Five power packed protein balls

5 irresistible and easy recipes for power-packed protein balls - delicious, healthy and great for when you’re on the go!

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 are five irresistible recipes for goodness in the round.

Ingredients

• 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

How to make

1. In a food processor, blitz the cranberries, orange juice and zest, coconut oil and rice malt syrup until a rough sticky paste is formed
2. 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
3. Transfer the dough to a bowl and then begin shaping portions into round balls. 
4. 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.

Ingredients

• 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

How to make

1. Put all ingredients into a food processor and blitz until combined
2. Roll into small balls. Roll in the added coconut. Place on a lined tray and pop in the fridge until serving

Ingredients

1. 1 cup almonds
2. ¼ cup chia seeds
3. ½ cup cashews
4. 11⁄2 cups dried cherries
5. 8 pitted Medjool dates
6. ½ tsp cinnamon
7. ½ tsp sea salt
8. 2 tbsp water

How to make

1. Put all dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped. Add water and process until mixture comes together.
2. Using wet hands, roll into bite-sized balls.
3. Place in a sealed container in the fridge and eat within a week.
4. Recipe by Clean Program

Ingredients

• 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

How to make

1. Put all dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped.
2. Add vanilla and 2 tbsp almond milk and process until mixture comes together.
3. Add more almond milk if mixture looks too dry.
4. Using wet hands, roll into bite-sized balls.
5. Place in a sealed container in the fridge and eat within a week.

Ingredients

• 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

How to make

1. Put all dry ingredients (except for extra pistachios) in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped.
2. Add water and process until mixture comes together.
3. Roll into bite-sized balls.
4. Put the extra finely chopped pistachios on a sheet of baking paper.
5. Roll balls in the pistachios.
6. Place in a sealed container in the fridge and eat within a week.