, but to get the best flavor in this this recipe use some vanilla protein powder and some peanut butter protein powder.

The vanilla protein powder should be sweetened since this recipe relies on that for flavor. If you use flavorless or unsweetened protein powder instead of vanilla, you might want to add some sweetener to compensate. You could use chocolate instead, though, which would put a PB cup spin on these. Yum.

The peanut butter protein powder gives these bites a lot of peanut butter flavor as well. I like the PB Fit powder so much I buy it in the big containers at Costco.

How to make Peanut Butter Protein Balls

1. Pulse the almond flour, protein powders, and salt together in a food processor. (If you don’t have one, no worries! Use a sturdy spoon.)
2. Add the peanut butter, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla. Pulse for about a minute until the mixture is mostly combined.
3. Add the strawberries and continue to pulse until the berries are crushed up the dough pinches together well with your fingers without crumbling.
4. Roll into balls and store chilled for up to a week.

Need more protein + fiber forward snacks? Click HERE to get my FREE Snacking Cheat Sheet and an exclusive recipe!

More Energy Bite Recipes

If you like this recipe, try another one of my protein/energy bite recipes!

Paleo Protein Brownie Bites also use protein powder and you can make them paleo-friendly by using my favorite paleo-friendly protein powder, Rootz. (That link will give you 10% off your order, too!)

Blueberry Muffin Larabar Copycat have bits of dried blueberry for a burst of fruity flavor.

Peanut Butter Balls with Protein Powder FAQs

If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Protein Powder Peanut Butter Balls

Yield: 19 balls

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

These soft & delicious peanut butter protein balls are a perfect little snack full of protein and healthy fats. Add some freeze-dried strawberries for a PB&J taste!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup almond flour
• ¼ cup vanilla protein powder
• ¼ cup peanut butter protein powder
• ¼ cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter
• ¼ cup coconut oil (soft, but not melted)
• 2 Tablespoons honey or other liquid sweetener
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅓ cup freeze-dried strawberries

Instructions

1. In the work bowl of a food processor, add the almond flour, protein powders, and salt. Pulse a few times to combine.
2. Add the peanut butter, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla. Pulse for about a minute until the mixture is mostly combined.
3. Add the strawberries and continue to pulse until the berries are crushed up the dough pinches together well with your fingers without crumbling. If it's too crumbly, add a tablespoon or two of water until you reach a consistency where you can form the dough into balls.
4. Roll into roughly 19 balls. I used a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop mine out.
5. These are best stored chilled for up to a week, but they can be left at room temperature for a few days. If your kitchen is too warm, they may get too soft and squishy.

Notes

1. I use PB Fit peanut butter protein powder. Costco usually has it for a great price. If you can't find it, just replace it with more vanilla protein powder. The peanut butter in the recipe should give it enough PB flavor.
2. If you substitute the vanilla protein for unflavored, unsweetened protein powder, you'll have to add more sweetener to compensate. The resulting flavor will also be very different.
3. You can use any kind of freeze-dried berries here or leave them out completely.
4. If you don't have a food processor, you could still make these by hand in a bowl with a sturdy spoon or by blending the mixture with your hands. Make sure the coconut oil is softened (but not melted) to make it easier to combine thoroughly.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder, Helps Support Healthy Hair, Skin, Nails, Bones and Joints - Vanilla 11.5 oz
• 
  PBfit All-Natural Peanut Butter Powder Spread From Real Roasted Pressed Peanuts, 8g of Protein, 30 Oz
• 
  Cuisinart FP-12DCN Elite Collection 12-Cup Food Processor (Die Cast) with Bamboo Spoon and Chef Knife Bundle (3 Items)

Nutrition Information

Yield 19 Serving Size 1 ball
Amount Per Serving Calories 127Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 0mgSodium 65mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 5g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post may contain affiliate links. Any purchases made by using these links won't cost you any extra and helps keep my content free. These links may be Amazon links as I am part of the Amazon Associate Program.

The post Peanut Butter Protein Bites appeared first on Perry's Plate.

My favorite thing about these tasty little protein bites? (Besides the fact that they taste like birthday cake?)

The kids loved them. Well 3 out of 4.

But, the one who doesn't like them doesn't like any "healthy" treat I make. She has a super sensitive spidey sense for things that are trying to be a dessert, but don't actually have sugar or white flour in them.

Sometimes she humors me. And she didn't hate these. She just... mildly liked them. Ha.

OK, there's another favorite thing...

These don't have almonds in them. Why is that a big deal?

Because last summer when I was doing my gut restoration program, I learned that almonds are a trigger for me. Nothing major or life-threatening, thankfully. Just skin flares and other annoying things.

I used cashews & cashew butter instead because the flavor is more mild. "Birthday Cake" is sometimes a difficult flavor to create when nuts are involved and cashews allow that flavor to shine.

I also used a secret weapon -- paleo-friendly vanilla protein powder.

Not just any, though. Some Rootz Vanilla Collagen Superfood powder.

Btw, this isn't a sponsored post. I just really love Rootz. It's one of the only protein powders I've found that doesn't hurt my stomach. I can't do whey protein and most vegan pea protein powders make me feel weird.

I've got a coupon code for you, too -- use "perrysplate" to get 10% off anything on the site!

I recently tried their new collagen powders and LOVE them. This vanilla one smells amazing and isn't overly sweet.

I've used their chocolate protein powder in a couple of other recipes on my site. Have you tried my Paleo Protein Brownie Bites or Paleo Chocolate Banana Protein Waffles?

Delicious stuff right there.

OK, back to the bites!

I'm anticipating a few substitution questions, so here you go...

Can I use another kind of nut butter?

Like I said, I used cashew butter in these because it has a really mild flavor to allow the vanilla and "cakey" flavors shine.

You can use almond butter or peanut butter in these, but those have a stronger flavor so the taste won't quite be the same. It'll still work and be delicious though. I mean, peanut butter doesn't ruin anything.

Can I use a different sweetener?

Sure! Another liquid sweetener like maple syrup would work in these protein bites, but you may need less of it since honey is thicker.

You can also use a dry sweetener like granulated monkfruit or coconut sugar, but you'll have to offset it with a little moisture. Try adding a tablespoon of water at a time until the texture is correct.

Is the flax meal necessary?

Not necessarily, but it'll affect the texture of the protein bites.

I like the flax meal because it helps to hold the balls together. Have you ever made a flax egg? Ground flax takes on a gelatinous texture when mixed with water. Same idea here.

You could also used ground chia if you like.

Do I have to toast the coconut?

No, but it adds flavor and makes the coconut a little more crispy.

I actually buy pre-toasted coconut from Thrive Market -- Let's Do Organic brand. It's only $2.79/bag. (That link will get you $25 off your first order, too.)

You can also find the same toasted coconut flakes on Amazon, but a little more per bag.

Now for the fun part.

To get a richer vanilla flavor, I used Lily's White Chocolate Baking Chips. They're stevia sweetened and mostly made with cocoa butter. They do have a little bit of milk in them, but it's such a small amount -- 2-3 chips per protein bite?

If you're looking for dairy-free white chips, try Pascha Vegan White Chocolate Chips.

And yes, the sprinkles are optional, but they're so cute!

What if I don't have a food processor?

Buy one!

Not joking. I use my food processor more than almost any other small appliance that I have. Yes, more often than my Instant Pot. This Cuisinart food processor is the newer version of mine. They're great workhorses -- this one has lasted longer than other brands I've tried.

Using a food processor makes these super easy, but you don't have to have one.

You can blend up the nuts in a blender and then transfer it to a mixing bowl to add the rest.

Seriously so good. A batch of these didn't last 24 hours!

Need more protein + fiber forward snacks? Click HERE to get my FREE Snacking Cheat Sheet and an exclusive recipe!

Paleo Birthday Cake Protein Bites

Yield: 12-14 balls

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

These little protein bites are grain-free, primal, and naturally sweetened! You may want to double this batch -- they'll go faster than you think!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole, raw cashews
• ½ cup unsweetened toasted coconut flakes
• ¼ cup flax meal
• ½ cup paleo-friendly vanilla protein powder
• ½ cup cashew butter
• ⅓ cup honey
• Pinch of sea salt
• ⅓ cup sugar-free white chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1. Grind up the cashews in a food processor or blender until they're almost as fine as almond flour. Add the coconut flakes and pulse until everything is roughly the same size. If you're using a blender, transfer the nuts & coconut to a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add the flax meal, protein powder, cashew butter, honey, and sea salt. Pulse until everything is blended well and the mixture is thick and collects on one side of the workbowl.
3. Add the white chocolate chips and sprinkles. Pulse a few times until combined.
4. Chill mixture for about 15 minutes to make them easier to roll, if necessary.
5. Roll into 1 ½-inch balls and put in a lidded container for storage. Store chilled for best flavor and texture.

Notes

Nat's Notes:

1. You can swap out the nuts and nut butter if you like, but cashews have a mild flavor that allows the "birthday cake" flavor to shine. Almonds and peanuts might overpower it.
2. You can use maple syrup in place of the honey -- just reduce the amount to ¼ cup. You may also use a granulated sweetener like monkfruit or coconut sugar, but add a tablespoon full of water at a time until you get a stiff, but workable consistency for rolling into balls.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  365 by Whole Foods Market, Cashew Butter, Creamy, 16 Ounce
• 
  Cookie Scoop Set
• 
  White Chocolate Style Baking Chips By Lily's Sweets | Stevia Sweetened
• 
  Cuisinart FP-8GMP1 Elemental 8-Cup Food Processor, Gunmetal

The post Paleo Birthday Cake Protein Bites appeared first on Perry's Plate.

You're going to love these.

Remember the Paleo Cookie Dough Bites I posted forever ago?

Well, I made a brownie bites version. And, dare I say, they're even better than the others?

They're super quick to whip up, too. You can use a food processor if you want. Doesn't that look like extra-thick brownie batter? Swoon.

If you happen to have a five-year-old around, they're usually more than happy to stick their hands in food and "help" -- mine sure is.

There's a little secret in these brownie bites.... Rootz Protein Powder.

What are your thoughts on protein powder and meal replacement shakes? I always liked the idea, but I had two problems with them...

1. They always hurt my stomach when I drank a recommended serving. Always. My husband is a supplement junkie so we've tried at least a half dozen brands of protein powder, and it was always the same for me -- stomach cramps. I'd usually put half the recommended amount in a smoothie to keep my stomach happy, and I liked that they kept me satisfied for a long time, but I was still leery because....
2. The ingredient lists are usually sketchy. Granted, some are far better than others, but most use whey protein as a base, and I can guarantee you it wasn't grass-fed whey or even organic. The vegan powders usually had pea protein and other grain-based proteins -- not ideal when you're trying to eat grain-free for inflammation issues. Some had loads of synthetic vitamins and less than desirable sweeteners.

Enter: Rootz Protein Powder. Rootz is the only paleo-friendly protein powder on the market. All of the ingredients are paleo-friendly, and the only sweetener is some stevia. AND IT DOESN'T MAKE MY STOMACH HURT. (That's my favorite part.)

Rootz Protein Powder only comes in "Chocolate Banana Nut" which is rather deceiving. As an avid banana hater, I was relieved that it doesn't taste like banana. Also, there aren't any nuts in the mixture -- just coconut. (Coconut is technically a tree nut, but not usually considered a nut.)

I love whipping up a quick smoothie with Rootz after my workouts.

It gave these brownie bites some added sweetness and some heartiness. If protein powder isn't your thing, just add more almond flour to replace the protein powder.

Need more protein + fiber forward snacks? Click HERE to get my FREE Snacking Cheat Sheet and an exclusive recipe!

If you make one of my recipes, I'd love to see! Post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!

Paleo Protein Brownie Bites

Yield: About 14 bites

A cute, portable protein-filled snack that tastes like brownie batter. Pretty perfect, right?

Print

Ingredients

Toggle ingredient group

• 1 ¼ cup blanched almond flour
• ½ cup chocolate protein powder
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅓ cup coconut oil, soft, but not melted
• 2 Tablespoons almond butter
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup dark mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Combine the almond flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl or the work bowl of a food processor. Blend well.
2. In another smaller bowl, blend the coconut oil, almond butter, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add that mixture to the dry mixture and mix well. (Alternately, you could add these individually to the dry ingredients in the food processor and pulse until smooth and blended.)
3. Use your hands and blend in the chocolate chips. Roll the mixture into tight 1 ½ inch balls and store them at room temperature up to 7 days.

Notes

Nat's Notes:

2. If you don't want to use protein powder, just omit it and add ½ cup more almond flour.

2. You can substitute the honey for erythritol sweetener or more stevia to make these lower carb.

Nutrition Information

Yield 14 Serving Size 1 ball
Amount Per Serving Calories 164Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 1mgSodium 89mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 2gSugar 4gProtein 6g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post may contain affiliate links. Any purchases made by using these links won't cost you any extra and helps keep my content free. These links may be Amazon links as I am part of the Amazon Associate Program.

The post Paleo Protein Brownie Bites appeared first on Perry's Plate.