Almond butter protein balls are an easy no-bake snack made with oats, almond butter, and naturally sweetened with honey.
These are a GREAT pre/post workout snack, kids lunchbox snack, hiking snack, work snack, and they don't need to be refrigerated. I wanted to make a more accessible version of my almond date protein balls, and this one is amazing! No special equipment like a food processor or blender needed, just the ingredients and a mixing bowl.
These are nice because they whip up in 10 minutes and then I have snacks prepped for the week! The toddlers think they're cookie dough and love them.
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📝 Ingredient Notes
- Oats - gluten free if needed, make sure they're regular old fashioned oats/rolled oats.
- Almond butter - creamy, no stir kind.
- Almond flour - adds protein and body to the bites without drying them out.
- Vanilla & Almond Extract - adds much needed flavor and liquid to the protein balls with few calories.
- Honey or agave nectar - the sweetener and liquid binder for the bites. I wouldn't use maple syrup, it can overpower the almond taste.
See the recipe card below for full list of ingredients with quantities and instructions.
✏️ Substitutions
- Honey can be switched to agave nectar, another natural sweetener with enough liquid to keep the bites moist without crumbling.
- Almond flour can be swapped out with oat flour.
🧑🍳 Instructions
- Step 1. In a mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients - oats, almond flour, protein powder, and salt and mix.
- Step 2. Add in the almond butter, honey, and almond extract and stir until everything is combined.
Tip
Warming up the almond butter in the microwave for 30 seconds or so makes mixing much easier!
- Step 3. Use a spoon or a 1.5 Tablespoon cookie scoop (so much easier) to portion the protein balls onto a baking sheet or cutting board. You can also scoop them straight into a reusable container.
📌 Top Tips
- Weigh out the ingredients with a kitchen scale for accuracy so they don't turn out dry and crumbly.
- If you're wondering why your protein balls won't stick together, see the Frequently Asked Questions section below for more options to make your mixture more wet and easier to work with.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
You can store protein balls in an airtight container:
• Room temperature 3-5 days
• Refrigerator up to 2 weeks
• Freezer up to 3 months
Sometimes the dates are older and more dry, or oats and almond flour amounts differ due to the American cups measurement system.
To make them less dry, you can:
Add water ½ teaspoon at a time until mixture reaches desired consistency
Add more nut/seed butter
Add more liquid sweetener such as honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
Add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil
Add 1-2 pieces of fresh fruit to moisten the mixture
Yes! These energy balls are high protein from a combination of the almond flour, almond butter, and added vanilla protein powder. They are also high in fiber, iron, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates making them a high energy, nutrient dense snack.
They are naturally sweetened with honey (or agave nectar for a vegan friendly option) and are also gluten-free.
Yes, everything in moderation. 2-3 balls as a snack is plenty for one day if meals are balanced. All foods eaten during the day should be considered too.
☀️ More High Protein Snack Ideas
I love to have healthy meal prep breakfast and snacks with oats ready for busy mornings, and these are delicious, kid-friendly, and SO easy to make ahead!
Did You Try This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Make sure to leave a star rating and a comment below the recipe card. I love hearing from you, and it is so helpful to other readers! Better yet, share it with family and friends. Thank you!!
📝 Printable Recipe
Almond Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder of choice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup almond butter
- ½ cup honey or agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients - oats, almond flour, protein powder, and salt.1 cup oats, ½ cup almond flour, ¼ cup vanilla protein powder of choice, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Add in the almond butter, honey, almond, and vanilla extracts. Tip: warming the almond butter and/or honey for 30 seconds in the microwave makes it much easier to mix.1 cup almond butter, ½ cup honey or agave nectar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons almond extract
- Use a spoon or 1.5 Tablespoon cookie scoop to portion them into balls.
Notes
- Room temperature 3-5 days
- Refrigerator up to 2 weeks
- Freezer up to 3 months
- Add water ½ teaspoon at a time until mixture reaches desired consistency
- Add more nut/seed butter
- Add more liquid sweetener such as honey, or agave nectar.
- Add 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil
Nutrition
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