I love to snack, and my perfect snack options would be quick, healthy, and mess-free, so they’re easy to grab whenever needed. These no-bake, vegan, gluten-free, and protein-packed balls fit the bill—the recipe is super quick and simple to make, and the balls are the perfect grab-and-go snack. The combination of sweet dates, almonds, and cacao makes this high-protein snack taste like a dessert. What I love most about these healthy snacks is that you can meal-prep them and keep them in the fridge so they are ready when you want one. Furthermore, you can enjoy them “naked” or top them with your favorite nuts, seeds, super-food powders, or more—the sky is the limit, and you will never get bored of them!
Watch my protein balls video
How to make no bake protein balls
Begin by blending the almonds in a high-speed food processor until they are the consistency you like. This can be chunky bits, fine crumbs, or even a mixture of the two. Next, add the dates, protein blend, cacao powder, and salt. Blitz again until the mixture is well combined and clumps together. If the mixture doesn’t stick together, you can use another 1-2 dates, a bit of honey, or almond butter (or another nut butter) to make it more sticky. Form around 20 balls from the mixture. Shape them using your hands. These should be big enough for at least 2-3 bites. You can also use a cookie scoop to measure the size. Once rolled, the protein balls are ready to be enjoyed. Optionally, you can also roll them in any toppings you choose. See below for ideas.
Toppings for your protein balls
The options for toppings are vast, including crushed nuts or seeds (pistachios, sesame, etc.), superfood powders (cacao powder, etc.), dried fruit powders (beet, etc.), matcha, toasted coconut, and cacao nibs. There are also more unusual combination choices like safflower, nigella seeds, and chili salt. With each new batch, you can experiment and see what flavors you prefer. For a sweeter treat, you could also cover the protein balls with melted chocolate. Dipping them in chocolate is also a great option for sticking larger toppings to the outside. These include pistachio chunks, cacao nibs, freeze-dried fruits like raspberries or strawberries, or edible dried flowers. To cover the balls, poke them with a skewer or a fork, or just use your fingers. Then, dip and roll them in the topping of your choice. Gently press to allow the topping to stick to the ball. To coat them with chocolate and large chunks, first, dip them in the melted chocolate, then quickly dip them in the topping. Place them on a parchment paper-covered plate or tray and set them aside until the chocolate hardens. Both the naked and the covered protein balls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for two weeks or in the freezer for a month. Enjoy them whenever you need a pick-me-up healthy snack! If you try this protein ball recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
