No Bake Protein Balls
Updated Feb 14, 2025
This is the ultimate easy No Bake Energy Balls recipe. Made with just 6 ingredients, these make a great healthy breakfast or snack!
The perfect energy balls
The ultimate protein balls recipe made with just 6 easy ingredients. Made and loved by thousands of readers. These easy energy bites taste like cookie dough, have 5g of protein each, and are so simple to make!
I have made these countless times over the years and as soon as my freezer stash disappears I have to make more. I make these and my homemade protein bars on repeat.
These delicious little bites are perfect as a healthy snack, breakfast, or even dessert to knock out that night time sweet tooth.
Great for having on hand when you need something fast! These became such a hit that I was inspired to make these almond butter energy balls too.
Basic Energy Ball Ingredients
- Protein Powder – for the basic energy ball recipe, I use vanilla protein powder. But any flavor will work.
- Honey – the sticky sweetener needed to help it all stick together. You can substitute maple syrup to make these vegan
- Peanut Butter – I use creamy no stir peanut butter which has just a tiny bit of added sugar in it.
- Salt – just enough to make the salty sweet flavors pop!
- Rolled Oats – Rolled oats are inexpensive and delicious and help these energy balls taste like cookie dough!
- Chocolate Chips – I prefer to use mini chocolate chips so that there is chocolate and crunch in every bite!
How to make Energy Balls
It is so easy to make this recipe. All you need is a rubber spatula and a mixing bowl! These protein balls are made without a food processor.
Step 1: Add the peanut butter, rolled oats, honey, salt, chocolate chips and protein powder to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Stir with a rubber spatula to combine. I do not recommend using a spoon because the batter is very thick and sticky. It will take a few minutes to mix it all together.
Step 3: Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper.
Step 4: Use a mini cookie scoop to drop balls of energy bite batter onto the paper. If you do not have a mini cookie scoop, just use spoons. You want balls around 1 inch in size. Roll the energy balls with your hands to form the shape.
Joy’s Tip
I like using a 1.5 tablespoon sized mini cookie scoop to portion out batter. I find it to be the perfect size and makes the process quicker too!
Step 5: Once you have put all of the batter on the baking sheet, place it in the fridge for one hour, or until the energy balls are firm to the touch.
Once set, serve immediately, or store for later! From here you can now remove them from the wax paper and place into a ziploc bag in the freezer. I always have a bag of these on hand for easy snacking.
I love these energy balls because they are easy to make and made with pantry ingredients that I almost always have on hand. No need to run to the store!
Most importantly, they are irresistibly delicious! Honestly, it feels like I’m eating a treat.
Be sure to read the comments below from other readers!
Ways to customize these protein balls
- chia seeds
- ground flax seed
- chopped nuts
- chopped dried fruit
- shredded coconut
- different kind of chocolate chips
- use almond butter or sun butter instead of peanut butter
- substitute chocolate protein powder
Do I have to use protein powder?
No, you do not, but you will need to replace it with something else so that the batter is not too sticky. I suggest using either more rolled oats or oat flour.
How long can you keep energy balls?
When stored in the freezer, these will be good up to 3 months, but I doubt they will last that long in your house! We usually go through a batch every week or two.
No Bake Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups no stir creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 1/3 cups old fashioned oats, rolled oats
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the no stir creamy peanut butter, honey, rolled oats, vanilla protein powder, salt, and mini dark chocolate chips to a mixing bowl and use a rubber spatula to mix until the batter is combined.
- Use a mini cookie scoop or a spoon to drop energy balls with a spoon onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. They should be around 1 inch in size.
- Roll the energy balls with your hands to form the shape.
- Place the cookie sheet with the energy bites on it in the fridge for 1 hour, or until the balls are hardened.
- Transfer energy balls to a ziploc bag and store in the fridge for around a week, or the freezer for 2-3 months
- Be sure to check out my Energy Bites Cookbook based off of this recipe plus more than 20 other flavors you'll love!
Video
Notes
What kind of protein powder should I use?
Just use your favorite protein powder! I used vanilla protein powder in this recipe, but I love chocolate in it too. My personal favorite way to mix things up is to use half vanilla and half chocolate protein powder.How many energy balls does this make?
This makes around 26 energy bites.Are rolled oats the same thing as old fashioned oats?
Yes they are! This is the kind of oats that you want for this recipe.Nutrition
I love this recipe but I don’t have the patience to roll them out so I put them in a 9×9 cake pan and cut them into little squares. It is so much easier and quicker and less messy. Great treat!
@Denise, Idk if this would be something you’d be interested in, but I have a cookie scoop from ikea that has a hole on the scoop so you can scoop and poke it out with your finger and it was so fast to make them with it!
Hey i loved this recipe but can you calculate the calories and macronutrient difference if i used the same amount of almond butter as it calls for peanut butter and without the chocolate chips?
@Analeigh, you can!
Suggestions in place of honey?
@Julir,
I use agave
@Stacy, is Agave less sugar/calories than honey?
I make this recipe every week it so. Change up every so often. Adding chia seeds, chocolate powder sometimes, last one had espresso chocolate chips. Very good and makes a quick burst of energy before or after workouts or as walking out the door with no time to make something.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks for leaving a comment!
@Heather, how much chai seed do you use?
If I need to make these for the next day, or even 2 days in advance, how do I store them? In fridge? Or do they need to go in the freezer regardless to form?
You can keep them in the fridge for around a week, but I usually just harden mine in the fridge then put them in a ziploc bag in the freezer. They last longer this way and all you have to do is let it thaw a minute or two before eating
I don’t have protein powder. Substituting coco powder. Would that work?
1/2 cup of cocoa powder would likely make it too bitter. You can substitute for more oats until it’s no longer sticky.
Looking for tips on rolling these. It was so sticky it made it hard to roll them. Love the flavor and the fact it’s packed with protein!!
My favorite method is using a mini cookie scoop to just scoop the batter out! But the recipe should not be too sticky to roll.
@KimT,you can wet your hands just a little or refrigerate for 30 minutes before rolling.
Does the nut butter have to be no-stir creamy? I have a new jar smooth natural almond butter that needs to be stirred first.
You can use that! Just add a little bit more oats or protein powder if they are too sticky.
I found rolled oats that have 10g of protein per serving. I’m going to make these with them. Can’t wait!
enjoy!
Awesome healthy recipe! I tweaked mine a bit with your alternates and used almond butter, ground flax seed, splash of pure vanilla, and 1/2 c of crushed walnuts with the dark chocolate chips. I don’t know how you came up with this recipe but Ohhhmyygosh!!! Amazing treat! Thank you! And thank you for the alternate ingredient options!
sounds delicious!!