Protein balls are the snack that lives in our fridge at all times. They're tasty enough to satisfy a sweet craving, packed with protein to keep you fueled, and they take just 5-10 minutes to make without any baking! Whether you need something to grab on the way out the door, a post-workout treat, or a late-night snack that won't impact your goals - protein balls are THE answer.

Jump to:

• Quick Reference: Every Protein Ball Ranked by Protein
• Why We Love Protein Balls as a Snack
• Tips for Making the Best Protein Balls
• Classic & Cookie Inspired
• 1. Protein Balls without Protein Powder
• 2. Snickerdoodle Protein Bites
• 3. Sugar Cookie Protein Balls
• 4. Peanut Butter Protein Balls
• Chocolate & Fudgy
• 5. Brownie Batter Protein Balls
• 6. Chocolate Peppermint Protein Balls
• Fun & Seasonal Flavors
• 7. Biscoff Protein Balls
• 8. Monster Cookie Protein Bites
• 9. S'mores Protein Balls
• More Protein Resources

Quick Reference: Every Protein Ball Ranked by Protein

All nutrition is per serving (2 balls) unless noted. Peppermint balls shown per single ball (recipe makes 20).

Why We Love Protein Balls as a Snack

Snacking isn't the enemy, as long as you give it some consideration! As a NASM-certified nutrition coach, I'll tell you that protein balls are one of the best snack options because they combine protein, healthy fats, and just enough natural sweetness to feel like a treat. They keep you full between meals without the blood sugar spike and crash you'd get from a candy bar or granola bar.

Most protein ball recipes lean hard on protein powder. We focus on whole food protein sources like almond flour, hemp hearts, nut butters, and oats as the base. Some of these recipes don't use any protein powder at all - the protein comes entirely from nuts, seeds, and flours. And for the ones that do use protein powder, we've tested them many times to make sure they don't have that chalky, artificial taste.

Tips for Making the Best Protein Balls

• Use a cookie scoop. This really helps you make balls that are a consistent size and shape. Wet the scoop with a bit of water to prevent sticking.
• The nut butter consistency matters. Most of our protein ball recipes use some type of nut butter. Be sure to check the notes on the ideal consistency, as they can come thick or very drippy.
• They're best from the fridge. Protein balls last longer and are the ideal texture when kept in the fridge. We just keep ours in a large airtight tupperware!

Classic & Cookie Inspired

1. Protein Balls without Protein Powder

12g protein | 386 cal per 2 balls

This is the recipe that started it all - and it's still our most popular! They're made with cashew butter, oats, almond flour, hemp hearts, maple syrup, and chocolate chips. No protein powder, no blender, no baking - just mix and eat. If you only try one recipe from this list, make it this one.

2. Snickerdoodle Protein Bites

9g protein | 299 cal per 2 balls

Coated in cinnamon and sugar, these snickerdoodle bites have that perfect edible cookie dough texture. They're made with almond flour, oat flour, and cashew butter - no protein powder needed. The key to these is the cashew butter, which has the mildest flavor of any nut butter so it lets the cinnamon shine.

3. Sugar Cookie Protein Balls

8g protein | 213 cal per 2 balls

Every holiday season, I make a batch (or three) of these. They taste like sugar cookie dough thanks to a combination of almond extract, vanilla, and a hint of orange zest that brightens the whole thing up. Hemp hearts provide the protein punch, and the texture is gooey and soft - basically everything you love about sneaking raw cookie dough.

4. Peanut Butter Protein Balls

10g protein | 308 cal per 2 balls

These peanut butter protein balls are chewy, a little crunchy from rice cereal, and genuinely taste like something you'd want to eat - not something you're eating because you have to 🤩. Each ball has 5 grams of protein and takes about 5 minutes to make. Yes, this recipe uses protein powder - and that's exactly what makes it work!

Chocolate & Fudgy

5. Brownie Batter Protein Balls

13g protein | 330 cal per 2 balls

Ooey, gooey, and fudgy - these taste exactly like brownie batter in ball form. Cocoa powder is the secret to that deep chocolate flavor, and almond butter keeps them rich and moist. I almost always use a chopped-up Hu chocolate bar instead of regular chips because the ingredients are cleaner and the taste is unreal. These travel incredibly well, making them perfect for road trips and lunchboxes.

6. Chocolate Peppermint Protein Balls

9g protein | 140 cal per ball

Chocolate and peppermint is one of my favorite combos, especially during the holidays! These balls use hot cocoa powder and peppermint chips for a festive flavor that's perfect for gifting or holiday gatherings. The secret ingredient is collagen peptides (instead of protein powder), which are completely flavorless so they don't overpower the chocolate-mint combo. That means even your pickiest guests won't know these are a better-for-you treat!

Fun & Seasonal Flavors

7. Biscoff Protein Balls

9g protein | 209 cal per ball

If you've ever had a half-jar of Biscoff butter sitting in the pantry (who hasn't?), this is what you should do with it. Biscoff butter acts like a nut butter here, binding the oats and protein powder into a cookie butter-flavored dough that's absolutely addictive. They're slightly sticky when fresh but firm up perfectly after chilling in the fridge!

8. Monster Cookie Protein Bites

10g protein | 266 cal per 2 balls

M&M's, chocolate chips, cashew butter, and peanut butter powder come together in what tastes like a straight-up monster cookie. I use Unreal chocolate-coated candy to keep the sugar a bit lower, but regular M&M's work great too. A hand mixer is really helpful here since cashew butter is so sticky.

9. S'mores Protein Balls

13g protein | 339 cal per 2 balls

Graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows - all the fixings of a classic s'mores but rolled into a protein-packed bite. I make these all summer long when s'mores cravings hit but I don't feel like building a fire (which, let's be honest, is most of the time). Crush the graham crackers in a bag with a rolling pin or blender, mix everything together, and you're done in 5 minutes!

More Protein Resources

If you like these protein balls you might also like our list of our favorite high-protein easy snacks. And for the sweet tooths out there, check out our 30 best high-protein desserts.