No-Bake Protein Balls

Two flavors of homemade protein balls piled in a bowl with a hand picking up one.

Prep Time 15

Total Time 15

Servings:8 servings

Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen

These no-bake protein balls are great before or after a workout, or anytime you need something quick and satisfying. They're so easy to make, too. Just blend everything in a food processor and roll into balls. No baking required!

Yield: makes 16 small protein balls (1 tablespoon each); one ball/bite contains 68 calories and 3 grams protein

Ingredients
US Customary | Metric

½ cup pitted dates, packed - 3 oz; about 8–9 small dates
½ cup rolled oats
½ cup vanilla protein powder - see Notes for chocolate version
⅓ cup hemp seeds - see Notes for subs
⅓ cup chopped walnuts - or other nuts
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon - optional
½ teaspoon vanilla extract - optional
⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
2–3 tablespoons water

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a large food processor in the order listed, using just 2 tablespoons water. The softness of the dates determines how much water you need. Process until the ingredients are finely chopped. Stop and check to see if the mixture will stick together when squeezed. If not, add another tablespoon of water, and pulse several times to incorporate. Check again to make sure the mixture holds together.
Scoop up tightly packed tablespoons of the mixture and roll into balls. This will make about 16 small energy bites. You can vary the size if you like.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Note that freezing doesn't harden them much, and they are edible straight from the freezer.

Notes

Nuts & Seeds - Try almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, or peanuts. Pepitas are another option if you want to make the protein balls nut-free.

Chocolate Version - Use chocolate protein powder instead of vanilla, add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (I like to use black cocoa here), and increase the sea salt to ¼ teaspoon. Cinnamon is optional.

Batch Size - You can increase the recipe by 50% to make a larger batch. For a double batch it's a good idea to blend them separately so the ingredients are blended evenly.

Nutrition