My healthy, plant-based Crunchy Raw Protein Balls recipe is so easy to make with only 8 clean, real food ingredients. It's a no-bake energy ball with limitless topping options that's vegan and gluten-free and everyone will love!
Real Vegan Method™ Recipe
This recipe is part of the Real Vegan Method™...a simple step-by-step way to move beyond processed vegan foods and become a confident Real Food Vegan.
My easy Crunchy Raw Vegan Protein Energy Ball recipe is one of my top 3 favorite plant-based snacks because it is simple to make and has so much nutrition packed into each tiny little chocolate ball.
Crunchy Raw Protein Energy Balls
I'm especially excited to share these with you because they were one of the very first recipes I created when I first started eating raw foods to help with my sweet cravings.
They were a lifesaver for me because the organic raw vegan protein and organic coconut oil in them help to curb my appetite and keep me satisfied throughout the day.
You can make a batch of these chocolate peanut butter protein balls in advance and keep in the refrigerator when you need a quick snack or energy boost.
And, they're made with clean, real food ingredients and are plant-based, raw, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly, keto-friendly (only 5 net carbs each!), and contain no refined sugar.
"Feel good about what you eat..."
- Karielyn Tillman
How To Make This Recipe
Step-By-Step Instructions
You'll love how easy it is to make these plant-based protein balls, and I'll show you how with step-by-step instruction below!
Step 1: Gather All Your Ingredients
Firstly, before getting started, measure and gather all your ingredients and get your food processor ready.
Step 2: Add All Ingredients to Your Food Processor
Secondly, add all the ingredients into the food processor and process everything together until it has a thick dough-type consistency.
The mixture should be thick and firm enough to roll into a ball shape.
Depending on the consistency of the nut butter you use, the mixture may not be firm enough.
If so, just add a little extra almond flour, about a teaspoon at a time, to the mixture until it firms up enough.
Step 3: Roll The Mixture into a Ball Shape
Thirdly, once you've made the energy ball mixture, now it's time to roll them into a ball shape.
Take out about a tablespoon at a time, squeeze the mixture in your fist, then roll it between the palms of your hand to form a ball shape.
Place your balls on a plate or a small cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Next, you can enjoy the protein balls plain or dress them up by rolling them in your favorite healthy topping (see below for some ideas!).
Transfer the balls to the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes to firm.
Step 4: Storage
Lastly, store them in an air-tight BPA-free container in the refrigerator to enjoy a healthy snack during the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Kind of Plant-Based Toppings Can I Use?
I'm so glad you asked!
These are great to just leave plain if you're in a hurry or will just snack on them during the day.
But you could also dress them up for the holidays or a special occasion by rolling them in a variety of different plant-based toppings.
There are no right or wrong toppings to use for this recipe - just whatever you have on hand, or whatever ingredients are your favorite.
Some of the toppings I like to use are:
- Crushed Walnuts
- Cacao Powder
- Sesame Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Hemp Seeds
- Shredded Coconut Flakes
Be creative!
But most of all, enjoy them...they are good for you and guilt-free.
Karielyn's Expert Tips + Substitutions
Protein Powder. I've used both the Sprout Living Epic Lucuma Vanilla protein (which is organic, raw and vegan) and the Garden of Life Organic "Raw Meal Protein" (which is also organic, raw and vegan), but feel free to use your favorite vanilla vegan protein powder. I use the scoop that comes inside the container, which is considered to be "one serving" and is equal to (4) regular tablespoons. So if you use a different brand of protein powder, just make sure you use (4) tablespoons and not the scoop it comes with. Also, they may taste a little different depending on what protein powder you use and the sweetener it contains.
Liquid Sweetener. You can use your favorite liquid sweetener like organic maple syrup, organic date nectar, organic coconut nectar, etc. This is what 'holds" everything together. Just start with about (2) tablespoons of sweetener and stir everything together until it gets to a paste-like consistency that will hold a ball shape. You can add an extra tablespoon if you need to. I don't like too much sweetness in mine, so I only use enough to hold them together, not for the "sweetness".
Nut Butter. You can use the nut butter of your choice in this recipe. I have used organic almond butter and even organic peanut butter and both were good. Another great nut-free option is organic sunflower butter.
Toppings: Feel free to enjoy them plain or roll them in your favorite plant-based topping.
Struggling To Eat Vegan Without Relying on Processed Ingredients?
If you rely on packaged vegan food and ingredients or feel overwhelmed trying to eat healthier, this recipe shows how easy real food vegan meals can be...without sacrificing flavor or comfort.
The Method Behind All My Recipes
If you love clean, real food vegan recipes like this one, you'll love the method behind them.
The Real Vegan Method™ 14-Day Reset helps you:
- Move beyond processed vegan substitutes
- Cook with clean, real food ingredients
- Make plant-based eating simple + consistent
All my recipes - including this one- are based on the Real Vegan Method™.
Healthy No-Bake Crunchy Raw Vegan Protein Energy Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- 4 tablespoons organic raw vegan protein powder*
- ½ cup organic nut butter
- ¼ cup organic sesame seeds
- ¼ cup organic chia seeds
- ¼ cup organic raw cacao powder
- 2 - 3 tablespoons organic maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until everything is well combined and in a crumbly, paste-type consistency.
- Scoop out a small spoonful at a time and squeeze tightly in the palm of your hands, then roll them into a small ball shape.
- Optional: Roll the plain balls in organic sesame seeds, organic cacao nibs, organic shredded coconut flakes, organic raw cacao powder, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia seeds, etc.
- Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight BPA-free container and they will become firmer.
Recipe Notes
- Garden of Life Vanilla Raw Organic Meal Replacement - 1 scoop = 2 tablespoons
- Sprout Living Epic Plant-Based Protein Vanilla Lucuma - 1 scoop = 1 tablespoon
Nutrition Information
Copyright Notice
The instructions, notes, and photographs for this recipe by Karielyn Tillman of The Healthy Family and Home™ website are copyrighted material. This copyrighted work is protected and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives 4.0 International License and the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) and cannot be legally used without my written permission.
More Healthy Gluten-Free Vegan Energy Ball Recipes
- Dried Blueberry Protein Energy Balls
- Triple Seed Energy Balls
- Crispy Cashew Butter Energy Balls
- or my Real Vegan Method™ 14-Day Reset with 42 plant-based vegan + gluten-free recipes made with clean, real food ingredients just like this one that you will love!
Emilia says
These were so easy to make and I love that I can eat them throughout the week. I used a different protein powder but they were still good. Thanks for the recipe
Karielyn Tillman says
Hi Emilia! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe even with a different protein powder! Thank you for trying out my recipe and for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it, I sincerely appreciate it. Karielyn 🙂
Dace says
Hello! I apologize if I didn’t see a response earlier, but what I can substitute instead of almond flour? I am alerting to almonds and almond meal. Thank you so much. Looking forward to trying this recipe.
Karielyn says
Hi there Dace! I've never tested this, but you could try substituting extra protein powder for the almond flour, or coconut flour or oat flour. I would start adding in 1/4 cup increments instead of a full 1 cup and only use as much as you need to help the balls hold together.
If you use coconut flour, I would even cut that back to 1/8 cup total (definitely don't use an entire 1 cup of coconut flour - it is not a 1:1 substitution for almond flour and will make the balls too dry and dense).
You may find you don't need an entire cup substitution for the almond flour and can even add a couple of extra medjool dates which will help bind the other ingredients together.
Thanks for the question and I hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
Sienna says
Hi is there any way of removing the coconut oil and adding something else so they will keep their shape at room temperture.
Karielyn says
Hi there Sienna! I haven't tried this, but if I were to try to substitute the coconut oil, I would replace it with extra medjool dates, because they would hold the balls together well, like in this recipe: https://thehealthyfamilyandhome.com/pecan-pie-truffles/
You may want to start with the Pecan Pie Truffle recipe as a base then add the protein powder and other ingredients from the Crunchy Raw Protein Balls to it.
Thanks for your question and I hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
Leita Brown says
i would like to know the approximate calorie count in your chcolate balls. They are yummy but I am on a strict diet and need the calorie count.
Thanks, love your website!
Karielyn says
Hi there Leita! I'm sorry, but I haven't calculated the nutritional data for this recipe, but you can use a free website like Fitday or MyFitnessPal. Simply add in all of the ingredients into the nutrition calculator, and divide by the number of servings.
Thanks for the question and I hope that helps 🙂
maarib says
OMG I just made them and ate them straight out of the food processor, it taste amazing so peanut buttery and it melts in the mouth, I would defiantly share it with my family
Karielyn says
Hi there Maarib! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed them! And don't worry...I eat them straight out the food processor too lol!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe and for taking the time to let me know you liked them...I really appreciate it 😉
Kerrie says
Hi Karielyn,
These look so delicious - can't wait to try them out! Quick question, is almond flour the same as almond meal? Sorry for the silly question :-p Thanks!
Karielyn says
Hi there Kerrie! Not a silly question at all 😉 Yes, for this recipe, almond flour would work the same as almond meal.
Thanks for the question and I hope you enjoy the recipe 😉
Kate says
Hi there - these look delicious, what could I substitute for the peanut butter as we have a fussy eater that I am trying to encourage to eat protein in some form (and disguising it in chocolate may work) but she won't eat any kind of peanut or nut butter. Thanks!
Karielyn says
Hi there Kate! Hmmm...I would try to substitute with dates...large, pitted organic medjool dates. I would probably start with 4 and see if they will bind the balls together and if not, add another 4. Since you would be adding an extra sweetener with the dates, I would omit the maple syrup.
Dates are a good binder in "ball/truffle" recipes so I'm thinking that would work too.
Thanks for the question and I hope you are able to make the recipe so everyone at home can enjoy them 😉
Jasmine says
Do you know roughly how long these will keep for? And if they should be kept in the refrigerator or in the pantry?
Karielyn says
Hi there Jasmine! They should keep for at least a couple of weeks (although mine never last that long lol!) in the refrigerator or freezer. Just make sure you put them in an air-tight glass or BPA-free container.
And I wouldn't keep them in the pantry because of the coconut oil...they will get soft and lose their shape if left out at room temperature.
Thanks for your question and I hope you enjoy them 😉
Camilla says
Hi there , I have just made your raw protein balls but they are so soft. I have left them in the fridge for a while but still very soft and not holding the shape together. What have I done wrong?
Karielyn says
Hi there Camilla! Let's see if we can figure this out...
1. Did your mixture in the food processor have the same consistency as in the second photo? It should be a little course and crumbly but not soft. If not...
2. Did you use the Garden of Life Raw Protein Powder? If you didn't, did you use (4) tablespoons of your favorite brand? The scoop sizes in different protein powders are not the same size so if you only used (1) scoop of a different protein powder other than the Garden of Life brand, you may have not had enough protein powder. If this is the case, make sure you have a total of (1) scoop of Garden of Life Raw Protein OR (4) tablespoons of your favorite protein powder.
3. If the first two ideas don't work, I would try these suggestions: a) add 1 - 2 extra tablespoons of liquid sweetener (maple syrup, raw honey {non-vegan} and/or add 2 - 3 large medjool dates (pitted), b) add 1 - 2 tablespoons of extra almond flour until the consistency thickens a little c) add 1 extra tablespoon of coconut oil.
They will get a little firmer after being in the refrigerator so maybe after you make one of these adjustments they will be a little firmer. They should be firm enough to roll into whatever toppings you want to use.
Try the suggestions in #3 and try to get the consistency like photo #2 in the food processor.
Let me know if any of these idea help...I really want you to be able to enjoy them 😉
meg says
I just made these without the protein powder or chia and added hemp seeds and used half almond meal and half hazelnut meal and coconut butter. I am so happy these don't have dates in them! They are so delicious and a fabulous treat!
Karielyn says
Hi there Meg! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed them and just love the substitutions you made, especially the hazelnut meal!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe and for taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it...I really appreciate it 😉
Lynn says
Thank you for sharing the receipt. How long will these protein balls last after making them? Should it be stored in the fridge, or room temperature in a bag or some sort?
Karielyn says
Hi there Lynn! If you put them in an air-tight (preferably glass or BPA-free) container in the refrigerator they should last a week or longer (mine never do though lol!) and you could even freeze them for later too.
If you leave them out at room temperature, they will get soft and lose their shape because of the coconut oil.
Thanks for your question and I hope you enjoy them 😉
Jennifer says
Made these last night and they are delicious!! I rolled mine in chia, sesame, ground chia, cocoa powder, coconut and hemp.
Karielyn says
Hi there Jennifer! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed them and I love the different varieties of superfoods you rolled them in...that's my favorite part about them is what to roll them in!
Thanks for trying out the recipe and for taking the time to let me know you liked it 😉
Heather says
Thank you! These are great! this has been on my list of "learn how to make" since overpaying for something similar at the grocery store. I really enjoy your recipes, keep up the great blog!
Karielyn says
Hi there Heather! You sound just like me...I just can't pay $5.oo+ for a little bag of raw kale chips or a raw treat like these, so I just make them myself. Especially when they are so easy to make!
Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it 😉
Ruth says
Ok will try that out. Tnks
Karielyn says
Hi Ruth! Hope you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try! 😉
Ruth says
Hi Karielyn... amazing snacks ...i did them again last week...for the third week in a row 🙂 i have a question tho : Can i substitute the Almond flour with plain flour? (i have the plain non gluten at home). Or maybe i can substitute with any other flour?
Thanks for sharing these lovely recipes.
Ruth
Karielyn says
Hi there Ruth! I'm so glad to hear that you like them!
I've never made them with a plain flour, but I'm thinking it might work. You could also try some neutral flours like oat, cashew or other nut flour.
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe and I hope one of those will work out 😉
Ruth says
Hi, i tried these and they turned out to be delicious
Karielyn says
Hi there Ruth! I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed the recipe!
Thanks so much for trying it out and for taking the time to let me know you liked them, I really appreciate it 😉
Lana M says
Thank you so much for your response. I made these and they were delicious! Yes, I used extra almond flour and they turned out great! thank you so much for such wonderful recipes.
Karielyn says
Hi there Lana! Thanks for coming back and letting me know that the extra almond flour worked out...and that you enjoyed them too, I really appreciate it! 😉
Lana M says
Hi, I would love to make these but not sure what I can use to replace raw protein. I dont usually buy this kind of powder. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you so much.
Karielyn says
Hi there Lana! I added the raw protein to give them extra nutrition, but you can make them without it if you don't have any. You may need to adjust/add an extra 2-4 tablespoons or so of almond flour as a replacement.
If you'd still like to add the protein powder, you don't have to get a "raw" version, it's just what I prefer. You can you any protein powder you like or have access to.
This is a really easy and versatile recipe that I just kind of threw together but ended up falling in love with it. Feel free to use or add whatever you have on hand.
Thanks for your question and I hope you enjoy them, they're really good 😉
Deborah says
Hi I was wondering roughly how many grams of protein per ball? Many thanks 🙂
Karielyn says
Hi Deborah! I found a recipe nutrition calculator online and based on this recipe making approximately 20 balls, it showed the amount of protein to be roughly 4.3 g per ball.
Thanks so much for your question and I hope you enjoy them if you give them a try 😉
JD says
MMMM, these are delicious but you should try them with chlorella and/or spirulina! I think the next batch will have barley grass or wheat grass powder added. Oh yeah, try adding cinnamon, coconut flakes & hemp seeds also.
Karielyn says
Hi JD! Thanks and good call on the chlorella and spirulina! Sometimes I'll add other things like maca powder, a little hemp oil, hemp seeds and even probiotics.
But I love the chlorella, spirulina and wheatgrass...talk about kick up the nutrition!
And thanks so much for the tip on using sesame seed flour...I do get a lot of questions on substitutions so that helps a lot.
Thanks again and I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe 😉
JD says
Also, didn't use almond flour as the base, used sesame seeds instead. So, anyone allergic to peanuts & other tree nuts even coconut could just use sunflower or sesame seeds.
Karielyn says
Thanks for the tip JD 😉
Alisha says
Do you have any suggestions for a different flour? My son is severely allergic to peanuts and tree nuts and also coconut. Thanks!!
Karielyn says
Hi Alisha! I haven't tried this before, but maybe you could try oat flour or some sunflower seed powder.
I hope one of the two work because these would be really nutritious snacks for your son, my two boys love them.
Thanks for your question 😉
Whitney says
These look great. Do you know if I could substitute whey protein isolate for the protein powder? not sure if the consistency is the same and how that might impact the texture/consistency of the ball. Thanks!
Karielyn says
Hi Whitney! I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the whey protein isolate but if it is in a powder form like the raw protein powder, it should do just fine since these are "raw" balls and not being cooked.
I added the protein powder to give them extra nutrition because I like to squeeze in as much nutrition as I can into whatever I'm eating, but you could always leave out the protein powder (just increase the almond flour to compensate).
Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to hear back from you if the whey protein isolate worked 😉
Whitney says
OMG - These were awesome! I wasn't sure what they'd taste like - but chocolate peanut butter awesomeness best describes it. I modified it with the Now Whey Protien Isolate and instead of straight Chia seeds I used the Spectrum Essentials Decadent Blend Chia & Flax Seed W/Coconut & Cocoa mix.
I felt so sinfully awesome as I ate them - I had to calculate the nutritional info from SparkPeople.
(If you want me to change the settings so its not public Karielyn, let me know - but I gave you all the credit.)
Karielyn says
Hi Whitney! Yay! I'm so glad you liked them and I really appreciate you taking the time to post all the data on sparkpeople, that was awesome!
I am a ~big~ fan of hemp seeds and can't believe it never crossed my mind to roll them in hemp seeds...that's a great idea and I will definitely do that next time I make them.
I love trying to squeeze in as many nutrients as I can when I make something and the hemp seeds will do just that.
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe and taking the time to leave feedback 😉
Rex Pechler says
Use dates! I buy Organic Date Paste in bulk specifically for making balls like this with raw organic coconut flakes. Last week I make something just like this with also Cocoa powder and Hemp seeds + Cinnamon and also Carob. Tasty!! Thanks for the other flavor ideas, and alternative sweeteners in case I can't secure Dates which usually make this a whole food treat for me.
Karielyn says
Hi Rex! I've never bought date paste before but that is a great idea! Some cacao, hemp seeds and dates...oh yes, you are talking my language now! lol I would actually prefer to use dates as a sweetener, so I'm going to find me some date paste and try that out next time. Thanks for the tip 🙂
Maggie Smith says
Hi Karielyn, I wanted to tell you that when I make these kind of ball recipes I always just use whole dates. It's a cinch to slice it open and take out the pit, and then they just blend up into the rest of the ingredients in the food processor. No need to find pre-made date paste. I imagine it's less expensive too just using the whole dates. Anyway, that's my 2 cents into the ball conversation. Hope it's helpful for you or someone! Be well.
Karielyn says
Hi there Maggie! Thanks for that tip! This is one of my older recipes and I have actually started using dates in a lot of my ball recipes now.
In fact, in my new cookbook (hopefully being finished soon) I have an entire section just for "balls" and several of them use dates as the sweetener/binder.
Thank you so much for sharing that idea and I bet they would be good in this recipe too 😉
Melita says
Hi,
I just wanted to know how many balls this makes and how many calories per ball??
Karielyn says
Hi Melita! This recipe makes approximately 16 small sized balls.
I'm sorry...I don't know how many calories are in each ball and here's why. When I ate the SAD (standard american diet), I ~always~ counted calories of every crumb that went into my mouth. And to no avail - I could never lose weight. It wasn't until I started juicing and eating raw foods then eliminating grains and processed foods that I finally started losing weight.
During a short period (40 days) when I ate 100% raw, I ate ~whatever~ I wanted, whenever I wanted and lost 13 pounds. Once my body started getting nutrient-dense, live foods with high-quality fats the weight just started falling off. For me and my body, when I eat the right foods, calories just don't matter.
That being said, I wouldn't eat all 16 balls at one time! (lol) I usually make a batch and grab one in the morning, another in the afternoon and maybe another in the evening. Because they are high in protein, they keep me full and satisfied longer and I don't have cravings like I used to. That's why I love these so much! Thanks for visiting 🙂
zosia says
Because we all use different types of protein powder, "scoop" doesn't help. How many grams would a scoop of your protein powder be?
Thanks.
Karielyn says
Hi! Excellent question...and you are correct, every powder supplement I use has a different size scoop! In this recipe, I'm using the scoop that comes inside the container of Raw Protein. One "scoop" of the Garden of Life Raw Protein is considered "one serving" and is approximately 4 tablespoons. I measured it out in regular tablespoons to make sure. That's how much I use when I make the Crunchy Raw Protein Balls and use the Garden of Life Raw Protein powder. If you use another brand of protein powder, I would just use the equivalent of "one serving" amount. Thanks and I'll make that clarification on the recipe 🙂