• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Diabetes Strong

Healthy Life With Diabetes

  • Home
  • Diabetes
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Prediabetes
    • Diabetes Devices
    • Diabetes Products
    • Diabetes Medication
    • Diabetes Complications
    • Mental Health
  • Diet
    • Meal Plans
    • Low Carb Foods
  • Exercise
    • Workout Videos
    • The Fit With Diabetes eBook
  • Recipes
    • The Diabetes Strong Cookbook
  • Diabetes Coaching
  • About

Home » Recipes » Peanut Butter Protein Balls (Low-Carb & Gluten Free)

Christel OerumBy Christel Oerum on July 16, 2018, Updated April 20, 2020
Recipes

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

Peanut Butter Protein Balls (Low-Carb & Gluten Free)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Peanut Butter Protein Balls

These yummy low-carb Peanut Butter Protein Balls are among my favorite healthy snacks! They are easy to make, no-bake, gluten-free, and will stay fresh in the fridge for days.

2 peanut butter protein balls on a black surface

This was one of those recipes that I was dreaming about for awhile before I finally had a chance to bring it to life.

And once I did, it was even yummier than I thought it would be!

These peanut butter protein balls are one of my favorite healthy snacks. They are so delicious, so satisfying, and SO easy to make! You simply blend up the ingredients, roll out the dough balls, and let them set in the fridge. How great is that?

When you find yourself craving a little taste of something sweet, these peanut butter bites are absolutely perfect. Plus, they have a nice 7.6 grams of protein per serving! 

How to make low-carb peanut butter protein balls

This recipe is so easy. If you have a blender, you will be done in 10 minutes. If you don’t have a blender, it may take you 12 minutes.

You can see how I do it in this short video, or follow the step-by-step instructions below:

Note: I have reduced the amount of protein powder I use slightly since I made this video. Please use the amount listed in the recipe description below.

Step 1: Mix together all ingredients except the raw peanuts in a bowl until smooth.

Step 2: Roll the dough into 1 or 1½ inch balls. You should end up with 15.

Step 3: Place the raw peanuts in a blender (I use my NutriBullet) and pulse several times until you have small pieces. If you don’t have a blender, you can chop them instead.

Step 4: Roll the balls in the peanut crumbles, then transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 5: Place in the refrigerator and let set for at least 20-30 minutes.

You’re only 5 easy steps away from these super tasty peanut butter protein bites!

The recipe ingredients on a cutting board

Choosing the right ingredients

The two most important steps in this recipe actually happen before you start rolling the protein balls.

First, make sure you buy the right peanut butter. You want to choose a brand that’s as natural as possible. No added sugar, salt, or preservatives – just peanuts! You also want creamy peanut butter rather than chunky.

Second, buy the right protein powder. I like Met-RX Vanilla Protein, but any good brand will do as long as you like the taste. The vanilla in the protein powder adds sweetness and flavor to the protein balls, so it’s an important part of the recipe.

Tray with peanut butter balls

Working with the ingredients

I have a few tips and tricks to make sure this recipe is as easy as possible!

When it comes to your peanut butter, you want to mix it well before using it. Natural peanut butter separates, so the jar will often have more oil on top and more solids at the bottom. This can make the protein balls either too runny or too dry if you don’t mix it all up!

Then, when you’re ready to roll out the balls, you may find that the mix is too sticky to work with. If this is the case, place it in the freezer for 10 minutes. It will be much easier to roll!

I do this sometimes, but I also live in Los Angeles in an apartment without air conditioning, so it gets HOT!

Finally, when you’re pulsing the raw peanuts in your blender, make sure not to overdo it! You want small crumbles, not peanut flour.

Peanut butter protein bites as seen from above

How many calories are in a protein ball?

That’s the first question most people ask when I describe this recipe, and I totally get it.

These peanut butter protein balls are low-carb but they are NOT low-calorie. Each protein ball has 126 calories, 7 g protein, 10 g fat, and less than 5 g carbs.

That may seem like a lot of calories for a relatively small snack, but it’s all healthy calories. And believe me, they are worth it to fit into your macros or your meal plan. I am always a very happy girl when I work these into my daily calorie limits because they taste SO GOOD!

Storage

You can store the peanut butter protein bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. They are so nice to have on-hand when you want something tasty! 

To keep them for longer, you can store them in the freezer in a sealed container for up to 6 weeks.

More healthy high-protein snacks

There are so many tasty and healthy high-protein snacks to choose from here on Diabetes Strong. Here are three of my favorites that I know you’ll love:

  • High Protein Berry Crumble
  • Cinnamon Swirl Protein Cake
  • Low Carb Chocolate Greek Yogurt Ice Cream

For more tasty treats to satisfy your sweet tooth without the guilt, check out my roundup of the best easy diabetic desserts!

When you’ve tried these bites, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked them and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Recipe Card

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

These yummy low-carb Peanut Butter Protein Balls are among my favorite healthy snacks! They are easy to make, no-bake, gluten-free, and will stay fresh in the fridge for days.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Total Time:10 minutes
Author:Christel Oerum
Servings:15
Peanut butter protein balls
3.86 from 64 votes
Review Print

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy unsalted peanut butter
  • 1½ scoop vanilla protein powder
  • ½ tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. Stevia
  • 20 raw, unsalted peanuts
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Mix together all ingredients except the raw peanuts in a bowl until smooth.
  • Roll the dough into 1 or 1½ inch balls. You should end up with 15.
  • Place the raw peanuts in a blender (I use my NutriBullet) and pulse several times until you have small pieces. If you don't have a blender, you can chop them instead.
  • Roll the balls in the peanut crumbles and transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. 
  • Place in the refrigerator and let set for at least 20-30 minutes.

Recipe Notes

This recipe is for 15 peanut butter balls. Each serving is 1 ball.
Don’t overdo it when pulsing the raw peanuts. You want small crumbles.
Make sure your peanut butter is natural with no added sugar, salt, or preservatives. 
Natural peanut butter will separate, so mix it up before using.
If the mix is difficult to work with when rolling into balls, place in the freezer for 10 minutes.
Peanut butter protein bites can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Amount Per Serving (1 ball)
Calories 126 Calories from Fat 86
% Daily Value*
Fat 9.6g15%
Saturated Fat 1.5g8%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 4.8g
Cholesterol 1.2mg0%
Sodium 10.1mg0%
Potassium 135.5mg4%
Carbohydrates 4.7g2%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 0.7g1%
Protein 7.6g15%
Vitamin A 0IU0%
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 63mg6%
Iron 0.5mg3%
Net carbs 2.7g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: no bake, Peanut butter balls, peanut butter bites, Protein balls
Did you make this recipe?Click here to leave a comment & star rating!

Photos and recipe testing by Megan from Skinnyfitalicious.com

Success! Now check your email to download the eBook chapter.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Categories: Recipes Tags: Gluten Free, Desserts & Snacks

Christel Oerum

About Christel Oerum

Christel is the founder of Diabetes Strong. She is a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in diabetes. As someone living with type 1 diabetes, Christel is particularly passionate about helping others with diabetes live active healthy lives. She’s a diabetes advocate, public speaker, and author of the popular diabetes book Fit With Diabetes.

View all posts by Christel Oerum

Related Posts

  • Low-Carb Peanut Butter Cookies (Sugar-Free)

    These Low-Carb Peanut Butter Cookies are a delicious, healthy way to satisfy your cookie craving! They come together in 1 bowl with only 5 ingredients…

  • Healthy protein cheesecake
    Low Carb Protein Cheesecake

    This healthy Low Carb Protein Cheesecake will satisfy your cheesecake cravings without blowing a whole week's calorie budget. It’s simple to make and simply delicious!…

  • 7 Diabetes-Friendly Pancake Recipes
    8 Diabetes-Friendly Pancake Recipes (Low-Carb)

    Someone left a comment yesterday asking, “Do you have any good recipes for diabetic pancakes?” Before I even had time to answer, another reader asked,…

Previous Post: « How to Treat Low Blood Sugar at Night
Next Post: Type One Run – Running Groups for People With Diabetes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarCarrie says

    June 28, 2019 at 6:22 pm

    Unfortunately, these didn’t work for me either. Mine never got firm enough to roll.

    Reply
  2. AvatarLaura says

    January 29, 2019 at 7:03 am

    These will fulfill my desire for a Reese’s PB cup, far more protein. Easy to use with my small Pampered Chef melon ball scoop. I used chopped almonds instead of nuts.

    Reply
  3. AvatarMelanie says

    January 7, 2019 at 11:38 am

    Hi! These sound delicious! Just curious. We don’t have any stevia but we do have xylitol. Do you think it would work with that? What amount if so? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      January 7, 2019 at 4:33 pm

      I can’t digest Xylitol so I never work with that sweetener, but it should work

      Reply
  4. AvatarJimL says

    December 7, 2018 at 8:29 am

    Please provide the standard measurement of 1 1/2 ‘scoop’.

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      December 7, 2018 at 3:05 pm

      For most whey protein powders one scoop is 30 g (~1 oz), so 1.5 scoop is 45 g / 1.6 oz

      Reply
  5. AvatarAndrea says

    October 8, 2018 at 8:08 am

    I am so glad I came across your site. I am 5.2, and 199 lbs. My blood sugar was 119 this morning so I’m really close to prediabetic. What should I start with? Worried and overweight!

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      October 8, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      Hi Andrea,
      When it comes to pre-diabetes, you can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58% by dropping your body weight by 7% or adding 30-min exercise 5 times a week (per ADA).
      So if you do have weight to lose I’d start by focusing on your diet and moving more. A good way to gauge if you’re overeating is to track your meals and calorie drink for a few days. That will give you your baseline and tell you where you can potentially cut back.
      If you do not need to lose weight I would focus on a combination of resistance training and cardio 5 times weekly

      Reply
  6. AvatarRobin says

    July 26, 2018 at 6:13 pm

    We made these for the first time yesterday and have already made a second batch. We only had choc flavored protein powder and they turned out great.

    I used Shmuckers Natural Peant Butter Creamy. First batch had much more oil than the second batch causing it to be runny. I poured it in some ice cubes and sprinkled the nuts, refrigerated it and then we literally ate them out the tray with a spoon!

    The second batch I made today with the same peanut butter straight out of the fridge. It was much thicker without all the oil (actually added a drizzle of olive oil) and I was able to roll them into balls. Just dabbed them in the peanuts though.

    I still have some from both batches- Either way is great. My husband is thrilled!

    Reply
  7. AvatarJaimie says

    July 19, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    Highly upset. Mine would not roll into a ball is was just smearing all over my hands, so all of those ingredients have gone to a waste now.

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      July 21, 2018 at 4:49 am

      Hi Jaimie,
      That’s annoying. Sounds like your protein powder might not be as absorbent as the one I use. Like different brands of flour, you’ll sometime need to add a little less/additional to get the right consistency. I always hold a little of the dry ingredients back and if that doesn’t give the right consistency I’ll add until it does.

      Reply
  8. AvatarChristy says

    July 14, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Did you actually mean 1 1/4 cup of protein powder? I only get a crumbly mess. Or did you means the scooper that it comes with? They are very very different

    Reply
    • Tobias OerumTobias Oerum says

      July 15, 2018 at 2:04 pm

      We just tested it with 2 different protein powders. With the powder we normally use, the recipe worked great, but with the other, it became too crumbly, just like you said. We have adjusted the recipe to slightly lower the amount of protein powder so now it should work with any brand of protein powder. Thank you so much for letting us know!

      Reply
    • AvatarJason says

      November 28, 2018 at 4:28 pm

      I was wondering the same thing, so tried it with the scoop that came with the powder. That seemed to be the perfect amount for forming the balls.

      Tip: If the mixture sticks to your hands, put a little bit of the protein powder on a plate and dust your hands with it before rolling the balls. Like using flour to shape pizza dough. It works well!

      Reply
  9. AvatarAida Smith says

    April 9, 2018 at 2:36 am

    Christel do you have a recipe for savory protein bars? B6 the way i cant wait to try these. Im allergic to peanutbutter so i will try almond butter or cashewbutter.

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      April 9, 2018 at 9:51 pm

      I unfortunately don’t have a good savory protein bar recipe. I tried creating one last year but it didn’t turn out great.

      Reply
  10. AvatarLisa Dimarco says

    February 13, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Thank you so much for a great recipe. I made these yesterday and they were super easy and tasty.

    Reply
    • Christel OerumChristel Oerum says

      February 13, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      You are welcome. I am glad you liked them 🙂

      Reply
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Popular Articles

What are normal blood sugar levels?

What are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

How Natural & Artificial Sweeteners Affect Blood Sugar

The Best Sweeteners for People with Diabetes

How to lower your A1c

How to Lower Your A1c: The Complete Guide

How to cook chicken breast

How to Bake Chicken Breast in the Oven (So It’s Always Juicy)

How to Avoid High Morning Blood Sugars

How to Avoid High Morning Blood Sugar

Diabetes meal plan

7 -Day Diabetes Meal Plan (with Printable Grocery List)

Footer

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Disclosures
  • Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertisement Policy

© 2015 – 2020 Diabetes Strong. All right reserved. Diabetes Strong does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.