Almond butter protein balls taste just like cookie dough and so easy to make. Ready in just 10 minutes with 7 grams of protein each, these almond butter power balls are the perfect afternoon snack or naturally sweetened dessert!
Energy balls with almond butter
Made with 6 ingredients and all you need is a bowl and spoon make these high protein balls with almond butter. Store them in the fridge or freezer so that you always have a high protein snack on hand!
If you love making your own energy bites, you have to try these chocolate covered mint protein balls or carrot cake protein balls. Â Â
Ingredients
- Almond butter– use natural almond butter (I have not tested this recipe with a no-stir almond butter). You can also use peanut butter or sunbutter.
- Maple syrup – you can also use honey or brown rice syrup.
- Vanilla plant based protein – I recommend vegan plant based protein to create the perfect texture.
- Dairy free milk
- Mini chocolate chips
- Oat flour (if needed) – I have found that sometimes certain almond butter has extra oil, so the oat flour helps to create the best texture.
How to make protein balls with almond butter
In a bowl combine the almond butter and maple syrup, stirring well.
Add the plant based protein and dairy free milk to the bowl and stir well until all the protein powder is well mixed into the almond butter mixture.
Add the chocolate chips and stir until well combined. You may notice that some of the chocolate chips don’t want to mix in, that’s ok. Let the dough rest 1-2 minutes.
Use a cookie scoop, scoop out 1 tablespoon of the dough into your hand, then roll into a tight formed ball. Repeat until 12 balls are formed.
Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge or freezer.
Top tips
- Use natural almond butter (the kind you have to stir the oil into when you first open the jar) for the best consistency.
- Use vegan protein powder or add oat flour to whey protein or collagen peptides.
- Use mini chocolate chips or chop up larger chocolate chips or they will take over the balls and they may fall apart
- Use a tablespoon cookie scoop to make equal sized bites
- If the dough is too dry, let it sit for a minute before doing anything else, the protein may just need to hydrate. After 1-2 minutes, if it’s still dry, add 1-2 tablespoons dairy free milk or water. If it looks too wet, add 1-2 tablespoons oat flour.
Other additions to almond butter energy balls
- Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, ground cardamom, ground ginger
- Molasses
- Vanilla extract or almond extract
- Coconut flakes
- Finely chopped nuts: almond, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds
- Freeze dried fruit: strawberry, blueberry
- Chopped dried fruit: raisins, cranberries, dates, cherries
Common questions
How to add protein without protein powder
If you don’t have protein powder but still want to make almond butter bites with protein, replace the protein powder in this recipe with:
- 1 cup rolled oats (12 grams of protein) + 6 tablespoons hemp hearts (20 grams of protein) +1 tablespoon of chia seeds (4 grams of protein)
Note: if you aren’t using protein powder and are following this recipe instead, omit the dairy free milk. Also let this mixture rest in the fridge for 20 minutes before scooping out into balls.
What protein powder is recommended
For this recipe, I used ProMix vanilla plant based protein. I like using vegan protein powder because it acts like flour and will absorb liquids without needing to add any flour or oats.
Use whatever vegan protein powder you have on hand. I have not tested this with whey protein. If using collagen peptides, add 1 cup rolled oats and omit the dairy free milk.
Can you freeze energy bites
Yes! These almond butter energy bites freeze beautifully and will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. They defrost quickly or you can eat them right out of the freezer.
- Fridge: Store in a airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Freeze in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Enjoy right from the freezer or let sit out 5 minutes before enjoying.
More protein packed snacks
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In a bowl, combine the maple syrup and almond butter (tip if you use maple syrup first, the almond butter will easily fall out of the measuring cup without getting stuck). Stir well.
- Add the protein powder and dairy free milk and stir well. At first it will look like the protein powder won’t mix in, just keep stirring. Check the mixture by rolling it into a ball. If you notice that it’s greasy on your hands (from the oil in the almond butter), add 1-2 tablespoons oat flour.
Add mini dairy free chocolate chips to the mixture and stir well. They may not all stir in, that is ok.
Use a cookie scoop (I used 1 tablespoon) scoop out the mixture and roll the balls, making sure to press them together so the mixture is tight.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 3 months.
Top tips
- Use natural almond butter (the kind you have to stir the oil into when you first open the jar) for the best consistency.
- Use vegan protein powder or add oat flour to whey protein or collagen peptides.
- Use mini chocolate chips or chop up larger chocolate chips or they will take over the balls and they may fall apart
- Use a tablespoon cookie scoop to make equal sized bites
- If the dough is too dry, let it sit for a minute before doing anything else, the protein may just need to hydrate. After 1-2 minutes, if it’s still dry, add 1-2 tablespoons dairy free milk or water. If it looks too wet, add 1-2 tablespoons oat flour.
Other additions to almond butter power balls
- Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, ground cardamom, ground ginger
- Molasses
- Vanilla extract or almond extract
- Coconut flakes
- Finely chopped nuts: almond, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds
- Freeze dried fruit: strawberry, blueberry
- Chopped dried fruit: raisins, cranberries, dates, cherries
What if you don’t have protein powder
If you don’t have protein powder but still want to make almond butter bites with protein, I tested another high protein version. Instead of protein powder, add:Â
- Adding 1 cup rolled oats (12 grams of protein)
- Adding 6 tablespoons hemp hearts (20 grams of protein)
- Adding 1 tablespoon of chia seeds (4 grams of protein)
Note: if you decide to use this combination instead of protein powder, remove the dairy free milk from the recipe, it won’t be needed. Also let this mixture rest in the fridge for 20 minutes before scooping out into balls.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
