Almond Butter Protein Balls

 

These almond butter energy balls are an awesome way to get that protein in a quick easy snack that you can eat at home or take on the go. The peanut and almond butter mix is a favorite of mine because they are still packed with flavor but not too rich. 

 

I have tried multiple energy ball recipes; this one is my absolute favorite.  I love that the kids can eat it at home easily out of the fridge and most of the time they think it’s a treat.   And also they pack well and their lunches at school.

 

The original recipe is from Eating Bird Food and has only peanut butter. I have also adjusted some of the amounts and the way I prepare the oats is different. But the original idea and the way I made them for months was from her.

 

I decided to make some changes as the original ones were too rich and the oats were very hard to chew. They also were very sticky upon mixing and I always had to put them in the fridge for a while before I made them into bites.

 

While grinding 2/3 of the oats is a tad more time-consuming, it’s oh-so worth the result! I have a food processor and blender, I find the blender works best with the pulse option. It is also a lot easier to clean as there are fewer parts.

 

Why Should You Make Your Snacks?

 

Making your snacks offers numerous benefits that go beyond just saving money. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to rely on store-bought snacks, but taking the time to prepare your own can lead to better health, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment.

If eating healthy is new to you, or you are a constant learner like me, check out this post on Clean Eating For Beginners.  It’s packed with great info on where to begin your clean eating journey.

 

1. Healthier Ingredients

 

One of the primary advantages of making your snacks is the ability to control the ingredients.   Many store-bought snacks are packed with preservatives, artificial colors, added sugars, seed oils, and unhealthy fats.

By preparing your own, you can ensure that you’re using whole, natural ingredients without hidden additives. For example, when you make granola at home, you can use oats, honey, and nuts, skipping the refined sugars and unhealthy oils often found in prepackaged options.

This means you get to enjoy snacks that are not only tastier but also better for your body in the long run.

If you are curious about what bad ingredients could be hiding in your snacks, check out my post on bad ingredients in food. 

 

 

2. Customization and Dietary Preferences

 

Making your snacks allows you to cater to specific dietary needs or allergies. Whether you’re following a gluten-free, vegan, or low-carb diet, homemade snacks give you the flexibility to choose exactly what goes into your food.

If you have food allergies or intolerances, making snacks at home ensures that you’re avoiding potential triggers. For example, if you’re gluten-free you can easily buy gluten-free oats, which is what I use for these.

 

3. Cost-Effectiveness

 

While it might seem like buying snacks from the store is cheaper, in the long run, making your snacks can save you a significant amount of money. Pre-packaged snacks often come with a markup, and buying in bulk to make your snacks can be much more cost-effective.

Ingredients like flour, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits can be purchased in larger quantities, allowing you to prepare multiple batches of snacks without breaking the bank. Plus, making snacks at home often yields larger portions than prepackaged options, meaning you get more for your money.

 

4. Better Taste and Freshness

 

Homemade snacks simply taste better. There’s something about the fresh, natural flavors of snacks made from scratch that you can’t replicate with processed options.

Whether it’s a batch of fresh-baked cookies, roasted nuts, or homemade energy bars, the flavor and texture of snacks you’ve made yourself will always be superior.

Additionally, when you make your snacks, you can experiment with different spices, herbs, and flavor combinations to create unique treats that you won’t find in stores.

 

5. Portion Control

 

Store-bought snacks often come in single-serving sizes, but these portions can be deceiving. Many products are packaged to make you want to eat more, leading to overeating and excessive calorie consumption.

When you make your snacks, you have full control over the portion sizes, allowing you to stick to a more balanced, mindful eating pattern. You can prepare smaller portions for a quick snack or make larger quantities to keep on hand for the whole week.

 

6. Fun and Creativity

 

Finally, making your snacks can be an enjoyable and creative activity. Trying new recipes, experimenting with flavors, and even involving family members or friends in the snack-making process can make it a fun experience.

This recipe in particular is a great one to have the kids help with.  All you need to do is measure out the ingredients, dump them into the bowl, and mix.  When my kids were much smaller I would just let them help with making the actual balls, they loved it!  They usually ate more than they made but they also had fun.

For more kids’ snack ideas, see my post on healthy kids’ snack options.

 

Why you will love these almond protein energy bites.

 

 

Delicious: They are hands-down, my favorite ones I’ve made so far. The mixture of two different kinds of nut butter makes them much less rich than just using peanut butter.

 

Quick: They are quick and easy to grab on the goal and also quick to whip up. They also don’t require any refrigeration before forming into balls, which I love. 

 

Every time I made a recipe with just peanut butter I found that by the time I got everything mixed together, it was mushy and I had to refrigerate it for quite a while before I was able to form it into balls that held together.

 

Healthy: These energy balls are gluten-free and can also be sugar-free, depending on which brand of chocolate chips you choose.

 

Freeze well: These protein-packed balls freeze so well. You can easily make a double, or quadruple batch like I do, and then freeze half of them and keep the other half in the fridge.

 

What supplies you will need:

 

-Large bowl

-Spatula

-Measuring cups/spoons

 

Ingredients For Healthy Energy Balls With Almond Butter

 

>Peanut butter: I use Kirkland’s organic peanut butter from Costco. Any natural peanut butter with just peanuts and salt as the ingredients will work. 

 

>Almond butter: I use almond butter that is with dry roasted almonds. If it does not say dry roasted, the almonds are likely roasted in seed oils before grinding. Gross.  Keep in mind most almond butter does not include salt, hence why you may need to add some salt to taste.  

 

>Salt: I use pink Himalayan sea salt for all my baking and cooking.

 

 

>Shredded coconut: this adds a little bit of texture to the energy balls.

 

 

Flaxseed meal: this is nutritional and acts as a binding agent to help them stay together better.

 

 

>Honey: I get honey from a local farm.  I always encourage people to do this because the health benefits are so much better than the stuff that you buy on the shelf at the grocery store.

 

 

>Gluten-free Oats: I get these from Costco as well. You’ll get the best bang for your buck here.

 

 

>Vanilla: Any type of natural vanilla will work. I also tend to buy Kirkland’s brand at Costco, but also have some on the counter I am making myself!

 

 

>Chocolate chips: need I say more? What is a protein ball without chocolate chips?! I use a brand that has organic sugar and no allergens. You could use Lilly’s which is sweetened with stevia or omit them completely for a healthier version.

 

That’s it. Most of these things I have on hand as I use them to make other things.  The shredded coconut and flax seed meal are the only two I have to watch and add to the grocery list just for these. 

 

How To Make Almond Butter Balls 

 

1. Measure ⅔ cup rolled oats in a blender or food processor. Pulse till ground smaller similar to quick oats. 

 

2. Add the oats to the bowl with the remaining ⅓ cup of regular rolled oats. 

 

3. Add the remaining ingredients to a large mixing bowl. 

 

4. Mix with a spatula or wooden spoon.

 

5. Use a cookie scoop to scoop onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  I use the 2oz scoop because I like them smaller. 

 

6. You can pack them pretty close together and use your hands to roll into neater balls. 

 

7. Put in freezer the or fridge for 10-30 min or longer if you are leaving the house. I just make sure I put them in an airtight bag or container before bedtime.

 

Storage

 

These can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Honestly, they never last that long in my house. There is nothing too perishable in here. You also have the option of freezing them for up to 3 months.