Healthy Cookie Dough Protein Balls

ByMadison Thurman
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I admittedly have a huge sweet tooth. I believe it is hereditary, I blame my mother for this being passed down. She blames her mother, and I am sure my grandma would blame her mother for this too. Apologies to my future children for this lol. One of my college best friends always says “I just don’t really ever crave dessert”. Good thing we were friends before I heard that sentence come out of her mouth…kidding!! (kind of)

With all of that said, I have been working hard on my dependence to having a sweet treat after dinner every night. Even if it is just one little piece of candy, it needs to be reigned in. My mother-in-law gave me a batch of these and it has been a great after dinner treat. I immediately asked for her recipe, so credit to her for this one! I have two after dinner and it has been curbing my sweet tooth. The peanut butter and chocolate combination is delicious, and it is a guilt free snack!

These have protein powder in them as well, so these would also be great for an afternoon snack, packed in a lunchbox for school, or a post-workout snack. There are endless flavor combinations for these, so stay tuned for more of these recipes coming your way! Oh, and shout out to Paul Family Farms for the maple syrup!

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Why You’ll Love These Protein Balls

  • Healthy snack. Pack these in your kids lunches, or have one yourself as a post workout snack!
  • Delicious. I love when a healthy snack is not sacrificing flavor.
  • Customizable. Feel free to skip the chocolate chips and add whatever you like! Chopped nuts or dried fruit come to mind.
A bowl of uncooked oatmeal, a bowl of chia seeds, and a bottle of maple syrup on a wooden cutting board. Peanut butter and chocolate chips are sprinkled for decor.

How to Make These Protein Balls

Please see recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe details.

  1. Grind up your oats. This helps lend to that cookie-dough feel we are after. You can skip this step, but the balls will be more “chewy” and won’t have as much cookie dough mouth-feel. In a blender or food processor blend the oats 15 seconds at a time until the oats are your desired texture. I left a few chunks of oats for texture.
  2. Mix. In a small bowl mix together peanut butter, maple syrup, and honey. Mix until it becomes smooth. To the same bowl add in the protein powder, chia seed, and oats. Mix everything until a smooth. Now stir in the chocolate chips, or any other add-ins you want.
  3. Roll. Roll the mixture into about 1 inch balls. You should get 12 protein balls out of this batch. Place the balls on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Enjoy!
  • A bowl of uncooked oatmeal, a bowl of chia seeds, and a bottle of maple syrup on a wooden cutting board. Peanut butter and chocolate chips are sprinkled for decor.
  • Cookie dough protein balls on a wooden bowl with chocolate chips on the side in a wooden spoon. A blue jar is on the side for decor.

Recipe FAQs

Yes! Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze them to extend the life of these.

Recipe Variations

  • Almond butter. Swap the peanut butter for your favorite! Almond butter is delicious in these.
  • White chocolate. Any type of “chip” will work! Try dark, milk, or caramel baking chips.
  • Add some crunch. Slivered almonds or walnuts would be great!
  • Dip em’. This is going to make it more of a true sweet treat, but there is no way dipping these in chocolate would hurt!
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Cookie dough protein balls on a wooden bowl with chocolate chips on the side in a wooden spoon. A blue jar is on the side for decor.

Healthy Cookie Dough Protein Balls

Need a sweet treat after dinner but you are trying to eat healthier? Look no further! These taste just like cookie dough, but without the guilt. Oh and bonus points for getting extra protein!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 12 balls
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ cup old fashioned oatmeal
  • 2 tbsp vanilla protein powder
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
  • 3 tbsp honey more if needed for texture
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • ¼ cup natural peanut butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon optional
  • 1 tsp coconut oil melted, this is optional if the protein balls are seeming dry

Method
 

  1. First start by blending/grinding up the oats. This helps lend to that cookie-dough feel we are after. You can skip this step, but the balls will be more "chewy" and won't have as much cookie dough mouth-feel. In a blender or food processor blend the oats 15 seconds at a time until the oats are your desired texture. I left a few chunks of oats for texture.
  2. Next in a mixing bowl, add the peanut butter, maple syrup, and honey. Mix until it becomes smooth. To the same bowl add in the protein powder, chia seed, and oats. Mix everything until a smooth. Now stir in the chocolate chips, or any other add-ins you want.
  3. Now let's roll them out! Roll the mixture into roughly 1-inch balls. You can use a cookie scoop to spoon out a uniform amount each time. Roll each ball using your hands and place on a cookie sheet.
  4. Refrigerate the protein balls for at least 30 minutes. Store in the fridge in an air-tight container and enjoy for up to a week!

Notes

*Store these in the freezer to extend shelf life.

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