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These 21 Day Fix Protein Balls are the perfect healthy snack! They’re a filling peanut butter oatmeal recipe that is super easy to customize with your favorite add-ins – chocolate chips, raisins, cranberries, flax seed, and more.
If these look like a delicious snack to you, you’ll also love our Peanut Butter Granola Bars, Banana Oatmeal Bites, or this Black Bean Brownie Recipe.
Why I Love These Protein Balls
I love these balls because they’re just the right amount of sweet with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. We always have these on hand for snacking, dessert, or when we go on road trips!
Enjoy!
– Becca
Ingredients in this Healthy Snack
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Peanut Butter: We use natural peanut butter made with only peanuts and salt. Natural peanut butter tends to be thinner and easier to mix.
- Honey: I love to use honey as a natural sweetener. Though it is primarily composed of sugar, honey also provides small amounts of several vitamins and minerals, and is rich in health-promoting plant compounds.
- Protein powder: I like to use vanilla protein powder or unflavored, but if you’re looking to make these chocolate protein balls you can add chocolate protein powder. You could also use vanilla shakeology if you have that on hand. This is an easy way to give yourself more protein!
How to make these Energy Balls
Step 1: In a large bowl, mix together the oats, chocolate chips, and coconut.
Step 2: Add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.
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Step 3: Mix well until evenly combined. I prefer using a hand or stand mixer with this recipe because it seems to make the balls easier to roll out and stick together.
Step 4: Chill mixture in the refrigerator for an hour, then roll out balls about an inch in diameter. The chilling helps you roll the mixture. You can also roll them right away if the mixture cooperates.
For tips about how to fix a mixture that is too dry or too sticky, see our recipe tips below!
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Recipe Tips
- You might have to play with the recipe a bit depending on your ingredients, but know that it’ll be worth it in the end! Different brands of peanut butter change the way these come together, and I’ve found that using mini chocolate chips instead of full size chocolate chips really helps them stick together better.
- If your protein balls are sticky – If you’re struggling to roll these peanut butter oatmeal balls because they’re too sticky, add a bit of extra oats to dry them out. You’ll want to mix the recipe again after adding the oats so that they become fully incorporated and soak up that extra peanut butter and honey.
- If your protein balls are too dry – They need some more peanut butter or honey! This recipe can vary quite a bit depending on the type of peanut butter you use. I prefer Costco’s Kirkland Organic peanut butter for this recipe because it’s very thin and mixes really well. Using a thicker peanut butter, like JIF, could cause the peanut butter oatmeal balls to dry out a bit. It’s very easy to ‘fix’ the balls at this point by adding a few tablespoons more peanut butter or honey, or oats like stated above.
- Store these in an air tight container inside the fridge. They should keep well in the refrigerator for a few weeks, though I have never managed to keep them for that long.
- These are so easy to customize. You can swap out the peanut butter for almond or cashew butter, or play with the other add-ins. Some of our favorite optional add-ins are: MCT powder, flaxseed, chia seeds, raisins, chopped nuts, or dried fruit.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls FAQs
Protein balls can be good for weight loss if you are mindful of portion control and use whole ingredients like we have in this recipe. The ingredients in these balls are rich in protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates – all macronutrients that can help curb hunger and keep you feeling full for longer.
Yes, protein balls are a great and convenient breakfast option. Because they are high in protein, fiber and healthy fats, they are a great source of energy to get your day started.
You can freeze these protein balls. I love making extra batches before vacation and freezing them so I can bring a few containers along with us. I’ve frozen them for up to six months, and they taste as delicious as the day I made them. We have also frozen them to ship them in the mail, and they arrive perfectly.
Healthy Eating Plans
21 Day Fix Containers
For the 21 Day Fix, I treat these like a healthy dessert. 2 balls = 1 yellow treat swap. If you’re comfortable pushing the top of the calorie range for treat swaps, you could have three.
Weight Watchers Points
Check out our WW Protein Balls recipe for the recipe and point plan information.
If you tried this recipe for 21 Day Fix Protein Balls any other recipe on my site please leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comments!
21 Day Fix Protein Balls
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Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- hand mixer
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats I use quick cook
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder or unsweetened
- ⅔ cup unsweetened shredded coconut unsweetened
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. 2 cups oats, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 2/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Using a stand mixer for this recipe is the best way to get the ingredients to stick together nicely and make the protein balls easy to roll. If you don’t have a stand mixer, a hand mixer or spoon will do!
- Chill mixture in the refrigerator for an hour, then roll out balls about an inch in diameter. The chilling helps you roll the mixture.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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These are so good!! I love how depending on my mood or energy level I can modify these to be very basic or full of all the extras!
I’ve made these so many times…they’re so good! I always add the protein, chia and flax for an extra boost. I doubled it today and spread it out on parchment paper on a sheet pan and cut into small squares. (Waaaay too many to roll into balls! Lol) AHMAZING!
Mine came out very dry and crumbly. I can’t even roll them into a ball :(
Sorry to hear that. Depending on the brand of peanut butter you may need to add a bit more to get the consistency right.
I use an organic PB that isn’t as runny, I did 3/4 instead of 1/2 cup and they turned out great!
I have made tem a couple times. I keep mine in the freezer. They are great for a hot Arizona summer.
Turned out great, even the kids like it- problem is sticking to the portion size because they taste so good
Agreed!!
I just made them and they are good but I find them a tad too sweet for my liking so next time I won’t be adding as much honey. However, super quick and easy to make!
Thanks for sharing!
I had the recipe from the one on the Chew and it didn’t have any protein powder in it. I haven’t used it in quite a while and went to get it on one if my boards and it’s gone. This one says as seen in the Chew, but it’s slightly different and has protein powder. Do you know of them original recipe?
I’m sorry I don’t still have the original recipe!
I love the versatility of this recipe!!
Wow Just what ya need when ya need something to pick you up! Made my first batch today! So excited!!!! :)