As a mom of two growing boys it’s imperative that I have snacks on hand at all times. I usually try to have healthy snacks available, but there are definitely times when the only options I have are fruit snacks or goldfish. These protein balls are easy to make, full of protein and the entire family loves them. I love them because I can use them as a little sweet treat when I’m craving dessert but don’t want to ruin my diet.

The ingredients are all things that I typically always have in the pantry. If for some reason you don’t have chia seeds or flaxseed, don’t worry, this recipe can be made without them. I buy my flaxseed in bulk at Sprouts or Whole Foods and store it in the freezer to keep it fresh. You can also buy flaxseed or chia seeds online from Amazon and they ship free with Amazon Prime. It is a staple in our house when making any type of protein ball, smoothie or healthy snack because it is a great source of fiber and omega-3s.

 

My boys love to help me bake or cook, so I love it when I can find an easy recipe that they can help me prepare. For this one, all you do is measure out all of the ingredients, dump them into a mixing bowl and mix. When baking with the boys I pre-measure out all of the ingredients and let them do the dumping and mixing.

 

 

After all of the ingredients are mixed up, I used a small ice cream or cookie dough scoop to form small balls about the size of a ping pong ball. If the boys are helping me I lose the scoop and let the boys roll out the balls (of course I may lose some of the chocolate chips along the way). 🙂

 

 

Once all of the balls are made, put the cookie sheet in the freezer for a couple of hours to chill. I usually transfer the protein balls to an airtight container and store them in the freezer. They can be stored for one to two weeks (if they last that long). Tip: when you are ready to enjoy the protein balls, pull them out of the freezer and let them sit for a couple of minutes to thaw a little. Enjoy!

 

 

Print Pin

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

This is a quick and easy snack that is full of protein. I included dried cranberries in this version but they can easily be left out or replaced with another type of dried fruit.

Author Fit Momming - Jen Walsh

Course Snack

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 20 balls

Ingredients

• 1 cup instant oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 2/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup flaxseed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients in a bowl until evenly combined.
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Form dough into small balls using a small ice cream or cookie dough scoop. Place balls on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Freeze for 2 hours. Enjoy!Protein balls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. I store mine in the freezer and pull them out a couple of minutes before I plan to enjoy them.