Description
A budget-friendly, no-bake snack made with oats, peanut butter, and protein powder. These chewy, salty-sweet balls are perfect for meal prep, busy mornings, and post-workout fuel.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (160g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup (128g) natural creamy peanut butter
- ⅓ cup (110g) honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 scoop (30g) vanilla whey protein isolate
- ½ cup (85g) mini chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons (12g) flaxseed meal
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and honey. If the peanut butter is stiff, microwave it for 15 seconds to soften it. Add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
- Add the rolled oats, protein powder, flaxseed meal, and salt to the bowl. Mix with a spatula until everything is evenly distributed. The mixture will look dry and crumbly at first.
- Stir in the mini chocolate chips. The mixture should resemble cookie dough. If it feels too sticky to handle, place the bowl in the fridge for 10 minutes to firm up.
- Take small handfuls of the mixture (about 1 tablespoon each) and roll them into balls between your palms. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Chill the balls in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm them up. Alternatively, freeze for 15 minutes if in a hurry.
- Transfer the chilled balls to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to three months.
Notes
Ensure you use old-fashioned rolled oats, not instant or steel-cut, for the correct texture. If using crunchy peanut butter, the balls will be chunkier. For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup and use plant-based protein powder. If the mixture is too dry, add more honey; if too sticky, add more oats or chill longer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ball
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Keywords: protein balls, peanut butter snacks, meal prep, budget meals, healthy snacks, no-bake, high protein, kid-friendly snacks