Nutritious Almond Joy Protein Balls are naturally sweetened and combine delicious flavors of coconut, almond, and chocolate in bite-sized healthy snacks. Energy bites are perfect on the go or pop them in your mouth when the candy bar cravings hit!
Love high protein snacks? You’ll also love these homemade protein bars, peanut butter protein balls, and protein pancakes!
Table of contents
Almond Joy Energy Bites
Sink your teeth into one of these no bake healthy truffles and you’re in heaven!
The combination of chocolate, coconut, and almond is why I love an Almond Joy bar and why I wanted to make a protein ball recipe with the same flavors.
Healthy chocolate coconut balls and no bake protein balls check some boxes too and are equally as addicting energy bites!
I’m not going to lie and pretend that healthy Almond Joy energy balls taste exactly like a candy bar. I didn’t melt a pound of chocolate over coconut flakes, but they’re as close as you can get!
They’re sweetened naturally without any dried fruit which makes these bite-sized treats soft, moist, and melt-in-your-mouth. Not dense like most other protein balls!
These easy low carb Almond Joy protein balls are a pop in your mouth snack perfect for balancing those afternoon blood sugars or to enjoy as a dessert after dinner.
You could even include them as part of your healthy cookies for Christmas!
Ingredients
With clean, paleo friendly, naturally gluten free ingredients it’s hard not to reach for one of these bites every time you pass them; with less sugar and more protein these are practically guilt free!
- Almonds: Adds the nutty, crunchy element so use whole unblanched almonds.
- Protein powder: Use a plant based protein powder. Whey powder absorbs liquid differently so the texture would be different. I like to use Sunwarrior, although I use Orgain in no bake protein cookies.
- Cacao powder: Very similar to cocoa powder, but less processed. It contains more nutritional benefits, like antioxidants. They can be used interchangeably in this recipe.
- Stevia extract: Sweetener made from the stevia plant and has no calories. You could also replace it with monk fruit extract if you have some.
- Salt: Adding a bit of salt will enhance all of the other surrounding flavors and balance the sweetness.
- Coconut oil, melted: A good fat that will add moisture and help keep the balls intact once solidified.
- Honey or maple syrup: Either one will add a yummy taste and natural sweetness. Needed to counteract the bitter cacao!
- Coconut milk in a can: Light coconut milk, but not from a carton please!
- Vanilla extract: A delicious aromatic flavor enhancer that pairs well with chocolate, almonds, and coconut!
- Unsweetened coconut flakes: You’ll need some for inside the bites as well as to coat them. Maybe try toasting them first for a little extra something!
How to Make Almond Joy Protein Balls
In only 30 minutes or less, you can enjoy a warm almond joy energy bite! It’s the perfect chocolate treat after lunch or enjoy them cold when an afternoon energy slump hits.
- To the food processor, toss in the almonds, protein powder, cacao powder, stevia extract, and salt. Pulse until a fine powder forms. Leave it there for a second.
- In a small bowl, stir coconut oil, honey, coconut milk, and vanilla. Add it to the powder mixture in the food processor and pulse again until a smooth dough forms. This will take a few minutes.
- Once you’ve got what looks like decent-looking cookie dough, add 1/2 cup of coconut flakes and process for 1-2 minutes.
- Sprinkle remaining coconut flakes on a shallow dish. Scoop a golf ball-sized amount of the dough and roll it with your hand into a proper ball. Coat it in flakes and repeat until you’re out of dough.
Serve these as breakfast alongside some fresh fruit and wash it down with this almond smoothie! A pre or post-workout snack, an after school treat, or a quick and easy dessert.
Tips for Making Energy Bites
- Use a powerful food processor for making this simple protein balls recipe. Not a blender, not even a Vitamix or Magic Bullet. There is not enough liquid to move the dough around in a blender.
- Stop and scrape the walls of your food processor to make sure everything is incorporated and you don’t have weird chunks of unblended things in there!
- Use as pure and clean ingredients as possible! Something like organic vegan protein powder, organic unsulphured coconut flakes, and organic coconut milk. Do your best and what you can. Every little step counts!
Variations
- Walnuts, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios
- Flaxseed
- Chia seeds or hemp hearts
- Oats
- Chocolate chips
- Creamy nut butter
- Seed butter
How to Store
These will be good for 2 weeks in the fridge or frozen for 3 months.
I do love them warm and fresh best, so when I take them out of the fridge I like to pop them in the microwave for a few seconds.
FAQs
Add just a slight bit of water at a time until your mixture is wet enough to stay compact. You could also add a bit of maple syrup or honey to bind it if you’re ok with a sweeter-tasting ball.
I wouldn’t. Whey powders tend to absorb liquid differently so you may end up with a different texture. If you’re ok with it, and whey protein is all you have, then go for it. Either that or completely substitute it for a nut butter instead.
I haven’t tried this before, but I don’t see why not. Try oat milk, cashew milk, or even almond milk!
Loaded with protein, healthy fats, antioxidants, and plenty of vitamins and minerals these gluten free, dairy free and naturally sweetened protein balls are my favorite things to make and are just as convenient as grabbing a Luna protein bar from the cupboard!
More High Protein Snack Recipes
- Protein cookies
- Healthy rum balls
- Chocolate protein cookies
- Banana protein muffins
- Cacao nibs brownie bites
- Protein banana bread
You can also check out my full list of no bake desserts and healthy snacks for more inspiration!
Easy Low Carb Almond Joy Protein Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup plant based protein powder I used Sunwarrior*
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1 tbsp stevia extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 5 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut milk light (canned)
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes + more for coating
Instructions
- In a food processor, add almonds, protein powder, cacao powder, stevia extract, salt and process until fine powder forms.
- In a small bowl, stir together coconut oil, honey, coconut milk, vanilla and add to a food processor. Process until smooth dough forms, stopping and scraping the walls of a food processor. It took me about 3-5 minutes and my food processor needed a few breaks. Then add 1/2 cup of coconut flakes and process until combined, 1-2 minutes.
- Place some coconut flakes on a plate, scoop golf size amount of dough, roll with your hands into a ball and coat in the flakes. Alternatively, you could use a bag with small amount of coconut flakes in it and shake to coat the protein ball. Repeat until you run out of dough.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. I liked these protein balls fresh and warm the best! So, when I want one, I warm it up in a microwave for a few seconds.
- Freeze: You could also freeze the balls for up to 3 months.
- *I do not recommend using whey protein powder as it absorbs liquids differently than plant-based protein.
- Use a powerful food processor for making this simple protein balls recipe. Not a blender, not even a Vitamix or Magic Bullet. There is not enough liquid to move the dough around in a blender.
- Stop and scrape the walls of your food processor to make sure everything is incorporated and you don’t have weird chunks of unblended things in there!
Just wondering what size /weight you made these? I made mine 45g each ball and I only got 12 out of this recipe. It says you got 30 out of this recipe is that right? Just trying to work out macros. Thanks they’re yum!
Hi Sandra. I didn’t weigh these almond joy protein balls. I used the smallest ice cream scoop if that helps. Glad you like the taste.:)
I do not have a food processor, but would love to try this, what else can you suggest that i can use.
Sorry, Trudy, you need a food processor for this recipe! Even buy the cheapest one for like $20-30. It will help you make many more healthy recipes. Food processor is a must when eating clean.
I made this recipe & I used 5 tbs organic date syrup instead of honey, they turned out wonderful. However, some education on Stevia needs to be made here. First, a tablespoon of Stevia liquid can be used in this recipe but one should know you CANNOT sub the same if using powdered Stevia. I used a 1/2 tsp of powdered organic Stevia. I’m very familiar on the conversion chart of both liquid/dry when baking with Stevia. Just wouldn’t want someone here to make this mistake. Also, I had a question, could you omit the syrup(honey etc) and use all Stevia? Also, what about using coconut flour instead of the cup of raw almonds?
Liquid stevia is more concentrated than powdered. I used 1 tbsp of powdered stevia and that is what I linked to in the recipe. I think you meant to say you used 1/2 tsp of liquid stevia. I wouldn’t use all stevia because that won’t taste good IMHO. No coconut flour either because it is very “thirsty” and that would throw off the whole recipe.
No, I did not use stevia liquid at all. I used a 1/2 tsp of pure organic stevia powder, put it in a Dixie cup with a few drops of reverse osmosis water and added it to the recipe. The ingredients list stevia extract, not stevia powder. Stevia powder conversions state this: 1 cup of sugar = 1 tsp of stevia powder, or 1 tsp liquid.
1/2 cup of sugar = 1/2 tsp stevia powder, or 1/2 tsp liquid. If I had a added a 1 tbs of stevia powder as you state the recipe would’ve been inedible. As for the coconut flour, I was pretty sure it wouldn’t work as you stated about the ability to it has in drawing liquid content out. My husband is allergic to almonds and peanuts, so I was trying to think of alternatives. Do only almonds work for this recipe?
I used 1 tbsp of stevia extract in a powder form from Trader Joe’s and that is what I stated in a recipe. No mention of stevia powder, so no further explanation is necessary as it will be confusing for many readers. If you use stevia powder then obviously you should understand that adjustments are necessary.
I haven’t tried other nuts. The only substitute I would try are hazelnuts.
Hi!
I’ve been looking for an easy protein/ bliss ball recipe for a while now and I found this one today and thought I’d give it a go.
Great decision on my part! I’m loving them 🙂
Because I didn’t have certain ingredients handy I made the following substitutions:
Soy milk instead of coconut milk
Nutallex instead of coconut oil
Almond meal instead of whole almonds ground myself
Rice malt syrup instead of maple syrup
I’m so glad I found this recipe and I’m looking forward to using the ingredients you used next time!
Great to hear.:)
Hey.. I used whey protein it’s very runny like the previous user can I correct it or have I lost all my ingredients…?
Just add more protein powder and ground almonds to taste. Yeah, whey and plant-based protein powders absorb liquids totally differently.
Hi there. excited to try these. Could I use soy protein powder?
I think so as long as it’s plant based. Anything with even a tiny amount of whey changes the consistency.
Hey. Just made these protein balls but unfortunately they have turned out really running and when I roll them into balls they just turn flat like pancakes. Any ideas about why this may have occurred? Thank you
Yes. You probably used whey protein powder…The recipe calls for plant based protein.
HI Olena,
sorry what flavour Sunwarrior protein do you use? thank you.
Hi Kimberly. I used Natural one, that is unflavoured. If you click on “Sunwarrior” in my recipe, you can see it.:)
Great thanks Olena 🙂 cant wait to try these
Do you think i could use hemp protein powder instead?
Yes, you can.
These are absolutely delicious. Even the kids and husband loved them which is not easy to do. My only problem is they are so nice i find it hard to stop at one.
Haha, that’s awesome. A tip: they taste better warm, so keep them cold to avoid overeating LOL.