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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.
We always have these on hand for snacking, dessert, or when we go on road trips! Kids love this recipe, and I love making a big batch to have on hand.
These are the perfect delicious snack for after school. Or Netflix time snack. Bedtime snack. Pre-workout snack… See where I’m going with this? Just a handful of simple ingredients like oats, peanut butter, honey, and a few chocolate chips (I love dark chocolate!) will satisfy your sweet tooth cravings like no cookie can!
I love these balls because they’re just the right amount of sweet–no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners. In our house we consider this a healthy snack. They’re perfect quick energy bites with no baking required.
Where’s the Recipe?
Here at My Crazy Good Life we work hard to provide nutritious and delicious recipes for all of our readers. We are committed to creating healthy recipes that are perfect for your healthy eating journey. Whether you are on the 21 Day Fix, or you are just trying to eat healthier, we’re here to support.
We write our recipes with detailed instructions, tips and tricks, healthy eating plan points, and nutritional information. If you are ready for a more simplified recipe, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page where you’ll find our easy to print 21 Day Fix Protein Balls Recipe.
Ingredients in 21 Day Fix Protein Balls
- Oats: I prefer to use quick cooking rolled oats in our bite sized balls. If you are looking for a gluten-free version of this recipe, just be sure to make sure the rolled oats are gluten-free, as well as the chocolate chips. We love the texture of the rolled oats over using steel cut oats.
- Peanut Butter: We use natural peanut butter. I love that it has fewer ingredients and less sugar. We love the natural peanut butter that is a little thin, not overly thick.
- Honey: We try to support local shops and purchase local honey that is processed in our area. If you aren’t able to find a local source, grocery store honey is totally fine!
- Shredded unsweetened coconut: If you don’t like shredded coconut you can leave this ingredient out! The 21 Day Fix balls will be just as delicious with or without the shredded coconut.
- Chocolate chips: Chocolate chips are totally optional, and I actually prefer mini chips because they allow the balls to hold together easier.
- Vanilla: Yum. The teaspoon of vanilla extract balances out perfectly with the oats and peanut butter.
- 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!
- Our protein energy balls are so easy to customize! Some of our favorite optional ingredients are:
- MCT Powder: Contains medium-chain triglycerides. It’s pretty much coconut oil in powder form.
- Flaxseed: Great source of omega-3 and fiber.
- Chia seeds: Chia seeds are full of benefits such as fiber, protein, antioxidants, and magnesium.
- Raisins: Raisins are a good source of fiber, and a perfect possible addition to our 21 Day Fix protein balls.
- Chopped Nuts: I think chopped pistachios, chopped almonds, or chopped walnuts would be delicious in our energy balls.
- Dried Cranberries
- Cinnamon
- Maple Syrup: Feel free to use maple syrup instead of honey if you are looking for a vegan 21 day fix treat.
- Other flavored Chocolate Chips: Peanut butter, white chocolate, so many options.
How to Make 21 Day Fix Protein Balls
- In a large or medium bowl, add all of your ingredients.
- Mix well. 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 will do!
- Optional: 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
- I don’t think a food processor would do well with this recipe because it’s so thick. Not mixing this enough will result in balls that don’t stick together well, so I definitely recommend mixing very well. We like to use a hand mixer or stand mixer instead of the food processor.
- We prefer rolling the balls onto parchment paper or wax paper. We find the balls stick less to these surfaces than a regular cookie sheet.
- We recommend storing our 21 Day Fix Protein Balls in an air tight container inside the fridge. These are best chilled. They should be fine to enjoy for a few weeks as long as they remain refrigerated. We’ve never managed to keep them in the fridge that long, they always go fast in my household. Do note, that these won’t last as long if they aren’t stored in the fridge.
- If you prefer to make these into granola bars, check out my post on healthy granola bars. I’ve included a lot of detailed tips and tricks in how to form the bars successfully.
- 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.
- We recommend using peanut butter, but you could modify the recipe to use almond butter or other nut butters like cashew butter. Just be sure to recalculate your healthy eating plan points if you make any recipe swaps. Also note that we haven’t recipe tested these versions.
- Our protein balls are able to be stored in the freezer. 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
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
Check out our Weight Watchers Protein Balls recipe for the recipe and point plan information.
Other Fix Recipes
- Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Instant Pot Chicken Ramen Stir Fry
- Instant Pot Lemon Chicken
- Instant Pot Cauliflower Fried Rice
21 Day Fix Protein Balls
Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 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
Optional – 2 Tbsp of: chia seeds, flaxseed, and mct powder
Instructions
Here's how to put them together:
- 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. I prefer to keep them in the fridge.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Make This Recipe?
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I’ve been making versions of this recipe for years, we love them! I keep a tub in the freezer and pop a few into the school lunches–they are soft enough to eat by lunchtime. Add a few TBS of cocoa powder to make them chocolate-y. Substitute almond or sunbutter, add chia seeds, protein powder, ground flax seeds… The possibilities are endless! I’ve got a carrot cake bite recipe too if you love those flavors…
OMG, Ive been looking for days for something to take the place of my cookie craving that would also give energy!!
I love the endless possiblities! Im curious about the mentioned Carrot Cake Bites???
http://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/997237/no-bake-carrot-cake-energy-bites
If you like the flavors of carrot cake, you will love these. Search “homemade Lara bars” on Pinterest and you will find tons of recipes to try. My obsession has intensified over the last few months as I’ve mostly cut refined sugars and a lot of grains from my diet. These energy bites are full of healthy fats, protein and natural sugars–they keep me satisfied between meals and fill the cravings for something sweet perfectly. If you have a food processor there are even more possibilities using dates & nuts. YUM.
Here’s my current fave… So yummy!
http://www.thevintagemixer.com/2013/04/homemade-lara-bars-coconut-cream-pie/
And if you like chocolate, try this one for Dark Chocolate “Donut Holes”:
1-1 1/2 cups raw almonds or roasted hazelnuts
5 T cocoa powder
1 cup pitted dates
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 t salt
Handful of shredded coconut for rolling.
Toss everything into the food processor and pulse until you get a dough-like consistency. Scoop out and roll into 1 inch balls, roll in coconut. Let chill in fridge an hour or so before eating.
My kids eat these like candy!
Do you know the containers would be? These sound !!
Ooohhhh Leah… I think we need that recipe.
Yum! Oh, I must try this but without the peanut butter since I’m allergic. I might try coconut butter instead. This is similar to a granola version I make but not to have to hassle with the oven that’s a win-win!
I have a cookie monster in my family (husband), and I think these will be the answer to that problem.
He is always looking for something to go with his coffee. Thank-you
I have another recipe sort of like this that I love – I haven’t made it in a while though. I am going to try this one very soon. I like having these as a small snack between breakfast and lunch. Thanks for sharing.
These sound like something my family would love. Thank you for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe. Also, the carrot ones that a commenter linked to look good too.
Doesn’t it, Julie? I’ve been wanting to make those!
These look and sound delicious. Thank you for sharing.
How absolutely DELICIOUS! Pinned it. :)
Thanks for sharing your posts on Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop…that’s how we find all the good stuff like this recipe!
Hello Becca, I am going to make this hopefully for the weekend. I need a TASTY healthy (notice the priority for me) pick-me up and yours will do the trick. I featured you on my fb page and your awesome recipe. Thanks for linking up at Wonderful Wed. Blog Hop. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
These look delicious! Love that they are no-bake too! (Stopping by from the Artsy Corner Blog Hop.)
Those sound really good! I need to try those. Especially for the protein!
YES!!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, Becca!! I actually was looking for something like this for a treat to take to some of my club-mates this coming Tuesday! We are going on a night hike, and I am the provider of the snacks, haha. This is perfect, AND guilt-free! :) I’m so glad I came across your blog!
We make some similar treats at our house and they are SO GOOD! I never have to worry about how to store the leftovers – there usually aren’t any. :)
Thank you for sharing at Wake Up Wednesday!
Who doesn’t need some extra energy? Thanks for sharing your recipe at Foodie Friends Friday.
Mine turned out a little dry and difficult to keep rolled into balls. I tried adding more honey because I could tell the mixture was dry from the beginning. Would you add more peanut butter next time or something else?? Taste wise, they’re delicious!
Paula,
I added a couple of notes in the recipe. I increased both the peanut butter and honey, and have also found that cutting them into bars instead of rolling them into balls helps!
Kathy, I just added it to the end of the post – I used CalorieCount.com.
I’m wondering that same thing Amanda!
Sam, You just reminded me to comment here! I had answered Amanda privately because I was on my phone and not able to reply here :) I use this: 2 balls = 1 yellow and one blue, and I only eat them every few days–I treat them like a dessert.
Great thank you! I am on day two of the 21 day fix and already looking for sweets that are 21 Day Fix approved, lol. Thanks again! -Sam
Seems simple and easy so I will try this for my kids, I’m sure they will love it as much as I loved the picture :) thanks
What can be used instead of nut family. Grandson is allergic.
Instead of peanut butter you could use sun butter. That is what we use at our school since we are not allowed any kind of nut in the building.
Love these. Made these twice already and making my third lot tonight.
I use PB2 for peanut butter tastes so good. I keep them in fridge and they last me two weeks. Thank you so much