These No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Balls are a wholesome, energizing snack that tastes like a bite of mint chocolate chip cookie dough. Packed with protein-rich almond butter and oats, they are the perfect fuel for pre-workout energy or an afternoon pick-me-up.
With a rich cocoa flavor, a refreshing hint of mint, and zero baking required, these balls are an easy, meal-prep friendly treat that you can keep on hand all week.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A classic combination of deep chocolate and cool mint, sweetened naturally with maple syrup and studded with chocolate chips.
- Texture: Dense and chewy like cookie dough, with a pleasant crunch from the oats and chocolate chips.
- Time: 10 minutes prep.
- Difficulty: Very Easy. It is a simple mix-and-roll method.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a medium mixing bowl and a wooden spoon (or your hands) to combine the thick dough. A cookie scoop is helpful for portioning consistent balls. The ingredients rely on drippy natural nut butter, chocolate protein powder, and pantry staples like oats and maple syrup.
Ingredient Notes
- Almond Butter – Use all-natural almond butter (just almonds and salt). It must be “drippy” and stirrable, not the dry stuff at the bottom of the jar, to bind the balls together. Cashew butter is a great substitute.
- Chocolate Protein Powder – This boosts the protein content and adds chocolate flavor. Garden of Life brand is recommended, but any plant-based or whey powder works.
- Oats – Rolled oats (old-fashioned) provide texture and fiber. Quick oats can be used for a smoother texture.
- Cocoa Powder – Unsweetened cocoa powder intensifies the chocolate flavor without adding extra sugar.
- Mint Extract – This provides the signature flavor. Start with 2 teaspoons and adjust to taste.
- Maple Syrup – Pure maple syrup adds natural sweetness and helps stick the ingredients together.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – Mini chips distribute better than regular ones, ensuring chocolate in every bite.
- Water – Added by the teaspoon, water hydrates the protein powder so the balls aren’t chalky or dry.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Nut Free – Substitute sunflower seed butter or tahini for the almond butter to make these nut-free.
- Extracts – If you don’t like mint, swap it for vanilla extract or almond extract.
- Crunch – Chia seeds or flax seeds can be added for extra nutrition and crunch.
How to Make No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Balls
- Combine Ingredients: Place the almond butter (make sure it is drippy!), chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, mint extract, rolled oats, maple syrup, and mini chocolate chips into a medium bowl.
- Mix: Use a wooden spoon or your clean hands to mix the dough together. It will be thick.
- Add Water: At this point, begin to add water by the teaspoon. Depending on how drippy your almond butter is, you’ll need to add more or less water. The water helps moisten the mixture so your balls hold their shape and prevents them from having a chalky texture from the protein powder.
- Roll: Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough into your palms. Roll into smooth balls until all the dough is gone. You should get somewhere between 15-20 balls.
- Store: Store the balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Pro Tip: Wet your hands slightly before rolling the balls. This prevents the sticky nut butter mixture from clinging to your palms and helps create a smoother finish on the outside of the protein balls.
Recipe Tips
- Protein Powder Texture: Different brands of protein powder absorb liquid differently. If your dough is too dry and crumbly, don’t be afraid to add another teaspoon of water or syrup.
- Drippy Nut Butter: If your almond butter is at the end of the jar and dry, microwave it for 10-15 seconds to loosen it up before measuring.
- Cocoa Intensity: For a dark chocolate flavor, use Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
FAQs
- Can I use steel-cut oats? No, steel-cut oats are too hard to eat uncooked. Stick to rolled or quick oats.
- Are these gluten-free? Yes, as long as you use certified gluten-free oats.
- Can I leave these out? Because of the natural oils in the nut butter, they can get soft at room temperature. They hold their shape best when chilled.
Serving Suggestions
- Pre-Workout: Grab one 30 minutes before a workout for sustained energy.
- Yogurt Topping: Crumble a ball over a bowl of Greek yogurt for breakfast.
- Dessert: These satisfy sweet cravings without the sugar crash of candy.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Batch Prep: This recipe doubles easily. Make a large batch on Sunday and freeze half for later in the month.
- Storage: They last up to a week in the fridge, making them the ultimate grab-and-go snack.
No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Balls
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 15-20 Balls 1x
Description
These No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Balls are a wholesome, energizing snack that tastes like a bite of mint chocolate chip cookie dough. Packed with protein-rich almond butter and oats, they are the perfect fuel for pre-workout energy or an afternoon pick-me-up. With a rich cocoa flavor, a refreshing hint of mint, and zero baking required, these balls are an easy, meal-prep friendly treat that you can keep on hand all week.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-natural almond butter (or cashew butter), must be “drippy”
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 1/3 cup chocolate protein powder (e.g., Garden of Life)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons mint extract (start with 1 tsp if sensitive to mint)
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1–4 teaspoons water (as needed for texture)
Instructions
Combine Ingredients
In a medium bowl, add the almond butter, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, mint extract, oats, maple syrup, and mini chocolate chips.
Mix
Use a wooden spoon or your clean hands to mix the dough thoroughly. It will be thick and dense.
Hydrate
Begin adding water 1 teaspoon at a time, mixing after each addition. Goal: You want the dough to be moist enough to hold its shape easily without crumbling, but not sticky. The water eliminates the “chalky” texture common with protein powder.
Roll
Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, portion the dough into your palms. Roll into smooth balls. You should yield 15–20 balls. Tip: Wet your hands slightly to prevent the dough from sticking to your skin.
Store
Place the balls in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
“Drippy” Butter: The texture relies on using natural, runny nut butter. If your almond butter is the dry stuff from the bottom of the jar, microwave it for 15 seconds to loosen it up before measuring.
Protein Powder Variance: Every protein brand absorbs liquid differently (whey vs. plant-based). Trust your instinct if the dough is too dry, add more water or a splash of syrup. If too wet, add a pinch more oats.
Gluten-Free: Ensure your oats are certified gluten-free if you have a sensitivity.
Temperature: Because natural nut butter is oily, these balls can get soft at room temperature. They are best eaten cold directly from the fridge.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack / Energy Bite
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Healthy American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Ball
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: mint chocolate protein balls, energy bites recipe, no bake protein snacks, healthy meal prep snacks, almond butter recipes, post workout snack, vegan energy balls
