Chocolate protein peanut butter energy balls are no-bake balls made from dates, oats and peanut butter, with cocoa and a scoop of protein powder mixed in. You can whip them up in a food processor in a few minutes and store them in the fridge, so you always have a snack to hand. The protein powder makes them firmer bites, handy before or after exercise, or simply as a dessert.
Recipes for energy balls broadly fall into two categories: those using honey or maple syrup as a binding agent, and those using dates. Dates have a rich flavour, are high in fibre and form a malleable dough that you can roll into balls without any extra oil or syrup. It’ll make your food processor a bit messy, but it’s well worth the effort.
Basic recipe: chocolate protein peanut butter energy balls
Ingredients (makes about 14 balls)
- 10 Medjool dates, pitted
- 5 tablespoons of peanut butter (preferably organic)
- 10 tablespoons rolled oats
- 1/2 scoop of Ekopura Whey Cacao, a cocoa-flavoured whey protein powder (for a vegan version, choose a vegan protein powder)
- 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon of chia seeds (or ground linseeds, hemp seeds or an extra tablespoon of oats)
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- A pinch of salt
Method
- Are your dates dry? Place them in a small bowl of boiling water for 10 minutes to soak, then drain and pat dry.
- Place the dates in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse a few times until they break into small pieces and form a ball that sticks to the sides.
- Add the oats, peanut butter, protein powder, chocolate chips, chia seeds and salt. Pulse until you have a cohesive, but not entirely smooth, mixture.
- Add the cocoa powder and pulse briefly to combine everything. The dough will now look crumbly, but if you squeeze a handful together, it will stick. Too dry and falling apart? Add a spoonful of peanut butter. Too sticky? Add some oats. (How much you need depends on the brand of peanut butter and how moist your dates are.)
- Roll into balls of the desired size. Just over 2.5 cm will make about 14 pieces.
- You can eat them straight away, whilst they’re still nice and soft, or pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up a bit.
Want to make them a bit more festive? After shaping the balls, roll them in extra cocoa powder, grated coconut or finely chopped nuts. This gives them a nice coating and makes them less sticky on your fingers.
Variations
That same date-and-oat base lends itself to countless flavour combinations. Replace the cocoa or protein powder, or add a single ingredient. Here are just a few of the possibilities:
- Chocolate and peanut butter : the basic recipe above, with cocoa and chocolate-flavoured whey protein powder.
- Double chocolate bites : extra cocoa and a handful more chocolate chips for those who love a rich chocolate flavour.
- Matcha and coconut : leave out the cocoa and stir a teaspoon of matcha and grated coconut into plain or vanilla protein powder.
- Carrot cake : finely grated carrot, cinnamon and chopped walnuts turn them into carrot-cake-style bliss balls.
- Yoghurt and blueberry : dip the balls halfway into yoghurt and freeze them to make refreshing frozen bites for hot days.
- Banana and walnut : half a dried banana with chopped walnuts gives a soft, nutty flavour.
- Blueberry and lemon : dried blueberries with a little lemon zest, fresh and fruity.
- Coconut and almond : use almond butter instead of peanut butter and roll the balls in desiccated coconut.
- Apple and cinnamon : dried apple and a generous pinch of cinnamon, apple pie in ball form.
- Cranberry and orange : dried cranberries with a little orange zest for a fresh touch.
- Espresso and cocoa : a teaspoon of instant coffee added to the cocoa gives a mocha-like flavour.
- Vanilla and raspberry : vanilla protein powder with freeze-dried raspberries, light and sweet.
Why use protein powder in energy balls?
Standard energy balls made from dates and oats consist mainly of carbohydrates. A scoop of protein powder adds protein and gives them a firmer texture. Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass. If you’d like to know how much you need each day, read about your daily protein requirements and the benefits of protein powder.
Which protein powder works best?
For the chocolate version, a whey protein powder with cocoa works best in terms of flavour and colour. If you want a neutral base that you can flavour yourself, choose a natural whey from the whey range or a vegan protein powder. Vegan powders often thicken a bit more, so you might want to add an extra spoonful of peanut butter or a splash of water. If you’re unsure which type to choose, the article ‘Why whey protein and what it does’ explains the differences.
Frequently asked questions
How long do protein energy balls keep?
They’ll keep for about a week in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze them; they’ll then keep for up to three months. Let them defrost for a few minutes before eating.
Can I make the energy balls without protein powder?
Yes. Simply leave out the protein powder and replace it with an extra tablespoon of oats or cocoa powder. The balls will then be slightly softer and contain less protein per ball.
Are these energy balls vegan?
The basic recipe with whey isn’t. Replace the whey with a vegan protein powder and use vegan chocolate chips, and the recipe will be entirely plant-based.
How many balls does the recipe make?
With balls measuring just over 2.5 cm, you’ll get around 14. If you make them smaller, you’ll get more; larger ones will yield fewer.
You only need half a scoop for the whole batch (around 14 balls), so a bag of Ekopura Whey Cacao will last a long time. Prefer plant-based or unflavoured? Check out the full protein powder collection and choose the flavour that suits your recipe. Fancy more? Take a look at our smoothie recipes with protein powder too.
