With only 6 ingredients, these Chocolate Protein Balls are a great option if you like a protein-rich snack, but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. 

They are gluten-free, vegan and are totally delicious! They also have about 8.5g of protein per ball, so a great little extra punch of protein when you need it. 

Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Protein Balls:

✅ Only 6 Ingredients – No complicated list of ingredients!
✅ Vegan & Dairy-Free – Perfect for plant-based diets.
✅ No Bake – Easy to make in minutes.
✅ Healthy & Nutritious – Full of natural whole food ingredients.
✅ Customisable – Coat in chocolate or have without – it’s up to you!

How to make these chocolate protein balls?

Add almond flour, protein powder, cacao powder, almond butter and almond milk to a mixing bowl. Using a spatula, mix the ingredients together until fully combined. The mixture should be soft and sticky and hold together really well. If it seems dry, add a little more almond milk and mix again.

You can also add some maple syrup instead of the almond milk, if you prefer your balls to be sweeter. This is optional. 

Roll the mixture into 12 balls and refrigerate whilst you melt the chocolate. 

Add the dark chocolate to a bowl and melt over a pan of hot water. Dip each ball in the melted chocolate. Refrigerate to set the chocolate. 

I like to add a little topping to each one – you can add in chopped nuts or some freeze-dried fruit (which I’ve done here).

The freeze-dried raspberries are particularly fun if you want a high protein Valentine’s Day idea!

Why to use an unflavoured protein powder

Many flavoured protein powders can contain lots of extra ingredients to make them taste more palatable. Artificial flavourings are a good example. Make sure you check the ingredients if you are tempted to try one. Otherwise, stick to unflavoured and add in extras such as vanilla or cacao powder if you want them to taste different.

Are protein balls good for you?

My homemade protein bars and balls are definitely nutritious! I’ve laid out the benefits of the main ingredients below.

I think many of the store-bought bars and balls are ok too, but I think by making yourself you can be sure of the ingredients, and you can also customise to your own tastes. For example, you can add more or less sweeteners or use a better-quality chocolate coating.

Making high protein snacks is always a great way to to up your protein levels if you aren’t getting enough protein during the day.

What ingredients do you need to make chocolate protein balls?

• Almond flour (ground almonds in the UK)
• Protein powder 
• Almond butter 
• Cacao powder
• Almond milk
• Optional: 1-2 tbsp maple syrup or replace with more almond milk
• Plus dark chocolate to coat

Almond flour

Adding almond flour to the balls, as well as protein powder, ups the protein even further. They give the balls a great texture too. Almonds are a good source of vitamin E. 

Protein powder

I use an organic unflavoured pea protein for these balls. However, use whichever protein powder you like. I preferred the unflavoured ones as they are cleaner and then I can add my own flavourings. 

Almond butter

You can use any nut butter here. I like almond for flavour and for nutrition. Using almond butter helps the balls stick together without using regular butter or extra fats and oils. It’s an excellent source of healthy fats, particularly monounsaturated fats. Almond butter is also rich in vitamin E as well as being a good source of fibre and protein.

Cacao powder

The lovely chocolatey flavour in the centre of these balls comes from raw cacao powder. It is a great source of antioxidants (and unlike more processed cocoa powder, cacao retains its natural antioxidants). Cacao also contains iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Almond milk

You can add any milk to bring the mixture together. I like to use almond as it complements the taste of the other almond ingredients. 

Dark chocolate

I also opt for a dark chocolate that has minimal sugar and at least 70% cocoa solids. It’s a good source of antioxidants and contains minerals such as iron, magnesium, and copper. 

Storage Tips

These chocolate protein balls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. 

If you want to store them for a longer period, you can freeze them. They’ll last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Recipe Tips:

Chocolate layer: I only add a very thin chocolate layer to these balls. So just coat them in a thin layer of chocolate and let the chocolate run off before placing on your plate to set. 

Up the protein: You can up the protein even further by swapping out some of the almond flour for more of the protein powder. 

Can I make these without protein powder? Yes! Simply replace the protein powder with almond flour but be aware the nutritional value with definitely change.  

What’s the best protein powder to use? I always use a plant-based protein powder with a smooth texture that’s unsweetened. I usually use a pea protein for sweeter treats as it has less of a distinct flavour than hemp.

If you liked these Chocolate Protein Balls, here are some other recipes you may like:

Chocolate Protein Pudding

Easy Protein Bars

High Protein Green Smoothie Bowl

High Protein Smoothie

Cookie Dough Protein Bars