Plus, these healthy energy balls are easy to make in less than 20 minutes and meal prep post-workout snacks. I love making post-workout snacks such as my Low Calorie Protein Balls or Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls to refuel.
Why You’ll Love Vegan Protein Balls
Vegan Protein Balls are easy, healthy snacks made with nut butter and loaded with high-protein vegan ingredients, including ground flax seeds, chia seeds, and protein powder. They are free from honey or whey protein powder – ingredients are not vegan and often found in regular protein ball recipes. They are the best vegan energy balls post-workout to refuel your body with plant-based proteins and fix a sweet craving.
Ingredients and Substitutions
All you need to make no-bake protein energy balls are a few ingredients:
Peanut Butter – You can use almond butter or sunflower seed butter to decrease the saturated fat and increase the protein naturally. Maple Syrup or any liquid sweetener you have on hand like rice syrup, coconut nectar, or agave syrup. Vegan Vanilla Protein Powder – There are many options to choose from. Pea protein, brown rice protein powder, or peanut protein powder. All these options are great, but I recommend pea protein powder to ensure the best texture and flavor in this no-bake protein balls recipe. Flaxseed Meal – this brings a lot of binding. Chia Seeds – Chia seeds are excellent for your body and bring some binding. Dark Chocolate Chips – or vegan chocolate chips. Pinch of Salt – optional Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats – Pick a certified gluten-free oat brand.
How To Make Vegan Protein Balls
It takes less than 30 minutes to make these energy balls with simple ingredients. They are super easy to make on a Sunday and store in the fridge to meal prep a week of healthy protein snacks.
Preparation
Variations
You can use this vegan protein balls recipe and swap some of the ingredients to create different protein balls flavors.
Chocolate Protein Balls – Use vegan chocolate protein powder. Cinnamon Protein Balls – Replace the chocolate chips with dried raisins, or any dried fruits like cranberries or chopped dates. Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon in the batter. Sugar-Free Protein Balls – Use sugar-free dark chocolate chips and sugar-free monk fruit syrup instead of maple syrup.
Allergy Swaps
If you have allergies to the ingredients in this protein ball recipe, you can make the following swaps:
Peanut Butter – You can replace the peanut butter with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter if you have nut allergies. Sweetener – Any liquid sweetener would do. So you can use coconut nectar, maple syrup, or sugar-free maple syrup for a sugar-free option. Pea Protein Powder – You can use your favorite plant-based protein powder, including almond-based protein powder, peanut-based protein powder, or rice protein powder. Gluten-Free – Use a gluten-free certified oats brand. Chia-Seed Free – Replace by hemp heart or sunflower seeds.
Storage Instructions
You can store these vegan protein balls in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight box. They can also be frozen in freezer bags for up to one month. Thaw them in the fridge overnight. Other no-bake recipes that can be added to your post-workout routines are:
