Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

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5 ingredients are all you need to make these delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls. This easy, no-bake recipe is a healthy snack option or even quick fuel for a busy morning.

I remember several years ago when “energy bites” or “protein balls” were a new thing. What were these naturally sweetened balls of goodness that had protein packed ingredients and usually some sort of fruit?

Now, you’ve probably seen lots of those naturally sweetened snack bites or bars. With these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls Peanut, they blend the one of my favorite classic flavor combos, making them even better in my mind!

Don’t just take my word for it though. From the beginning, they were a hit with my family just like these No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Balls.

These little energy bites are SO delicious that I can’t stop eating them! They kind of remind me of a no bake cookie recipe I used to make growing up that are similar to this recipe for Cinnamon Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats.

My son LOVES these! He thinks he is getting a real treat just like cookies or brownies but I feel much better giving him one of these. We especially like to eat them cold from the fridge.

With only five, natural ingredients, you can have these healthy, nutritious snacks ready to enjoy in no time.

Ingredient Tips

When I originally developed this recipe, it started with my (frequent) craving for something with peanut butter and chocolate. I couldn’t find a recipe that had just the right combination of ingredients, so I came up with my own, based on a compilation of some of the energy bar and energy bites recipes I had come across.

Just five simple ingredients is all it takes to make these Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls. I’ve got a few tips for each of them.

Dried, Pitted Dates – Oftentimes, these type of snack bites or bars are sweetened with dates. Dates are a great choice because they are filled with natural fiber and are also an excellent source of iron and potassium. They are also rich in lots of minerals like calcium and manganese and many other antioxidants.

I can usually find the best prices on pitted, dried dates at a warehouse club like Costco or Sam’s Club. But I’ve also gotten them for a good price at Aldi or Sprouts too. Of course, your regular grocery store should have them in the dried fruit aisle also!

Creamy Peanut Butter – We like the natural, creamy peanut butter but if you prefer chunky peanut butter, feel free to use that instead! You can also substitute almond butter or sun butter in this recipe.

Unsweetened Coconut Flakes – Sometimes unsweetened coconut flakes can be tough to find but I can usually consistently find it as Kroger and sometimes Sprouts. Sweetened coconut flakes are ok to use if you can’t find the unsweetened variety.

Unsweetened Baking Cocoa Powder – Look for this in the baking aisle of the grocery store. It is NOT the same as hot cocoa mix. (I mention this because I have had this question before!)

Old Fashioned Oatmeal – My family prefers the old-fashioned oatmeal so that’s what we have on hand most often but you can substitute the quick cooking oats if you prefer that it blend in more easily to these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls.

See recipe card for quantities and preparation instructions.

How To Make These Protein Balls

In the bowl of a medium to large food processor, add the dried dates and peanut butter (1).

Put lid on and blend until slightly combined, about one minute. (2)

Add unsweetened coconut flakes, cocoa powder and oatmeal to date mixture (3). Add lid back to food processor and pulse all ingredients a few times until a ball forms.

Use a small ball scooper (affiliate link) to scoop mixture and then use hands to roll into balls (4).

Place on a prepared baking sheet (affiliate link) lined with a silicone baking mat (affiliate link) (5).

Make Ahead and Storage Tips

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls are a perfect make-ahead snack! We actually love them chilled just as much as we do enjoying them at room temperature.

The recipe is also easy to double so you can make an extra batch to have on hand anytime. Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container (affiliate link) separating layers with wax paper. They can be stored there for up to two weeks.

These protein balls are also freezer friendly! Store them similarly to storing in the refrigerator but in the freezer instead, up to three months. Don’t forget to date and label (affiliate link) them. To serve, allow them to thaw slightly, about 10 minutes, at room temperature so they are easier to bite into.

This post was originally shared in March 2013 but updated in September 2021 with new content and instructions.

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