Name: 10 Minute Protein Energy Balls
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup rolled oats; 2/3 cup peanut butter; 1/3 cup raw nuts (I used almonds); 1 tablespoon hemp seeds; 1 tablespoon chia seeds; 1/3 cup honey; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips; 1/2 cup dried cherries (or other dried fruit)

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Take 10 minutes to whip up these healthy and super delicious protein energy balls. They make a great grab and go snack or way to fuel your workout. All you need are a few ingredients and a food processor or high powered blender.

Energy Bites in a bowl with blender lid and bowls next to it

[This recipe was originally posted in February 2017. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

How will these protein energy balls make your life easier?

This is a great way to use up leftover nuts and other pantry ingredients. They come together quickly and make for a delicious snack, breakfast, or even dessert.

If you like to make easy snacks for yourself, check out these other snack ideas like PB Greek Yogurt Dip, Protein Packed Chocolate Pudding, summer Zucchini Bread, and homemade Almond Butter.

These energy balls are great for travel too! Here’s a list of travel snacks so you don’t get starving while you’re traveling.

What makes these energy balls so good?

Oats
Peanut butter
Nuts
Hemp seeds
Chia seeds
Honey
Salt
Chocolate chips
Dried cherries

How do I make these protein energy balls?

ingredients for protein energy balls in a blender bowl

Pour 1 c oats, 2/3 c peanut butter, 1/3 c honey, 1 tbsp hemp hearts, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 c dried cherries, 1/4 c chocolate chips, 1/3 c chopped/slivered nuts, and 1/4 tsp salt to the bowl of a high powered blender.

Expert Tip: Use whatever type of nut butter you have on hand.

Expert Tip: You just need the oats, nut butter, honey, and salt in this recipe. Swap out or omit additional ingredients to use what you have. You may need to add more oats so it’s not too sticky if you don’t add additional ingredients.

blending ingredients for protein energy balls in a blender bowl

Mix ingredients on dip or nut butter setting. Stir with tamper tool or (stop and stir with) rubber spatula until ingredients are mixed together and to your desired consistency.

Expert Tip: You may need to take half of the dough out and mix 1/2 at a time so it all gets chopped and mixed up. Stop and stir as often as needed.

rolling protein energy balls with bowl in background

Spoon out about 1 tbsp of dough and roll into a ball, continue until all dough has been rolled into balls.

Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Expert Tip: You can also freeze these protein energy balls for a couple months.

Expert Tips

Use whatever type of nut butter you have on hand.
You just need the oats, nut butter, honey, and salt in this recipe. Swap out or omit additional ingredients to use what you have. You may need to add more oats so it’s not too sticky if you don’t add additional ingredients.
You may need to take half of the dough out and mix 1/2 at a time so it all gets chopped and mixed up. Stop and stir as often as needed.
You can also freeze these protein energy balls for a couple months.

FAQ

Why are protein balls good for you?

These and other protein balls make a great snack because they’re packed with protein and fiber from the nuts, dates, and oats. They travel well, and taste great too!

Can you eat raw oats in energy balls?

You can definitely eat raw oats in energy balls. The oats and other ingredients in this recipe (and in others) are chopped making the oats smaller and easier to eat. They won’t be really chewy after being chopped up in a food processor or high powered blender.

How do energy balls work?

You get energy from the protein & fat (and calories) in energy balls, particularly from the nuts in them. If you’re feeling like you need an energy kick you may be hungry or need more sleep. Eating anything will give you energy, but these energy balls are great because they’re easy to eat and are super delicious.

energy bites in a bowl with blender lid in background

How can I repurpose these energy balls?

Add extra oats and milk to turn the energy ball paste into overnight oats. Follow a recipe similar to this basic overnight oat recipe, or this PB overnight oat recipe and just add the energy ball paste to it. Or add it to chia pudding, like this PB chia pudding or berry chia pudding.

What can I make with the leftover ingredients?

(Dried Cherries) add them to a salad, the PB granola listed below, or eat them plain.
(Nuts) Chopped in this PB Granola, 3 Ingredient Almond Butter (or any kind of nut), Warm Kale Salad, Strawberry Salad.
(Hemp Seeds) Grapefruit Avocado Salad, Beet & Arugula Salad .
(Chia Seeds) PB Chia Pudding, Ham & Swiss Sliders, a Yogurt Bowl.
(Oats) Overnight Oats, PB Overnight Oats.
(Chocolate Chips) Chocolate Dipped Oreos, Homemade Hot Cocoa (just swap the chocolate bar for chocolate chips), PB Chia Pudding, small batch double chocolate cookies, & in this DIY Waffle Bar.

Did you make these protein energy balls? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!

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