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.
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!
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.
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.
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:
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!
Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy unsalted peanut butter
- 1½ scoop vanilla protein powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon Stevia
- 20 raw, unsalted peanuts
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
Nutrition Info Per Serving
Photos and recipe testing by Megan from Skinnyfitalicious.com
I LOVE this recipe! While I am not aiming for an exclusively Keto-diet, I am trying a generally low-carb diet.
I don’t care for the taste of Stevia so I use honey instead.
I love to double the recipe so I can make many many balls at once, to last me roughly the week.
If I can find an excuse to add cream cheese to something I do, so I added 2 oz. of Cream cheese to the base recipe, 4 oz. for doubled.
I actually find that they are much easier to roll with the cream cheese, without freezing/refrigerating, and they don’t smear at all!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! 😀
Basically like peanut butter fudge. So.damn.good