Published: Apr 4, 2023 by Carolyn

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

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These delicious Peanut Butter Protein Balls give you a quick energy boost any time you need it. With 12g of protein and only 3.8g carbs per serving, this keto friendly snack helps you stay focused on your day.

A bowl of peanut butter protein balls with a bite taken out of one in front.

In keeping with my promise to bring you more low carb high protein recipes, I present to you these delicious and ridiculously easy Peanut Butter Protein Balls. I have been munching on these daily for the past few weeks. And I don’t plan to stop any time soon!

These really are the ultimate easy keto snack idea. They require no special equipment and no baking. Just you, your ingredients, and a good silicone spatula. And they pack a significant protein punch, with plenty of healthy fats too.

These keto protein balls are great any time of day. I like to grab a few before I work out in the mornings. But they can be breakfast, snack, or even dessert.

Top down image of a bowl of keto protein balls with mini chocolate chips.

Keto Protein Bombs!

Remember the days of the fat bomb? Well, I am calling these Protein Bombs, and they are my new snack of choice. I am coining a new term for the keto diet. You with me?

Gone are the days when I eat fat with abandon. As an aging but active woman, I find my protein needs are much higher than they used to be. And eating fat simply for the sake of eating fat no longer sits well with me.

Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t advocate for low fat. I eat plenty of fats, both from animal and plant sources. But I no longer make it the focus of my snacks and meals every day. And I feel far healthier and more energetic with a higher protein focus.

I have so many followers and readers finding the same these days. If you’re stalling on keto with a high fat focus, try increasing your protein and lowering the fat a little.

And grab some Keto Protein Balls to keep you on track!

Ingredients you need

Top down image of the ingredients needed for peanut butter protein balls.

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Peanut butter: Use a natural creamy peanut butter. If it’s the kind that separates and has a lot of oil at the top, mix it in well. Other nut butters, like almond butter, will also work.
Protein powder: I recommend a protein isolate like this Grassfed whey from Opportuniteas, as it will give you a higher protein count. See expert tips for more protein options.
Sweetener: Powdered sweeteners like Swerve Confectioners work best, so they don’t get gritty. Check out the expert tips for more sweetener options.
Almond flour: You do need some flour to add bulk and create a dough. But it doesn’t have to be almond flour. You can use a few tablespoons of peanut flour or coconut flour too.
Hemp seeds: Hemp seeds have a surprising amount of protein and add a nutty crunch to the protein balls. But this ingredient is entirely optional.
Chocolate chips: Mini chocolate chips, like the ones from The People’s Keto, work best in these balls. But ChocZero chips are on the small side as well.
Pantry staples: Butter or oil, vanilla extract, salt.

Step by Step Directions

A collage of four images showing how to make Peanut Butter Protein Balls.

Peanut Butter Protein Balls couldn’t be easier to make! Check it out:

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt the peanut butter with the butter until it can be stirred together.
Add the protein powder, sweetener, almond flour, hemp seeds, and vanilla extract. Mix until a cohesive dough forms and you can roll into firm balls
Stir in the chocolate chips until well distributed.
Roll into balls about 1 inch in diameter. You should get 20 balls. Refrigerate until firm.

Expert Tips

You have a lot of choices for these keto protein balls, so you can customize and adjust as you see fit. You can use other nut or seed butters and different kinds of protein. And you can sweeten them more or less, according to your tastes.

If your dough is too stiff and won’t hold together, add a bit more oil. If the dough is too goopy and you can’t roll it into balls, work in a bit more flour.

Protein Options

Whey protein: I like a whey protein isolate as it has a higher protein content and a lower carb count. You can use vanilla or unflavored. If using vanilla, you may want to reduce the sweetener and the added vanilla extract.
Egg white protein powder: I find that plain egg white protein gives these protein balls a funny flavor. So if you want to use it, go for the vanilla variety and reduce sweetener and vanilla accordingly.
Plant protein: Pea protein, hemp protein, and other plant based protein powders should also work well here. Make sure they don’t have a greenish tinge as some do.
Collagen protein: You can also use collagen protein (aka collagen peptides) but it has a different consistency in recipes like this. So you will likely have to add additional flour to firm up the dough.

Sweetener Options

You can use your preferred sweetener for these Peanut Butter Protein Balls, but you may need to make some adjustments to get the correct consistency.

Confectioner’s style powdered sweeteners add bulk without grittiness, so they are my preference. But it can be erythritol, allulose, or BochaSweet. I don’t recommend granular sweeteners as they just won’t mix in well enough.

Concentrated extracts like stevia and monk fruit also work, but they don’t add any bulk and you may need to add some additional flour. Liquid allulose will throw off the liquid/dry balance, so you would need to add more flour there as well.

Top down image of a pile of keto peanut butter protein balls with a bite taken out of one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of peanut butter protein balls?

These protein bombs, as I call them, have a number of advantages. They are easy to make and extremely portable for on-the-go snacks. And they are an excellent source of energy, with the ideal combination of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. They keep you full and satisfied for whatever the day throws your way!

How many carbs are in protein balls?

This recipe for peanut butter protein balls has 6.8g of carbs and 3g of fiber. The net carb count comes to 3.8g for 2 balls.

How do you store Keto Protein Balls

Store the balls in a covered container on the counter for up to 5 days, or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. They can also be frozen for several months.

Close up shot of a hand holding a keto protein ball with a bite taken out of it.

More high protein recipes

Peanut Butter Protein Balls Recipe

These delicious Peanut Butter Protein Balls give you a quick energy boost any time you need it. With 12g of protein and only 3.8g carbs per serving, they help you stay focused on your day.

4.84 from 24 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: peanut butter protein balls

Prep Time: 15

Total Time: 15

Servings: servings

Calories: 192kcal

Ingredients

⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoon butter or oil (avocado or coconut oil)
¾ cup whey protein isolate unflavored or vanilla
⅓ cup Swerve Confectioners See blog post for options
¼ cup almond flour
2 tablespoon hemp seeds (optional)
⅛ teaspoon salt (if peanut butter is unsalted)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (less if using vanilla protein)
¼ cup mini keto chocolate chips (optional)

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt the peanut butter with the butter until it can be stirred together.
Add the protein powder, sweetener, almond flour, hemp seeds, and vanilla extract. Mix until a cohesive dough forms and you can roll into firm balls (see notes for any adjustments).
Stir in the chocolate chips until well distributed.
Roll into balls about 1 inch in diameter. You should get 20 balls. Refrigerate until firm.

Video

Notes

Depending on the choice of nut butter and protein powder, the consistency of the dough may differ. But it’s easy to adjust it as needed. If your dough is too stiff and won’t hold together, add a bit more oil. If the dough is too goopy and you can’t roll it into balls, work in a bit more flour.

Storage Information: Store the balls in a covered container on the counter for up to 5 days, or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. They can also be frozen for several months.

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter Protein Balls Recipe

Amount Per Serving (2 balls)

Calories 192 Calories from Fat 131

% Daily Value*

Fat 14.6g22%

Carbohydrates 6.8g2%

Fiber 3g12%

Protein 12.1g24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

4.84 from 24 votes (13 ratings without comment)

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Keto Protein Bombs!

Ingredients you need

Step by Step Directions