3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Balls

These 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Balls are the perfect protein packed snack – all you need is oats, nut butter and protein powder!

How to make protein balls

1. Measure out your oats, peanut butter and protein powder.
2. Add your oats to a blender or food processor. Blend into a flour.
3. In a large bowl, add oat flour, protein powder and peanut butter.
4. Stir together until well combined.
5. Roll your mixture into 24 even-sized balls and place onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Optional: Top your protein balls with nuts and salt for added flavour.
6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• rolled oats: if you are unable to get rolled oats, this recipe will work well with quick oats and large flake oats. Steel cut oats won't work well with this recipe as they haven't been flattened. If you find yourself cooking with oat flour a lot, feel free to substitute your oats with oat flour.
• protein powder:  protein powder is a key ingredient to this recipe. If whey protein doesn't sit well with you, then feel free to replace this alternatives like soy protein, rice protein or pea protein.
• peanut butter: if you have a peanut allergy, substitute peanut butter with any other nut or seed butter.

Making them nut free

If you have a nut allergy, your favourite seed butter will work as a great alternative. Some seed butters suggestions are sunflower seed butter and pumpkin seed butter. If you do opt in for a seed butter like sunflower seed butter, there are more benefits such as more unsaturated fats, magnesium and vitamin E. Opting for a seed butter also lets you try a different flavour palette!

How many calories?

One serving of the peanut butter protein balls is 138 calories, 9 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbohydrates and 8 grams of protein. So, your peanut butter protein balls are a guilt-free, healthy snack for all occasions. Each ingredient is packed with nutrients that will keep you energized throughout your day.

• peanut butter: peanut butter is filled with healthy fats and calcium that will promote strong and healthy bones
• oats: oats are a source of energy to keep you going throughout your day
• protein powder: protein powders are a popular nutritional supplement that is filled with amino acids that can have upward of 35g of protein per cup. Protein repairs your muscles for continuous growth – perfect for post-workouts.

Choosing a protein powder

There are a lot of protein powders available on the market, which can be overwhelming if you are buying one for the first time.

When looking for a protein powder, use these tips:

1. Choose a whey protein that has the fewest ingredients. Tip: protein should be the first ingredient.
2. Select a powder that has 25-35 grams of protein per serving.
3. Make sure it is low-carb – preferably less than five grams.
4. Look for a protein powder without any added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
5. Always choose the protein isolate. This means it contains more than 90% protein.

Here is the protein powder I use if you're looking for a clean one. Whey protein is made from dairy so if you are vegan or lactose-sensitive you may want to opt for a vegan protein powder such as soy, pea or rice.

How to store them

Store your protein balls in a large container in the fridge, they will stay fresh for two weeks. If you want them to last more than two weeks, you can also store the protein balls in a freezer bag and place them in the freezer! Your protein balls will last for up to three months in the freezer.

Freezing these bites

Once your protein balls are chilled, they can be stored in the fridge or freezer in either a large container or freezer bag. They can be kept frozen for up to 3 months. When you're ready to have your frozen protein balls, let them thaw at room temperature for 15-30 minutes. If you're in a rush to leave the house, microwave them for 30 seconds and they will be ready to eat!

More recipes with protein powder

• The Best Protein Shakes 5 Ways
• Meal Prep Protein Oatmeal
• 4-Ingredient Protein Pancakes

Meal prep tools for this recipe

• Use these Ziploc bags if you want to store your protein balls in the freezer!
• Here is the protein powder I use