No-Bake Chocolate Nut Butter Protein Balls, GF, VGN

Do you ever just want a quick snack – chocolatey enough to kill a craving, sweet enough to be a treat, low in calories but high enough in protein and healthy fats to curb any sugar cravings and fill you up? And to top it all off, something that’s gluten-free and can be made vegan?

Yeah, me too. Hey, it’s fine being picky. It just makes you get creative. And so these protein balls were born.

A quick, no-mess and no-bake recipe, you can whip these up in 5 minutes and snack on them all week long. Providing you don’t eat them all right away, of course!

INGREDIENTS (makes 32 balls):

1/2 cup honey (if making these strictly vegan, use agave nectar or maple syrup)
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup almond butter
2 tsp vanilla
6 tbsp cocoa powder
1 scoop vanilla or chocolate protein powder (whey works best but use vegan if you don’t do dairy)
2 1/4 cup rolled oats (quick oats would work also, but not steel cut)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir honey, coconut oil and nut butters together until just melted. It’s very important to: a) stir constantly and b) take off heat the minute they’re all melted together nicely. Too long on the heat and this mixture becomes granulated and crystallized and you will never get it back to being smooth!

2. Stir in vanilla, cocoa powder and protein powder. The mix will now be thicker but should still be smooth. Then simply mix in the oats.

3. Drop the mixture onto a greased sheet of parchment paper using a tablespoon measure. Once you’ve apportioned out 32 drops, pick each one up and roll quickly between your palms to form balls.

4. Refrigerate for a few hours to firm up and then enjoy from the fridge when you need a snack!