No food processor paleo protein balls; yep that’s right, just one bowl to mix it all together, roll and you’re done! Combining nut butter, coconut, hemp seeds, a little honey and your favourite protein powder. The perfect healthy sweet snack! Gluten and grain free.
I went back to school last week (to pick up studying my Bachelor of Health Science, yay!) and my lunch box was crying out for some healthy home made snacks. Sure I had the obligatory raw nuts and carrot sticks, but there needed to be something a little more exciting in there. Let me tell you, after 8 hours of classes, you need some excitement! My lunch box needed no food processor paleo protein balls.
Since my first version of no food processor protein balls topped the list of the most popular blog recipes in 2017, I figured you guys might like the recipe for these too 🙂 It’s easy to see why recipes like this are so appealing. Just one bowl to mix it up, no fancy equipment. And they offer a solution to that most pesky, always-nagging-hungry time, the 3pm slump! One or two of these little bites with a nice cup of tea is just right.
When I first started making quick-mix protein balls, I used a base of oats. However, lately oats haven’t been agreeing with me. I’m not certain if that’s because I can’t find certified gluten free oats in Australia, or because oats of any variety have started to cause irritation both of my digestion and my skin. Since giving up oats (which makes me very sad! they’re nutritious + awesome) I have noticed an improvement, so I’m going to stick with it for now.
This recipe uses crunchy nut butter, hemp seeds and coconut to create a yummy protein ball base with a nice texture. Yay for hemp now being a legal edible foodstuff in Australia! If you can’t track them down easily, almond meal/flour can be used instead. I’ve been buying all my protein ball ingredients from a bulk foods store (I love The Source Bulk Foods – this is not a sponsored post) which means I can buy just as much as I need. Economical and easy.
Make these no food processor paleo protein balls your new easy afternoon treat!
No Food Processor Paleo Protein Balls
No food processor paleo protein balls! Just one bowl to mix it all together, roll and you're done! Combining nut butter, coconut, hemp seeds, a little honey and your favourite protein powder. The perfect healthy sweet snack! Grain free, gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashew butter - I like to use crunchy cashew butter
- 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup protein powder of choice e.g. whey protein, or vegan protein like hemp or pea. Use unflavoured or a light flavour like vanilla or mild chocolate
- 1/3 cup hemp seeds
- 1/3 cup desiccated coconut
For coating the protein balls
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut extra
Instructions
Combine cashew butter and honey in a large mixing bowl.
Add the hemp seeds, desiccated coconut and 1/4 cup of protein powder. Start to stir the mixture together to form a crumbly, slightly sticky dough. Continue to add the remaining protein powder until you get the mixture to a consistency you can shape into balls.
Using your fingers, shape heaped tablespoons of the mixture into balls. Press firmly to get a nice solid shape. Roll in additional desiccated coconut if desired.
Place the balls in the fridge to firm up a little. Keep them stored in the fridge. They should last about two weeks; you can also freeze them and they'll keep well for 2-3 months.
Recipe Notes
*I have made these balls using crunchy cashew butter or crunchy almond butter. I find the crunchy nut pieces add a nice texture to the protein balls. If you use smooth nut butter, you may need to add a little extra hemp seed/desiccated coconut to help hold the balls together as there may be more liquid.
*Similarly, if you use maple syrup instead of honey you might need a little more of the dry ingredients too as I find maple syrup to be more runny.
*You can substitute almond meal/almond flour for the hemp seeds. I prefer the texture of hemp seeds!
*Please use a nice natural protein powder with no (or very few!) artificial ingredients. These are such a simple, healthy snack, keep them that way 🙂
Sara says
July 26, 2018 at 2:03 amWhat are the nutrition fatcs on your recepe balls, compared to the one with oats Inside?
Monique says
August 3, 2018 at 2:50 pmHi Sara, I don’t collect nutrition data for my recipes. Generally speaking the ones without oats will be lower in carbohydrate and higher in fat than the oat-based ones. 🙂 You can use an online analyser like Happy Forks to calculate it if you need specific info!
Tatiana says
January 25, 2018 at 5:57 pmI dont like oats in protein ball that much , so your recipe is just what i was looking for!
Monique says
January 25, 2018 at 9:57 pmSo great to hear Tatiana! It’s nice to mix it up and these protein balls work perfectly without oats in there 🙂
Leslie-Anne says
January 21, 2018 at 11:35 pmThese look great! Was hemp not a legal food item in Australia before?!
Monique says
January 22, 2018 at 10:22 amThanks so much! 🙂 No you couldn’t buy hemp as a food product until very recently – like last month! Some stores sold hemp but it always had to be labelled “strictly not for consumption” etc. LOL!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
January 20, 2018 at 5:50 amSuch yummy little bites! I love that these are packed with protein. I need to have snacks like this on hand.
Monique says
January 21, 2018 at 1:37 pmYou and me both! I’m such a snacker and these are perfect for powering me through a busy morning 🙂
Mira Richard-Fioramore says
January 19, 2018 at 11:14 pmThese look DELISH! I like that you added protein in them, am always lacking in that department!
Monique says
January 21, 2018 at 1:38 pmMe too 🙂 I’m good with protein in meals but it can be harder to make sure your snacks contain protein. These are an easy fix!
Yang says
January 19, 2018 at 8:43 amI have made protein balls with this ingredient combination – they are SOOOO good! The hemp hearts are such a bonus. My kids who would not eat any form of coconuts, would eat them hidden in the balls too. Winner! <3
Monique says
January 22, 2018 at 10:21 amAww thanks so much Yang! 🙂 Gosh I can’t believe your kids are not into coconut, I would have thought that would be a kid-friendly food!
Megan Stevens says
January 18, 2018 at 1:22 amMmm, the flavor of cashew butter and protein powder sounds like my kids would LOVE these! Such a good protein treat; thank you!
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:09 pmThank you so much Megan 🙂 Cashew butter is just one of those things that is always so lip-smackingly delicious! I can’t get enough!
Lindsey Dietz says
January 17, 2018 at 2:51 amHow exciting that those of us without food processors can enjoy such a special snack!
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:10 pmExactly! These are so easy to make and everyone can make healthy snacks!
Yvonne says
January 17, 2018 at 12:39 amGreat healthy snack idea for the kids.
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:11 pmThanks Yvonne 🙂
linda spiker says
January 16, 2018 at 11:12 amI love these little grab and go snacks!
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:11 pmMe too me too! haha. We always keep a bag of them in the fridge!
Joni Gomes says
January 16, 2018 at 7:53 amI need to make protein balls more often! Just bought desiccated coconut too.
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:12 pmYay Joni you definitely should! They’re such a good snack to keep in the house!
Tessa Simpson says
January 16, 2018 at 7:33 amYum!! Filling, nutrient dense, and ready to keep you going for hours! Love em! I use hemp hearts wherever I can!
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:15 pmAw, thanks so much Tessa!! 🙂 And nice to hear you love your hemp hearts too, they’re so yummy and I love the texture they add to these!
Jean says
January 16, 2018 at 6:04 amWhat a great recipe! Love protein balls when I’m in need of a quick snack.
Monique says
January 18, 2018 at 5:16 pmThank you so much Jean! We love our protein balls, quick to make and I love that you can keep them stocked away in the fridge or freezer for ages 🙂