RECIPE: 5 easy protein balls to make at home

It’s the afternoon; your energy is flagging and it’s oh-so it’s tempting to grab a sugary treat. 

But try swapping that chocolate biscuit for a protein ball crammed with health-giving ingredients such as protein powder, chia seeds, nuts and dried fruits.

Here, five irresistible recipes for goodness in the round.

Choc, orange & hazelnut protein balls

• ⅔ cups of shredded or desiccated coconut plus extra for coating
• 1 cup of hazelnut meal
• ¼ cup roasted hazelnuts
• ⅓ cup cacao powder
• 10 Medjool dates (or 1 cup soaked dates)
• Zest and freshly squeezed juice of one medium orange
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter

Put all ingredients into a food processor and blitz until combined

Roll into small balls. Roll in the added coconut. Place on a lined tray and pop in the fridge until serving

Vanilla cranberry pistachio protein balls

• 1 cup dried, cranberries
• 1 orange, juiced and zested
• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 2 tbsp rice malt syrup
• ¾ cup vanilla protein powder
• 1 cup walnuts
• ½ cup pistachio nuts

In a food processor, blitz the cranberries, orange juice and zest, coconut oil and rice malt syrup until a rough sticky paste is formed

Add vanilla protein powder and the walnuts and blitz again until a dough is formed. If your dough isn’t coming together, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it does

Transfer the dough to a bowl and then begin shaping portions into round balls. 

To create the pistachio coating, blitz the pistachios in a blender or food processor until it resembles something like fine sand with a few larger chunks in there too. Pour this out onto a chopping board and roll each of the balls in it until they are well coated.

Swap out the protein powder with Blackmores Smart Heart™ to help keep your blood cholesterol levels in check.

Protein ball recipes to make at home

Almond & cherry protein balls

• 1 cup almonds
• ¼ cup chia seeds
• ½ cup cashews
• 1¹⁄₂ cups dried cherries
• 8 pitted Medjool dates
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp water

Put all dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add water and process until mixture comes together.

Using wet hands, roll into bite-sized balls. Place in a sealed container in the fridge. Eat within a week.

Recipe by Clean Program

Peanut butter protein balls

• 1½ cups rolled oats
• ½ cup vanilla whey protein powder
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• ½ cup smooth natural peanut butter
• 3 tbsp raw honey
• ⅓ cup raisins or cranberries
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2-4 tbsp almond milk

Put all dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add vanilla and 2 tbsp almond milk and process until mixture comes together. Add more almond milk if mixture looks too dry.

Using wet hands, roll into bite-sized balls. Place in a sealed container in the fridge. Eat within a week.

Pistachio & pear protein balls

• 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
• 1 cup dried pears
• ½ cup cashews
• ½ cup shelled pistachios, plus ½ cup finely chopped pistachios extra, for rolling
• ½ cup rolled oats
• 1 tbsp cashew butter
• 2 tbsp ground ginger
• 3 tbsp water

Put all dry ingredients (except for extra pistachios) in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add water and process until mixture comes together.

Roll into bite-sized balls. Put the extra finely chopped pistachios on a sheet of baking paper. Roll balls in the pistachios.

Place in a sealed container in the fridge. Eat within a week.