Have you ever been midway through a long workday, knowing it’s an hour or so away from dinner time, but your stomach is growling and won’t shut up? Have you ever wanted something you can munch that won’t be too many calories or too much food, but enough to hold you over? What about something you can have as a breakfast before heading out, that’s not too heavy?
Power balls and protein balls are one of those foods. They’re pretty simple in concept: a few protein-rich ingredients that give you a nice energy kick without hitting your gut like a lead weight. I’ve never really made them before, though I’ve eaten them plenty when we buy them from a store as treats, so I decided to whip up my own. Turns out, it’s super easy to make them as customized as you want.
All you need is:
- Peanut butter. A good smooth peanut butter holds everything together while itself being high in protein. You could use crunchy peanut butter if you want more texture to your protein balls, or you could even mix in a bit of something like nutella for a different flavor profile. Other nut butters like almond and cashew butters can work as well.
- Oats. Oats hold it all together, add protein, and soften up nicely in the peanut butter oil so they don’t mess with the texture too much.
- Mix-ins. Nuts and seeds are the way to go. I know a lot of recipes call for flax seeds, but I don’t keep those around so I didn’t use them. Some people like chia seeds, but I dislike the texture so I skip them. I added some sunflower seeds to mine and it worked out nicely. Other nuts and options include chopped walnuts and pecans, or more peanuts if you’re not using crunchy peanut butter.
- Add-ins. Fruits like raisins or shredded coconut, or even dates can work well as add-ins. I didn’t use them this time, but I definitely plan to in the future.
- Flavorings. The main flavoring beyond peanut butter is honey, though you can use maple syrup instead. A dash of vanilla extract adds some robustness to the flavor, and a pinch or three of cinnamon or pie spice mix would also be nice.
All in all, this is a very simple, fast to make, easy to whip up, long-lasting, delicious, and eminently customizable treat. My partner likes them to start the day, I like them as a lunchtime snack, and they go great as a little dessert as well. Here’s how to make a good basic recipe, and you can use that list above to customize it however you like. Speaking of, how do you make yours? Let me know what you like!
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Rubber Spatula
- Your Hands
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Peanut Butter Or other nut butter
- ⅔ Cup Chocolate Chips
- 1 Cup Old-Fashioned Oats
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- ¼ Cup Mix-Ins See post for ideas
Instructions
- Mix everything together in a bowl. Use your hands and a spoon to roll tablespoon-sized portions or thereabouts (size is really your choice) into balls and place on a plate, cookie sheet, or other tray. Chill for at least an hour before enjoying.