Monster Protein Balls
Inspired by a delicious monster cookie these no bake monster protein balls are a higher protein spin on a classic sweet treat. Whole grain oats, creamy peanut butter, honey, protein powder and a sprinkle of M&M's and mini chocolate chips are all rolled into a protein ball you'll love having in your refrigerator.
One thing about me is that I love a good cookie. Maybe its the nostalgic memories of baking cookies with my mom growing up or maybe it’s that cookies can be made in so many different ways… to me, it doesn’t matter how you serve them, a fresh baked cookie is almost always a good idea.
But what if you want the flavors of a cookie but the protein for a snack? Those two wants inspired these tasty monster protein balls. Mimicking the flavors of a classic monster cookie but loaded with two scoops of protein powder, these easy no bake protein balls are the best of both worlds!
Whole grain oats and protein powder are held together with creamy peanut butter (or almond butter) and some honey. Sprinkle in some M&M’s, chocolate chips, and simply roll the dough into a ball and you have yourself an easy to make, healthy dessert or snack that is ready to enjoy all week long!
Let’s get to the recipe!
Why you’ll love these high protein oatmeal balls:
You’ll love the recipe for these easy monster protein balls because it is:
Protein rich:. Two scoops of vanilla protein powder and creamy peanut butter give this recipe 8 to 10 grams of protein per protein ball! Want more protein? Just add another scoop of protein powder.
Easy to make: This recipe only calls for 6 ingredients and is a no bake recipe that comes together in about 10 minutes. The most time consuming part is rolling your protein balls.
Full of whole grain oats: The base of this recipe is whole grain oats with are rich in soluble fiber that can keep you fuller for longer.
Can be made lower in calorie: This recipe contains a FULL cup of creamy peanut butter which makes them perfect for energy bites but higher in calorie than other oatmeal ball recipes. To lower the calories, try swapping the peanut butter for PBFit and water.
A healthy sweet treat: The m&m’s and mini chocolate chips add the perfect amount of sweetness to these monster cookie protein balls. You’ll love having these in your refrigerator for a snack or to enjoy as a high protein dessert at the end of the day.
You’re going to love this easy protein oatmeal ball recipe! Now let’s get into the six ingredients you will need to make it:
Ingredients you’ll need:
Protein balls are a great grab and go snack and typically don’t require alot of time or ingredients to prep them. For these monster protein balls you’ll need:
Old fashioned oats: You could also use quick oats if you prefer but I like to make oatmeal balls with the thicker old fashioned oats.
Creamy peanut butter: You can make these protein balls with almond butter as well. This not only holds your protein balls together but also adds satiating healthy fats and some protein as well. If you want a nut free protein ball recipe, try swapping this peanut butter out for tahini!
Honey: Or maple syrup. This will add some sweetness and also help your oatmeal balls stick together.
Vanilla protein powder: I used 100% gold standard whey protein powder for this recipe but you can use whatever brand and protein type you prefer! Do note that the brand of protein powder you use could change the protein content of the protein balls.
M&M’s: Mini or regular and can be added to taste.
Mini chocolate chips: I recommend using mini of at least the chocolate chips and/or the M&M’s to help your protein ball stick together better!
That’s all you’ll need!
Looking for more protein ball recipes? Try these biscoff protein balls!
Step by Step Instructions:
One of the best parts of making a protein ball recipe is that they only require one bowl and about 10 minutes of your time! Here’s how you’ll make these monster protein balls:
1) Add all of your ingredients to a medium mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
2) Take small sections of the dough and use your hands to roll it into a 2 inch ball, pressing the m&m’s and chocolate chips in to ensure they stick. Place your protein ball on a plate or baking sheet lined with parchment paper and repeat this process until you have rolled all of your dough into even sized bites.
4) Refrigerate your monster protein balls for at least 30 minutes to allow the protein bites to set. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator and enjoy throughout the week!
Swaps, substitutions, and serving suggestions:
I love having these monster protein balls on hand to enjoy as a sweet treat at the end of the day or as a grab and go energy bite while I’m running out the door. The best part? You can change up how you make these protein balls by:
Switching up your flavors: These monster protein balls are inspired by a monster cookie but you can swap out the candy for other options like simple chocolate chip, crushed Oreos, finely diced snickers, or other flavors you prefer.
Swapping the candy for nuts: Want to cut down on the sugar? Skip the m&m’s and chocolate chips all together and add in some crunchy walnuts or chopped pecans instead.
Using a different type of nut butter: I used peanut butter for this recipe but it could easily be made with walnut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter, and more.
Pulsing your oats: If you prefer a smoother bite for your oatmeal balls then you could try pulsing your oats into a smooth oat flour instead. You may need to add more oats since you will be losing volume as you pulse them but this will give you a smooth bite instead of a thicker oatmeal bite.
Using PBFit: This recipe does contain a full cup of peanut butter and, while it’s delicious, each protein ball is between 180-200 calories. If you want to keep the protein but lower the calorie count then you can swap out the peanut butter for PBFit instead.
And more! Make this recipe your own and tag me on instagram with any fun ideas you come up with!
Recipe FAQ:
How should I store these monster protein bites?
These can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Do I have to use peanut butter?
No, you can use any nut butter you like! I like peanut butter for a more traditional monster cookie flavor but you could make these protein balls with almond butter for an equally delicious bite.
If you want to make these protein balls nut free then you can try swapping the nut butters our for tahini instead.
Can I use unflavored collagen in my protein balls?
Absolutely! If you have unflavored collagen on hand, that will work perfectly in this recipe but I do recommend adding a dash of vanilla extract to your dough to better mimic the flavors of a monster cookie.
How many calories and how many grams of protein are there per monster protein ball?
Each monster protein ball has between 180-200 calories and 8-10 grams of protein. The exact amount will vary based on the protein powder you select and type of nut butter you use!
If you want to lower the calorie count then you can 1) swap the peanut butter for PBFit, 2) skip the honey, or 3) reduce the amount of candy that you add.
Other high protein dessert or snack recipes you will love:
Looking for other high protein recipes to enjoy as a healthy sweet treat or quick snack? I have a few on my blog that I think you will love:
Biscoff Protein Balls
Creamy Peanut Butter Cottage Cheese
Snickerdoodle Cottage Cheese Cookie Dough
High Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie
High Protein Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
Monster Protein Balls
Inspired by a delicious monster cookie these no bake monster protein balls are a high protein spin on a classic sweet treat. Whole grain oats, creamy peanut butter, honey, protein powder and a sprinkle of M&M's and mini chocolate chips are all rolled into a protein ball you'll love having in your refrigerator.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all of your ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir until well combined.
- Take a small piece of the dough and roll it into a 2 inch ball, pressing the M&M's and chocolate chips in to ensure they stick. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat until you have used all the dough and have evenly sized protein balls.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to help the protein balls hold their shape. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy throughout the week!
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Hey! I’m Lauren
I’m a Registered Dietitian and busy toddler mom committed to bringing you delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes!