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Inside: Get a simple recipe for 4 Ingredient Protein Balls that are great in the lunchbox or as a quick snack or dessert.
Dilemma: Everyone wants a quick grab-and-go meal. You want something to provide nutrition, especially for growing kids.
Here and there, I solve this by having some sort of homemade snack bar or bites on hand that can be quick in a pinch for breakfast, a lunchbox treat, easy healthy snack, or even a satisfying to-go snack. -Bite Desserts.
I’ve been making these No Bake Energy Bites for a long time, usually as part of Sunday snack prep and meal prep for the week. I usually have all the simple ingredients in my pantry, and having “a little something” like this makes my weeks a little easier.
I think these No Bake Energy Balls taste like peanut butter cookie dough. They also remind me of Peanut Butter Perfect bars (but cost a lot less!). Here’s the easy recipe.
Ingredients of No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
- Peanut Butter: I use creamy natural peanut butter, which is made with only peanuts and salt. You can also use almond butter or cashew butter instead.
- Oats: I like to munch on old fashioned rolled oats, but you can also use quick oats.
- Powdered Milk: Find this in the baking aisle. The type at my store is nonfat. This gives extra texture for biting energy.
- Honey: You can replace it with pure maple syrup if you prefer.
How to Make 4 Ingredient Protein Balls
Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir well. (You don’t need a food processor for this recipe!) If your mixture seems too dry to roll into balls, add a little peanut butter, a drizzle at a time, until it’s the right consistency. Go If it’s too wet, add oats a tablespoon at a time.
If the mixture is a bit sticky while rolling, it may be easier with slightly wet hands.
If you want to add chocolate chips, mix in about 3 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips, which I find works best with these bites.
I love using cookie scoops to make uniform snack bites. Scoop out a generous amount, then use your hands to roll them into balls. You can place them on a baking sheet as you’re making them or directly into a sealed container. I get about 12 snack bites with one recipe, 24 with a double batch.
What is powdered milk?
Powdered milk (aka dry milk powder) is made by evaporating the liquid from milk and turning it into a powder. I keep it in my pantry for making homemade hot cocoa mix. You can also add it to recipes to give you some extra calcium and protein, such as:
- smoothie
- Pancakes
- Muffins
- Oatmeal
What else can I use besides powdered milk?
If you don’t have powdered milk, you can also use protein powder (such as vanilla protein powder) or peanut powder (such as PB2) instead.
Can I use maple syrup instead of honey?
Yes, just swap the sweeteners one-for-one.
How can I make these vegetarian?
To make these Peanut Butter Energy Balls vegan, swap out the powdered milk for peanut powder or plant-based protein powder, sweeten them with maple syrup instead of honey, and use dairy-free chocolate chips when adding chocolate.
How much protein is in these bites?
Each of these 4-ingredient protein balls contains approximately four grams Of protein Need other ideas for protein-rich snacks? see my list 35 Protein Snacks,
How do I store these 4 ingredient protein balls?
Store these protein balls in an airtight container. You can keep them at room temperature, but I think it’s best to keep them in the fridge. They are best eaten within a week.
Other Ideas for Swaps and Replacements
- Swap out a tablespoon of powdered milk for chia seeds, ground flax seeds, or hemp seeds for extra healthy fats.
- Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter to make these nut-free and peanut-free (check the label on all other ingredients to be safe)
- Swap out chocolate protein powder for powdered milk to make Chocolate Energy Bites.
- business mini chocolate chips for white chocolate chips
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Balls
Yield:
12
prep time:
10 minutes
total time:
10 minutes
Made with just four ingredients, these No Bake Peanut Butter Balls are a satisfying snack or sweet treat.
Component
-
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
-
1/2 cup oats
-
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
-
3 tbsp honey
Instruction
- Mix all the ingredients. (If consistency isn’t quite rollable, add more peanut butter or more oats or dry milk powder to get the right texture.)
- Roll into tablespoon sized balls.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
notes
Optional: Add 2-3 Tbsp mini chocolate chips.
nutrition information:
Yield: 12
serving size: 1 ball
amount per Serving:
Calories: 106total fat: 6 gramsSaturated fat: 1 gramTrans Fats: 0 gUnsaturated fats: 4GCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 56mgCarbohydrates: 11 gFiber: 1 gramSugar: 6 gramsProtein: 4G
More Recipes for Snack Bars and Snack Bites
Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Snack Bars (Without the Banana)
Nut-Free Snack Balls
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