pixy's mean clean recipes

protein balls.

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awwww.  isn’t that cute?  a sexy closeup of my first attempt at protein balls.  which, if you ask me, need a new name.  i don’t put that nasty protein powder in them ~ i just use items that naturally have lots of protein and fiber, and other healthy ingredients to keep you satisfied and full longer.

i looked up some protein balls on the inter-webs, and then made my own up, and froze them individually.  they have really been a time saver in the mornings, when i’m trying to get out the door but need some energy right away.  i eat them for breakfast or a snack almost every day.

you can tweak these recipes however you like.  i just wanted to give you the general idea. honestly, i just wanted to get the general idea for myself.  i want to do more savory ones, and think outside the box a little more.  but first, let’s get the basics nailed down…

basic protein ball recipe

  • Difficulty: easy
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ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled
  • ½ cup gluten free oats, uncooked
  • ½ cup (or more) raw nuts
  • 1 cup dates
  • 4 T almond butter, sunbutter or peanut butter
  • agave nectar or honey to taste
  • ½ cup flax meal (not seed)
  • ½ cup chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

directions:

  1. combine ingredients in food processor and blitz.  
  2. scoop out onto parchment paper and flatten into a disc, wrapping the parchment paper over the dough.  refrigerate the disc for at least an hour.
  3. cut the disc into small squares and roll into balls.  


and here are the 2 variations i’ve made so far!  more to come ~ you can count on it!

dark chocolate peanut butter protein balls

  • Difficulty: easy
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ingredients:

  • 1 “basic protein balls” recipe ~ using peanut butter (use extra peanut butter if you like a super peanut buttery ball!)
  • add 3 T dark chocolate cocoa powder (good quality matters with this ingredient!)
  • dark chocolate chips (60% or more)
  • 2 T coconut oil
  • 1 T good vanilla
  • sliced raw almonds for coating
  • 1 T espresso (opt)

directions:

  1. combine ingredients in food processor and blitz.  
  2. scoop out onto parchment paper and flatten into a disc, wrapping the parchment paper over the dough.  refrigerate the disc for at least an hour.
  3. cut the disc into small squares and roll into balls.  
  4. coat with sliced almonds

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pumpkin pie protein balls

  • Difficulty: easy
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ingredients:

  • 1 “basic protein balls” recipe ~ using almond butter, or sunbutter
  • add 4 T (or more) pumpkin puree
  • 1 T good vanilla
  • use pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds) and walnuts or pecans
  • add pumpkin pie spice and fresh grated nutmeg
  • coconut sugar for dusting

directions:

  1. combine ingredients in food processor and blitz.  
  2. scoop out onto parchment paper and flatten into a disc, wrapping the parchment paper over the dough.  refrigerate the disc for at least an hour.
  3. cut the disc into small squares and roll into balls.  
  4. coat with coconut sugar.

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i have illusions of grandeur to invent a savory protein ball with broccoli in it.  kind of like a broccoli and cheese soup protein ball?  too weird?  gonna try that after my crazy week of performances is over.

which is in two days!  huzzah!

i have to thank the FOOD HEALS podcast for helping me through this week.  their emphasis on juicing has inspired me to juice more often, and i feel a lot stronger than i should feel right now, with this schedule i’m keeping.  thank you, southern cal juicing babes!

check them out!  http://foodhealsnation.com/

2 thoughts on “protein balls.”

  1. These look awesome! I wonder if the quinoa helps them hold together. I made peanut protein balls once and they did NOT stick, and my recipe was pretty similar but no quinoa…..

    Reply

    1. i think the quinoa must help. not sure. i’m not a grain person ~ i just don’t digest it well. but i used it anyway and they are continuing to SAVE my life every morning after the gym!!! or sometimes i just take them out of the freezer and throw them in the car for a shopping spree and i don’t break down and eat crap on the road. good stuff!

      Reply

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