By Made with just 8 simple ingredients, these brownie batter protein balls are ooey and gooey, just like your favorite warm brownie. This recipe only takes a few minutes to whip up and travel and keep super well making them ideal for meal prepping, road trips, and just daily adventures. As I write this, I am snacking on one that I grabbed while running out the door to work down by the river.
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brownie batter protein ball highlights
- Kid-friendly but they take less time than actual brownies so no "is it ready? how about now?"
- Made with all natural sugar - have I mentioned I buy maple syrup in bulk from Costco? Also, have you tried Hu chocolate bars?? They are made with dates and SO tasty!
- They can easily be made vegan and are already gluten free.
- No baking is needed and you don't need to blend anything (looking at you, oat flour...).
- They taste legit like a gooey brownie you are sneaking in the morning after you made them. You know when you just keep taking a little bit more because you need those lines to be even 🧐?
There is little better than that late night brownie bite. The one when you just need something really gooey and cozy and low and behold, there's a box of brownie mix in your cupboard.
But what if it's 10 pm and you really don't have it in you to wait for them to bake - well, that's why I created this recipe along with my edible protein brownie batter, brownie protein fudge, and protein brownie bark. Greatness comes from necessity, right?
recipe ingredients
notes & substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See recipe card for quantities.
- Almond flour: You can use oat flour if it's what you have on hand or are nut free. But, these brownie protein balls have less protein in them this way.
- Cocoa powder: This is the key to really fudgy chocolate brownie protein balls!! Don't skimp on it.
- Almond butter: Cashew butter works too. You can also use a chocolate-flavored one for more chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate protein powder: I prefer to use Drink Wholesome egg white protein powder because it tastes a thousand times better than anything else. But, whey or vegan works too. But, if it's chalky and you don't like this recipe because of the protein, then I don't want to hear it.
- Instant coffee: This is the trick to making anything chocolate extra chocolately! Feel free to use decaf or just omit.
- Maple syrup: This is raw, pure maple syrup. Honey or agave works too.
- Almond milk: Any kind of milk is fine. Plant-based milk just keep longer so it allows the protein balls to be out of the fridge longer, thus providing greater flexibility to adventure.
- Chocolate chunks: I almost always use a chopped-up Hu chocolate bar at this point because the ingredients are SO good and it's all natural sugar. Of course, you can use any chocolate chips you like. Since you already have this out, might as well make these easy protein chocolate chip cookies too!
variations
- Make them nut free: Use oat flour and sun flower butter.
- Vegan brownie protein balls: To make these vegan, opt for a vegan protein powder (Kos is my favorite chocolate vegan option) and a vegan chocolate (hu is!!). Fun note - Target brand dark chocolate chunks are also vegan and super reasonably priced because they aren't advertised as vegan.
- Peanut butter brownie protein balls: To make what essentially is a Reese's Reese-inspired protein ball, simply use peanut butter in place of almond butter.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
how to make these brownie energy balls
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full brownie protein balls recipe!
- Mix everything together except the chocolate chunks using a hand mix or arm muscles.
- Stir in the chocolate chunks.
- Roll into balls and freeze briefly on a tray.
- Transfer to an airtight container to store or enjoy right away!
quick recipe video
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helpful tips
- Add milk as needed: Depending on how drippy your cashew butter is, you will need more milk. So, add 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough reaches a Playdough like consistency.
- Use a hand mixer: This seriously makes it SO much easier to mix the batter since almond butter is so sticky.
- Use a cookie scoop: If you have one, a cookie scoop is the perfect size to make energy bites with. It's also helpful to get it wet so the mixture doesn't stick in the lever release inside the scoop.
- Scale up: This recipe is super easy to scale up or down depending on how much you want. I will make a double batch and freeze half.
ways to serve chocolate protein balls
I like to give a few ideas for serving these healthy energy bites because they do make a stellar snack when hosting friends and family.
- Crumble them on top of yogurt or a smoothie bowl, brownie batter overnight oats, or chocolate chia seed pudding.
- Pair them on a better for you snack board with protein lemon bread and honey roasted everything bagel cashews. This is perfect for pool side or taking on a boat!
- Have a few for breakfast alongside a protein matcha berry smoothie.
common questions
Yes, there is no baking involved which makes them a raw recipe. The term "raw" refers to a recipe that is made with all raw ingredients.
They are ok out at room temperature for a few hours but they start to get a bit soft so they are best kept cool. I like to pop a few in a lunch box with a small ice pack if I know I won't eat them for a bit. Or, I just eat them right away.
This brownie energy bites recipe has a good amount of healthy fat and protein as well as is grain-free and made with natural sugar, so yes they are healthy in my book. If you're after something low carb and without sugar, then these might not be right for you.
If you want to make these without protein powder, you totally can! Simply swap out the protein powder for more almond flour and use more maple syrup.
texture not right?
If the dough is too dry, add a little more almond butter butter or milk and if it's too wet, add a little more almond flour or protein powder.
how to store & meal prep it
fridge
These brownie batter bites will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week in an airtight container. They can also be kept at room temperature for a few hours as needed.
frozen
Store these in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just let them warm up for 5-10 minutes before enjoying.
more protein balls recipes you'll love
Peanut butter protein balls: Peanut butter and honey combined with rice Krispy cereal makes for a delicious taste and texture!
Monster cookie protein bites: These protein balls feature M&Ms, chocolate chips, and cashew butter for a perfect, easy snack.
Check out our full list of protein ball recipes for more ideas!
Recipe
Ooey Gooey Brownie Batter Protein Balls (no bake and no blender required)
Ingredients
- 1.25 c almond flour (or oat flour)
- ¼ c cocoa powder
- ¾ c almond butter (or cashew butter)
- ½ c chocolate protein powder (protein of choice)
- ¼ c maple syrup (or honey or agave)
- ¼ c almond milk (or milk of choice)
- ¼ c chocolate chunks (Hu chocolate bar chopped or chocolate chips)
- ¼ teaspoon instant coffee
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Line a tray with parchment paper.Mix together the 1.25 c almond flour, ¼ c cocoa powder, ¾ c almond butter, ½ c chocolate protein powder, ¼ c maple syrup, ¼ teaspoon instant coffee, and ¼ c almond milk with a hand mixer or just arm muscle until a play dough like consistency forms.
- Add in the chopped ¼ c chocolate chunks and mix till evenly incorporated. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to form 16-20 1.5"-2" balls. The serving size is 2 balls. Place them on the prepared tray and freeze for 15 minutes.
- Transfer to an air tight container and store in the fridge or freezer.
Video
Notes
- Swap out the protein powder for more almond flour and use more maple syrup.
- Mix everything together. That's it!
- Add milk as needed: Depending on how drippy your cashew butter is, you will need more milk. So, add 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough reaches a Playdough like consistency.
- Use a hand mixer: This seriously makes it SO much easier to mix the batter since almond butter is so sticky.
- Use a cookie scoop: If you have one, a cookie scoop is the perfect size to make energy bites with. It's also helpful to get it wet so the mixture doesn't stick in the lever release inside the scoop.
- Scale up: This recipe is super easy to scale up or down depending on how much you want. I will make a double batch and freeze half.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
These are AMAZING!!! I’m making them for the 3rd time. Everyone who has tried them absolutely loves them. I use brownie protein mix (instead of plain chocolate) which adds some extra yumminess! Thanks for the great recipe!
Ya!! So glad to hear that!
These taste absolutely delicious, but help!!! They’re too gooey so when I store in the fridge they end up all mushing together and taste like I’m eating straight batter from a bowl. What did I do wrong? (This is the second time it’s happened to me with 2 different recipes, so it’s totally a me problem)
Awesome! But oh no! I'm guessing it's because of the type of nut butter you're using. They vary widelllyyy in consistency. Whenever this happens to me, I add more oat flour to help absorb the extra moisture. Or, if I realized it too late, I will roll the balls in cocoa powder, coconut shreds, or similar and treat them like truffles. I'll also store them in the freezer and just eat them straight from the freezer or give them 3-5 minutes to come to room temp before eating. Hope that helps!
In your in your video, you say that instant coffee is the trick. Then the recipe doesn't include instant coffee?
Thanks for brining this to my attention, yes we add 1/4 tsp of instant coffee. Adding it now to the list!
I am deathly allergic to almond. What can I use instead.
all oat flour will work!