Vegan Protein Balls with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chips Gluten-Free (2024)

These super easy 5 ingredient vegan protein balls can be whipped together in less than 10 minutes. With oats, ground flax, peanut butter, maple syrup, and chocolate chips they have 6 grams of protein per ball! They’re a great pick-me-up snack to take with you on the go!

In a world where health-conscious choices are becoming increasingly popular, vegan protein balls have emerged as a versatile and nutritious snack option. These bite-sized wonders are packed with plant-based ingredients, providing a convenient and satisfying way to meet your daily protein needs while adhering to a vegan lifestyle. These peanut butter protein balls are packed with oats, peanut butter, flax seeds, and sweetened with maple syrup and chocolate chips. This easy and delicious snack on the go will have you feeling full and satisfied!

If you love these protein bites you’ll enjoy these recipes too!

• Chocolate Coconut Date Balls
• Coconut Bliss Balls
• Vegan Cookie Dough Balls

💗 Why You’ll Love this Recipe!

Simple Ingredient: All you need are a handful of simple and wholesome ingredients to prepare these protein balls.

Sustained Energy: The balanced blend of macronutrients in vegan protein balls, including proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, ensures a sustained release of energy. This makes them an ideal snack for fueling workouts, boosting productivity during the day, or combating afternoon slumps.

Convenient and Portable: These compact treats are easy to prepare in advance and take on the go. Whether you’re heading to the gym, office, or traveling, vegan protein balls provide a convenient, mess-free, and satisfying snack option that keeps you fueled and nourished throughout the day.

Guilt-Free Indulgence: Vegan protein balls allow you to satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your health goals. They offer a guilt-free alternative to traditional sugary snacks or desserts, providing a wholesome and nutritious treat that you can enjoy without feeling deprived.

🥣 Ingredients and Notes

Rolled Oats: I recommend using Gluten-Free Organic Rolled Oats. Rolled oats have the perfect texture and durability to easily be incorporated into these balls while also remaining easy to digest.

Peanut Butter: Use organic natural peanut butter. It has a thinner consistency that helps the ingredients stick together to form a ball. It also doesn’t have palm oil, or other added ingredients. If you find that the balls are not sticking together easily add a tablespoon or more to the mixture to help them bind.

Flax Seeds: Flax can be bought in whole seeds or ground. For these protein balls you want to use ground flax seeds.

Mini Chocolate Chips: Be sure to purchase dairy-free vegan certified mini chocolate chips. My favorite brands is Enjoy Life vegan chocolate chips.

Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup. This gives the vegan protein balls a natural sweetness without the need for refined sugar. You can add more or less maple syrup depending on the sweetness you prefer.

📝 Substitutes

Different Nut Butters: You can make these with any nut butter you like. Try using almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter for a nut free version.

Alternative Sweeteners: If you don’t have maple syrup use date syrup, or agave instead.

No Flax: If you don’t have ground flax, consider using chia seeds, or desiccated coconut.

No Chocolate Chips: Use small dried fruit instead, such as dried blueberries, or raisins.

🛠 Key Equipment

Cookie Scoop: In order to get uniform balls that are all the same size, use a cookie scoop use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make Vegan Protein Balls

1. Add the peanut butter, ground flax, rolled oats, mini chocolate chips, and maple syrup in a large mixing bowl.
2. Stir to combine using a spatula. The mix will be a bit dry, that is normal.
3. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes.
4. Scoop 2 tablespoons of the mixture with a cookie scoop. Using your hands roll the dough into a ball. Continue until all the oat mixture is used. Chill for another hour before serving.

Expert Tip: If the mixture is too dry and the balls won’t hold together, add another 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter, and stir to combine. This consistency of the mixture is dependent on the consistency of the peanut butter you use. Natural peanut butter is generally thinner is consistency and combines well. But if your peanut butter is on the dry side, you’ll need to use more in order for the balls to hold together.

❓ Recipe FAQS

Expert Tips

• If your mixture feels too dry, you can add a small amount of liquid (e.g., almond milk, coconut water) to help bind the ingredients together. Conversely, if the mixture is too sticky, you can add more dry ingredients or refrigerate it to firm up.
• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until well-combined. Then, refrigerate the mixture for about 30 minutes to make it easier to roll into bite-sized balls.
• Get creative with your flavor combinations. You can add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, extracts like vanilla or almond, or even a pinch of sea salt for a contrasting taste.

🍴 How to Serve

• After school snack.
• Healthy treat.
• Post or pre workout snack.
• Afternoon pick me up.

❄️ How to Store and Keep

Refrigerate: Keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer: Place in a freezer safe and airtight bag or container. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw at room temperature for about an hour.

😋 More Vegan Energy Bites and Protein Balls!

⚖️ Serving Size

This recipe makes 12-16 balls depending on how big you make each ball.

🎥 Video

Recipe