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Home » Dessert » No Bake Desserts

Vegan Protein Balls

Published: Jan 15, 2021 · Modified: Jun 26, 2022 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links, which can earn us a commission.

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Looking for a healthy and delicious snack?  These tasty vegan protein balls are as good as it gets with lots of protein and fiber along with hints of vanilla, chocolate, and cinnamon.

Want more vegan dessert ideas? Try our vegan snickerdoodles and vegan gingersnaps.

stack of vegan protein balls on wax paper

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Store
  • Variations
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe
  • Comments

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Ingredients

glass bowls of ingredients for vegan protein balls

Curious about what ingredients you need to make this healthy vegan snack? Here's the good news; you probably already have a lot of these ingredients at home. Let's talk about the most important ones you'll need!

  • Oats: I used old-fashioned rolled oats, as they have a better texture than quick oats.
  • Peanut Butter: To make this snack healthier, choose an all-natural peanut butter that doesn't have sugar added.
  • Maple Syrup: Make sure to use the real deal in this recipe; pancake syrup isn't as healthy for you and doesn't taste as good.
  • Protein Powder: This amps up the protein to keep you full longer and to give you energy.

How to Make

Gather the ingredients for this vegan no-bake snack.

mixing oats and other ingredients for protein balls
  1. Combine the rolled oats with the protein powder.  We like to use a stand mixer for this process, as it's a lot easier than mixing this up by hand.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the water.
adding chocolate chips to the protein balls mixture

3. Mix on medium-low speed until well combined.  If the mixture is too dry to roll into balls, gradually add the water as needed.

4. Mix in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed.

rolling mixture into protein balls and putting it on a plate

5. Roll the mixture into balls, each one weighing about 30 grams.

6. Serve them up right away and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Are protein balls healthy?

Yes, protein balls are a healthy snack.  They typically contain lots of fiber, protein, and other nutrients that your body needs.  This particular recipe contains 156 calories, 5.6g of protein, 2.7g of fiber, and 6% of your daily iron needs in one energy ball.  Scroll to the end of the recipe card to read the full nutrition facts.

Can you eat raw oats in protein balls?

Yes, you can.  Raw rolled oats have an extra chewy texture and taste a little different than cooked oatmeal.  If you like granola bars, you'll love the chewy texture of these peanut butter protein balls.

When should I eat a protein ball?

The simple answer: whenever you want.  Many people enjoy energy bites as a healthy, protein-packed snack before or after a workout, or as a pick-me-up in the afternoon.  They are nutritionally dense, so make sure to enjoy them in moderation.

What are the benefits of protein balls?

Protein balls are a quick source of energy that you can make ahead of time. They are also easy to carry with you on the go if you plan to be out and about. They make a healthy snack for adults and kids.

Store

Freeze: Seal them tightly in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost them by letting individual balls sit out at room temperature for at least 10-15 minutes before enjoying, as they get quite hard in the freezer!  We wouldn't recommend microwaving them, as that could melt the chocolate and peanut butter in these balls, making them a gooey mess.

Variations

  • Peanut Free: use sunflower seed butter, almond butter, hazelnut butter, or another nut/seed butter of your choice.
  • Chocolate: use chocolate protein powder and swap cocoa powder for the flaxseed.  You can also drizzle the balls with melted chocolate if you desire.
  • Gluten-Free: use certified gluten-free oats.
  • Dairy-Free: since this recipe is vegan, it's already dairy-free.
  • Lower Sugar: cut back the sweetener to ½ cup.  I used ¾ cup of maple syrup in this recipe because I like extra sweetness, but feel free to tweak the amount as desired.
  • Quick Oats: you'll need to add more liquid to compensate for the different types of oats.  Do not use instant or steel cut oats in this recipe.
  • Extras: mix in your favorite chocolate chips.  You can also roll the balls in chopped nuts or coconut flakes.
  • Other Sweeteners: feel free to try out any vegan sweetener, such as date syrup, rice syrup, or agave nectar.  You may want to decrease the syrup to ½ cup and add additional oats to prevent excessive stickiness.

Expert Tips

  • Microwave hard peanut butter for 20-30 seconds to make it easier to combine.
  • Be sure to roll the balls right after mixing up the dough. It seems that the oats/flax absorbs moisture in the dough over time, making it drier and harder to roll.
  • Too dry?  Add extra water, vegan milk, or sweetener as desired.
  • Too sticky?  Add more oats 2 tablespoons at a time or chill the dough for at least 20 minutes.
  • Dampen your hands to help you roll the energy bites smoothly and to reduce stickiness.

More No-Bake Desserts You'll Love

  • Vegan Granola Bars (No Bake)
  • Date Coconut Protein Balls
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites
  • No Bake Cherry Cheesecake

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Recipe

stack of vegan protein balls on wax paper

Vegan Protein Balls

These delicious protein balls are vegan and gluten free friendly.  You’ll love the taste of the oats, flaxseed, protein powder, and chocolate chips all mixed together to create a healthy energy bite that your family will love.  They’re perfect for a post-workout snack or afternoon pick-me-up!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin FavoriteSaved! Rate
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 35 balls
Calories: 110kcal
Author: Brooke & Emma

Ingredients
 

  • 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup vegan protein powder
  • 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter
  • ¾ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup water or vegan milk
  • ½ cup vegan chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Stir together the oats and protein powder in the bowl of a stand mixer until blended.  (You can make them by hand, but it will be difficult to stir the stiff mixture.)
  • Add the peanut butter, maple syrup, flaxseed, vanilla, and cinnamon and beat on medium-low speed until a dough-like mixture forms.
  • If the mixture is too dry to roll into balls, add water gradually as needed.  If it is too sticky, add a couple tablespoons more rolled oats.
  • Beat in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed in the mixture.
  • Roll the dough into balls, each one roughly weighing 30 grams.  If the dough is sticking to your hands, dampen your hands slightly or chill the dough for 20 minutes.
  • Serve them right away, or store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.  They can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Notes

  • Hard peanut butter? Microwave it for 20-30 seconds to warm it up and make it easier to mix.
  • Roll the balls right away after mixing up the dough.  I found that the mixture got drier 20 minutes or so after mixing; this is probably due to the oats/flax absorbing the moisture in the dough.
  • Too dry?  Add extra water, vegan milk, or sweetener as desired.
  • Too sticky?  Add more oats 2 tablespoons at a time or chill the dough for at least 20 minutes.
  • Use slightly wet hands to help you roll the balls smoothly and reduce sticking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ballCalories: 110kcal (6%)Carbohydrates: 13g (4%)Protein: 4g (8%)Fat: 5g (8%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 54mg (2%)Potassium: 93mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 23mg (2%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Serving sizes and nutritional information are only an estimate and may vary from your results.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ruby

    April 26, 2022 at 9:14 am

    These are the best bites I’ve ever tasted! Thanks for making this recipe!

    Reply
    • Emma

      April 26, 2022 at 3:06 pm

      You're very welcome, Ruby! We're so glad that you enjoyed these protein balls!

      Reply
  2. CFloyd

    April 22, 2021 at 12:06 am

    When I am reading this it does not show the amount of peanut butter to use???

    Reply
    • Emma

      April 22, 2021 at 6:55 am

      So sorry about that typo! I've added that to the ingredients list.

      Reply
  3. Beth

    January 15, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    5 stars
    The combination of oats and peanut butter is chewy. The cinnamon makes this yummy, and the chocolate chips add a delightful burst of sweetness. I enjoyed this snack very much!

    Reply
    • Emma

      January 15, 2021 at 1:02 pm

      I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed this, Beth!

      Reply
  4. Alex

    January 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm

    5 stars
    The oats are chewy, and the peanut butter in these balls is creamy. The chocolate chips are crunchy and sweet. These energy bites are so yummy!

    Reply
    • Emma

      January 15, 2021 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you, Alex!

      Reply

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Welcome to our kitchen! We're Brooke & Emma, the mother-daughter team behind Savor the Flavour. As self-taught cooks and bakers, we love to inspire you to cook from scratch with real food! Increase your kitchen confidence with our recipes, instructional photos, and helpful tips and facts.

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