Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Balls
These Amish homemade protein balls are a quick, no-bake, and easy-to-make energy booster. They are gluten-free and so delicious!
When purchasing processed foods from the store, they tend to be packed with preservatives, sugar, or even worse, high fructose corn syrup. And who knows what else is in there that's bad for you? If you are like most of us, you have no clue what all that stuff is in the ingredients list.
So making your food from scratch is usually the healthier choice. You can use natural sweeteners, buy organic products to make it with, and know exactly what you are eating.
What are the benefits of eating homemade protein balls?
If you keep a batch of these energy bites in your refrigerator, you will have the perfect healthy snack to grab whenever you get hungry throughout the day. They are a great alternative to sugary sweets and snacks with empty calories.
You can take a few of these balls for breakfast on the run. The protein, healthy fats, and fiber (in the nut butter) pack the perfect punch when you need an energy boost to start your day off right.
They are full of nutrients and healthy carbs. And you can choose to make these with all organic products, adding any superfoods you desire. Essentially, they are simply the guilt-free, energy hit, and the perfect snack!
Gluten-free protein balls
We have so many people in our society today that are suffering from issues with gluten in their diet. One of my daughters is on a vegetarian and gluten-free diet, and it can be challenging to find healthy snacks for her to grab on the run. She also has some low blood sugar issues, therefore she needs to eat often and needs protein.
So I make these protein balls quite frequently because they are a super handy snack to have on hand for her.
If you have someone in your home who has a hypersensitivity to gluten, you may want to use the oats that are labeled as gluten-free. Oats are naturally gluten-free but sometimes they will contain traces of gluten because of coming in contact with gluten at the mill.
Kids protein balls, Energy balls for kids
This easy Amish homemade protein ball recipe is a great one to go to if you're looking for ways to get more healthy fats and protein into your kids. They are so delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness. Your kids may even think they are getting a dessert.
And you will feel good knowing you gave them a healthy snack. So, it's a win-win, and everyone is happy!
Do Amish kids eat snacks?
As with everything else, Amish homes will vary greatly in most things like this, the same as the rest of the world. I'm sure that in some Amish homes the kids will probably get to eat more snacks, and maybe even more store-bought processed foods.
But, in our home, we did not get a lot of store-bought snacks. It was quite a treat if we got to eat chips, granola bars, or any other fancy snacks that some kids eat every day.
We were allowed to have a little snack when we came home from school. I know we had pretzels sometimes. But usually, our snack would be something like a dish of canned fruit, a homemade cookie, or bread.
Ingredients to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Balls
Oatmeal - you can use whatever kind you prefer. I often use a mixture of rolled and quick oats because I like the difference in texture it provides.
Peanut butter - This is a binding agent that is also full of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. You can use any kind of nut butter you prefer, although you will not want to use very dry butter. And if you have a nut allergy, you could even substitute it with seed butter. (Sometimes I use a mixture of creamy and chunky just because I like the nuts in there.)
Honey - is a natural, good-for-you sweetener. And it also helps the balls to stick together.
Unsweetened coconut flakes - add good flavor and nutrients.
Ground flaxseed - or whole seeds, if you prefer. Flaxseed is rich in fiber and high in heart-healthy Omega-3 fats.
Vanilla extract - for extra flavor.
Protein powder - this is optional if you don't have any protein on hand. But I would highly recommend adding the protein powder if possible. It just adds so much more energy-boosting protein to your diet. Some people like using whey protein, but I personally prefer a plant-based protein.
Difference in Protein Powder
I have tried numerous different brands and types of protein powder over the years. Some were ok, others I did not like the taste at all. It's one of those ingredients that can ruin the taste of your smoothie, protein balls, or whatever you are putting it in if it's no good.
So when I finally find something that I like, I tend to stick with it. And the plant-based Orgain creamy chocolate fudge Organic Protein is the one I really like to use for this recipe (although the vanilla one is good as well). It is vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. I think it's a great protein product.
Store your protein balls in the refrigerator. They taste better when they're chilled.
A cookie scoop might be nice for dipping out your balls, then you can just round them a bit with your hands.
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More Amish Snack Recipes
Amish Homemade Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 3/4 c. peanut butter
- 1/3 c. honey
- 1/2 scoop protein powder (1 oz.)
- 1 - 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 c. oatmeal
- 1/4 c. coconut flakes
- 1/2 c. ground flaxseed
- 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips or sliced almonds, if desired
Instructions
- Mix together peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and protein powder.3/4 c. peanut butter, 1/3 c. honey, 1 - 2 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 scoop protein powder (1 oz.)
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix.1 c. oatmeal, 1/4 c. coconut flakes, 1/2 c. ground flaxseed, 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips or sliced almonds, if desired
- Roll into about 1" balls.
- Refrigerate in a closed container for up to two weeks.
Darlene
Great recipe! I'm curious how much your 1/2 scoop of protein powder is exactly. Scoop sizes vary by brand, so that amount could make a large difference from one brand to another. I make a very similar recipe and have also found chia seeds make a healthy, tasty addition. I also like to add ground cinnamon, a splash of vanilla extract (about 1 tsp.), and occasionally Rice Krispies for a little crunchy texture. Even though they're called Protein "Balls," I find I prefer them scooped with a cookie scooper and not rolled afterwards. The little bit of added texture from the craggy edges of the dough makes them taste cookie-like.
Anna
Hmmm...for some reason I was assuming that all protein powders would have the same size scoop. Just now discovered that compared to another protein powder my son uses, mine is a (1 oz.) half-sized scoop. So technically I was only adding 1/4 scoop. I'm going to make them again right now, and add a full (1/2 sized) scoop and see how much difference it makes. I'll adjust the recipe accordingly.