Easy Homemade Protein Power Balls

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These protein power balls made with chocolate and peanut butter are a simple and tasty snack that takes no effort at all to make. They are packed with protein from the peanut butter, dates, and nuts for a delicious treat when you just need a little something!

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Power Balls in cupcake liners on a table outside.

These protein packed power balls make a great little snack or treat. The cocoa and dates add just enough sweetness that you’d never know there’s no sugar added!

I recently bought my first bar of unsweetened chocolate (100% cacao)… And to steal vocabulary from my 5-year-old, it tasted disgusting!

However, in some magical way the combination of ingredients in this recipe below make the cacao taste like “regular” chocolate. I have to thank a 100 Days of Real Food reader for introducing me to a version of this recipe. I would have never thought to put these items together and now we can’t stop eating these protein power balls!

Snack Recipe That Keeps You Full

A lot of people (both kids and adults) turn to high sugar or processed carbohydrate snacks when they’re hungry. Not only are these terrible options from a real food perspective, they’re also not very filling.

The best snacks to keep you full for a long time contain both protein and fats like these power balls. They take longer for your body to digest, which leaves you feeling satisfied for a longer period of time.

Unfortunately so many packaged protein and fat rich nut snacks are full of additives like sugar and oils which is a no-go in our real food household.

That’s where these protein power balls come in! With 3 grams of plant-based protein and 7 grams of healthy fats, they’re a great post workout power food or kid-friendly snack.

Make Higher Protein Power Balls

I used pecans for my power balls but at 2.6 grams of protein per ounce they aren’t the most high-protein option when it comes to nuts. If you’re looking to pack more protein into each power ball, try some of these options instead:

Hazelnuts: 3.8g of protein per 1oz (and will make your power balls taste like Nutella)
Walnuts: 4.3g of protein per 1oz
Pistachios: 5.8g of protein per 1oz (shell before measuring)
Cashews: 5.1g of protein per 1oz
Almonds: 6g of protein per 1oz (highest protein option)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls FAQs

Is there a nut free version of this recipe?

Unfortunately no, since these power balls rely on the plant-based protein and fats you find in nuts. If you only have a peanut allergy, though, try these chocolate tortes instead.

Can I substitute the dates with something else?

The dates serve two purposes in this recipe: they add some natural sweetness, and also help hold everything together. Other dried fruits like raisins, prunes, cranberries, apricots, figs, and cherries should also work, but they may not taste the same.

Do I need to soak my dried fruit first?

Nope! Just throw everything into the blender and combine. Super easy, right?

How can I store these homemade protein balls?

Store protein power balls in an airtight container. If you make a large batch, I suggest using parchment paper to help separate them so they don’t stick to each other.

These can also be frozen easily. You can use parchment paper again here, or pre-freeze them first spread out on a tray then transfer to an airtight container.

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