Healthy Peanut Butter Protein Balls

 

 
During my childhood summers, my brother and I stayed with a sitter most mornings each week while both of our parents worked. We read books, played board games, and ventured outside into the backyard to soar as high as our legs could pump us on our sturdy wooden swing set.

While Dad put in full days, Mom returned home in the early afternoons. As she changed out of her nice dress clothes, my brother and I often slipped into bathing suits. Mom enjoyed swimming laps at one of the local pools, and we loved canonballing in, splashing around, and strapping on goggles to dive for rings and other toys resting on the pool’s floor. It was a win-win for everyone!
 

 
Before heading out the door, Mom usually encouraged us to eat a snack. In our excitement — and desire to maximize our pool time! — we generally skipped the crackers, pretzels, or apple slices… Those took too long to finish, at least in our (youngster) eyes!

Instead, we opened the silverware drawer, twisted off the lid to the peanut butter jar, and each dug out a spoonful. It may have been enough to glue an elephant’s mouth shut, but we still finished off those “peanut butter spoons” in mere seconds… Which gave us that much more time at the pool!
 

 
And these healthy peanut butter protein balls remind me of those! Their sweet peanutty flavor transports me right back to those fun summer afternoons.

Yet unlike our “peanut butter spoons,” these snack bites are entirely portable, and they have a lot more protein too. They’re great fuel for any kind of afternoon activities — for kids and adults alike!
 

 

QUICK OVERVIEW – HEALTHY NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN BALLS

Difficulty: Very easy.

Taste: Nutty and familiar, with a strong pop of salt and hint of sweetness.

Texture: Soft and moist, a bit like cookie dough.
 

 

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN BALLS

Let’s talk about what you’ll need to make these healthy no-bake peanut butter protein balls! The ingredients list is rather short, and you probably have at least half of them in your kitchen already.

Creamy peanut butter. No surprises here! In order to make peanut butter protein balls, you need… Peanut butter. The type of peanut butter you use matters a lot though! For the best texture, use natural-style creamy peanut butter. I typically turn to my super easy homemade peanut butter. (You only need 5 minutes to make it!)

Hint: If you prefer store-bought, double check the jar’s label. The natural, drippy-style kind made solely with peanuts and salt yields the best results! (A little bit of oil is okay too.)

I do not recommend substituting crunchy peanut butter. Peanut butter contributes to the liquid volume of these protein balls, and those “crunchy” peanut bits take up space in the measuring spoon… Which means you end up with less of the creamy portion — thus throwing off the ratio of wet and dry ingredients — and your mixture might be too dry to hold together. So save your crunchy peanut butter for another day, and grab a jar of creamy instead!
 

 
Powdered peanut butter. That’s right… There’s a second type of peanut butter in these healthy protein balls! In addition to creamy peanut butter, you’ll also add powdered peanut butter.

Powdered peanut butter is made from peanuts that have been skinned, crushed, and partially defatted. This means it’s lower fat, lower calorie, and higher protein compared to regular peanut butter — or even finely ground peanuts. It still has a strong nutty taste, so it’s a great way to boost the peanut flavor and add protein to these energy bites!

Hint: Powdered peanut butter kind of looks like tan cornstarch or really light brown cocoa powder! It has that same ultra-fine, almost dusty consistency.

If you can find powdered peanut butter that contains nothing except peanuts (or peanuts and salt), such as PB2 Pure, that’s my top recommendation! I know it’s not always easy to locate, so more widely available products like PB2 Original or PBfit Original are decent second choices.
 

 
Protein powder. To boost the protein content of these energy bites even more, you’ll also add soy protein powder. It’s one of my all-time favorite protein powders! Soy protein powder is virtually flavorless with no other ingredients (unlike many other plant-based and whey-based options that often include sweeteners, gums, or flavorings) and it works really well in energy balls, smoothies, and even edible protein cookie dough. (← Yup, I have recipes for all of those!)

This is the exact soy protein powder that I use, and I generally buy it online. (← That’s often the best price I’ve found for it!) It also goes by the name “soy protein isolate,” so you may see that on the label instead.

REALLY IMPORTANT NOTE: Many protein powder brands and products behave differently, both in baking and no-bake recipes (like these peanut butter protein balls!). Substituting another one can produce drastically different results, especially because of the amount and way each unique one absorbs liquids. I haven’t tried any other protein powders to make this recipe, so I can’t guarantee whether yours will work… Unless it’s whey-based.

Do not substitute whey-based protein powder! I guarantee it won’t work in this recipe. It’s not nearly as absorbent as plant-based protein powders, so your mixture will be a wet, liquidy, gloopy mess and impossible to roll into balls. Set aside your whey-based protein powder for another recipe!

For more information, see my Protein Powder FAQ Page. I share lots more advice and cover plenty of tips there!
 

 
Sweetener. I turned to liquid stevia to sweeten these peanut butter protein balls. Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that contains nothing overly refined or artificial (aka it’s clean eating friendly!), and it’s also highly concentrated. You only need ½ teaspoon to sweeten this entire batch!

Because it’s a zero-calorie sweetener, liquid stevia also helps keep these healthy peanut butter protein balls low carb and low calorie. Unlike honey, stevia is plant-based, so it makes these protein balls vegan too!

Tip: Just like with protein powders, many stevia brands and products have different sweetness levels, so they’re not necessarily 1-for-1 substitutes for each other. For the best results, I highly recommend using the same one that I do! I typically buy it online here (that’s the best price I’ve found!), and you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine too. I promise it’s not a “one-time use” ingredient!
 

 
Salt. This might be the most underrated ingredient in this entire recipe! With my first batch, I skipped the salt to minimize ingredients and streamline the process. Since my creamy peanut butter already contained salt, I figured that would be good enough. Yet when I sampled the first protein ball, it tasted… Bland. Blah. And kind of flat. I knew it had two types of peanut butter — not just one! — but even so, it didn’t taste nearly as strong or nutty as those “peanut butter spoons” from my childhood.

Thinking about how a generous sprinkling of salt makes veggies, soups, and even soft-baked pretzels and caramel taste a million times better, I immediately whipped up a second batch of protein balls. I kept the amounts and ingredients exactly the same, but I also added a hefty pinch of salt.

Holy moly… A complete 180°! The peanut flavor tasted so prominent and bright, the exact opposite of my previous batch, and that second round of protein balls disappeared in the blink of an eye. They were so flavorful and irresistible — all thanks to that pop of salt!

So the moral of this (salty) story? Don’t be lazy, pour it in, and don’t be afraid to add a bit more than you think either. Your taste buds will thank you!

Water. Many other recipes opt for honey or dates to “glue” everything together, but you’ll use water for these healthy peanut butter protein balls instead. That helps keep them low carb and low calorie, and it lets the peanut flavor shine more too. (It’s also much easier — no special trips to the grocery store required for this ingredient! 😉 )
 

 

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN BALLS

Let’s briefly cover how to make the best no-bake peanut butter protein balls! I promise this recipe is super easy. I just have some tips to ensure yours turn out perfectly!

Measure correctly. If you’ve browsed through my other recipes before, then you probably predicted that I’d mention this… It’s one of the most important parts! Make sure you measure all of the ingredients correctly, using this method or a kitchen scale. (← That’s the one I own!) This is particularly true for the powdered peanut butter and protein powder! Too much of either one will dry out the mixture and make it too crumbly to roll into balls. Yet if you measure these the proper way, your peanut butter protein balls will be beautifully soft and perfectly shapeable!
 

 
One-bowl method. To make this recipe simple and straightforward, I opted for the “one-bowl” method. You’ll mix together the wet ingredients until they’re homogenous, pour in the dry ones, and stir until they’re incorporated. Easy peasy — and fewer dishes to wash too!

One key thing to note… It’s going to take a bit of effort and patience to mix together those wet ingredients! The creamy peanut butter takes some time to break apart and “dissolve” (well, technically dissociate, if you’re nerdy and an ex-scientist like me!), so keep going until no lumps remain.

For this reason, I highly recommend a fork — not a spatula or spoon! The sharp tines of the fork help break apart the peanut butter, and the empty space between those tines also helps the ingredients mix together more efficiently.
 

 
Roll. Again, super simple! Grab a small amount of the mixture from the bowl, pop it into your hand, and roll it into a ball between your palms. I aim for bite-sized spheres about 1” in diameter. You’re welcome to make yours larger or smaller, if you prefer! The mixture may stick to your hands a bit, so wipe them clean with a damp paper towel as needed.

That’s right — even though my blog is called “Amy’s Healthy Baking,” there’s no oven involved in this recipe. These peanut butter protein balls are no-bake! So all that’s left to do now is… Eat!
 

 

FAQS ABOUT HEALTHY NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN BALLS

Are these no-bake peanut butter protein balls gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free, low calorie, low carb, or clean eating?
Yes — to everything! These protein balls are naturally gluten-free, vegan (aka dairy-free and egg-free!), sugar-free, low calorie, low carb, and clean eating friendly. Plant-based and low fat too! They’re also made with no oats, no dates, no honey, and no whey.

What’s the best peanut butter for peanut butter protein balls?
Natural-style creamy peanut butter! I recommend my super easy homemade peanut butter — or, if you prefer store-bought, choose one that contains just peanuts and salt. (See the “Creamy peanut butter” header in the “Ingredients to Make Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls” section above for more info!)
 

 

Can I substitute another protein powder?
If you do, I can’t guarantee the results. Many protein powder brands and products behave differently in both no-bake and baking recipes, so swapping in another one can produce drastically different results in the taste and texture. See the “Protein powder” header in the “Ingredients to Make Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls” section above for a lot more information about this!

Can I omit the protein powder?
This recipe was specifically designed for protein powder. I haven’t tried omitting it, so I’m not personally sure and don’t want to lead you astray. If you do end up experimenting on your own and substituting something else (maybe more powdered peanut butter or something like oat flour?), I’d love to hear about the results!
 

 
What about the powdered peanut butter? Can I skip that?
I don’t recommend it. This recipe was specifically designed for powdered peanut butter as well, and it provides flavor, texture, and protein. Just like with the protein powder, I haven’t tried omitting it and can’t personally vouch for the results. You’re welcome to experiment on your own, but keep in mind that your protein balls may have a different texture and won’t taste nearly as peanutty without it!

Can I use a different sweetener?
Yes! I’ve included how to adapt this recipe to use other sweeteners (like pure maple syrup, honey, and agave —  plus more!) in the Notes section of the recipe.
 

 
My mixture was too dry and crumbly to shape into balls. What should I do?
Add more water! And make sure you’re (a) using creamy peanut butter, (b) using the same protein powder that I do, and (c) measuring all of the ingredients correctly. Changing those are the most common culprits that result in a rather dry and crumbly mixture. (See the “Creamy peanut butter” and “Protein powder” headers in the “Ingredients to Make Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls” section above, plus the “Measure correctly” header in the “How to Make Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Balls” Section, for more info about each one!)

I had the opposite problem — mine was too wet and sticky. Why’s that?
Did you substitute whey-based protein powder? That’s the #1 reason! Because it’s much less absorbent, whey-based protein powder yields a mixture that’s really liquidy, gloopy, and virtually impossible to roll into balls. Some other plant-based protein powders are also less absorbent than soy protein powder, so the mixture can be wetter and stickier if you use one of those as well.

If it’s only slightly too sticky to roll, try adding more protein powder and/or powdered peanut butter to help “dry out” the mixture and make it stiff enough to shape.

How should I store these peanut butter protein balls? And how long do they last?
Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should last for at least a few days, if not closer to a week or more!
 

 
My childhood self would go nuts ( 😉 ) for these protein balls — just like my present-day adult self! And when you make your own, would you mind leaving a comment and rating the recipe? (You can also snap a picture and share it with me on Facebook!) I’d love to hear what you think of these healthy no-bake peanut butter protein balls!

View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
 
 
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡  Brownie Energy Bites
♡  Oatmeal Raisin Energy Bites
♡  Snickerdoodle Energy Bites
♡  Peanut Butter Protein Bars
♡  Cookie Dough Protein Bars
♡  Edible Peanut Butter Protein Cookie Dough
♡  Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
♡  …and the rest of Amy’s healthy snack recipes!