Almond Joy Protein Balls – Eating Bird Food

These almond joy protein balls taste like an almond joy bar, but healthier! They’re perfect for meal prep and make for a great portable snack or dessert option. One protein ball has 5 grams of protein and only 3 grams of sugar!

One of my favorite candy bars growing up was almond joy, so when brainstorming flavor ideas for protein balls I couldn’t resist the opportunity to create almond joy protein balls! I mean, how can you go wrong with the combo of chocolate + coconut?

Just like with all of my protein ball recipes this one is so easy to make! All you need are 5 simple ingredients and a little arm strength to combine the mixture and you’ll have a delicious protein-packed snack that tastes just like an almond joy bar minus the refined sugars or artificial ingredients.

Why You Need to Make This Recipe

• Tastes like an almond joy bar, but in protein ball form!
• Easy to make. You only need 5 simple ingredients and 1 bowl.
• Perfect for meal prep and freezer-friendly.
• Gluten-free, grain-free + dairy-free.
• One protein ball has 5 grams of protein.
• Makes for a great afternoon snack or post-workout treat.

Ingredients Needed

• old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats are the best type of oat to use for protein balls! My fave brand is Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats.
• almond butter – look for a brand with just one or two ingredients (almonds and salt). Also, try to use almond butter that’s creamy and drippy. Some of my favorite brands are Wild Friends creamy almond butter and 365 organic creamy almond butter.
• honey – the glue that binds these protein balls together.
• chocolate protein powder – your favorite brand of chocolate protein powder works, but Nuzest is one of my favorite brands. It’s plant-based and has a minimal, clean ingredient list. Plus, the chocolate flavor is delish. You can use my code eatingbirdfood for 15% off your order.
• shredded coconut – a must for that almond joy flavor! Make sure you’re using unsweetened shredded coconut and not sweetened. My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill shredded coconut.

How to Make

Combine ingredients – Place oats, almond butter, honey, protein powder and shredded coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine. Getting the mixture to combine takes a little arm muscle and it may seem too thick at first, but it will come together as you keep mixing. I used my hands to knead the dough near the end and that seems to help.

Form balls – Once combined, use a small cookie scoop to scoop and form the dough into balls.

Store – Store in a covered container in the fridge or freezer.

Substitutions & Notes

• Honey: Maple syrup will work great as a substitute for honey.
• Almond butter: If you’re looking to swap the almond butter with another nut or seed butter you could use cashew butter, peanut butter, tahini or sunflower seed butter.
• Protein powder: The chocolate protein powder is what gives these protein balls that almond joy flavor, but feel free to use your favorite brand and flavor of protein powder for this recipe! If you’re looking for a recipe without protein powder you can make these no bake energy balls instead!
• Coconut: You can’t have almond joys without the coconut, so if you’re looking for a recipe without coconut try making one of these other recipes instead: chocolate peanut butter protein balls, cinnamon raisin protein balls or tahini chocolate chip protein balls.

Tips For Success

• Use runny almond butter. Want to make protein balls that are super moist and delicious, rather than dry and crumbly? The secret is to use runny nut or seed butter. These butters are smoother and more liquid than thicker nut butters which will help bind the mixture together and add moisture to the balls.
• Add a splash of liquid if needed. If your protein balls do end up being too dry or crumble you can add a splash of water or milk to the mixture to help bind the ingredients together and make it easier for rolling into balls!
• Use a cookie scoop. Shaping the protein balls is a breeze with a cookie scoop! This handy tool will help you portion out the mixture evenly and create balls that are all the same size.
• Store in the fridge or freezer. For the freshest and firmest protein balls, store them in the fridge or freezer. This will help them stay fresh and delicious longer.

How to Store

At room temperature: Protein balls can be stored at room temperature for a few days, but they may become softer and less firm over time. To store them at room temperature, place them in an airtight container and keep them in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight or in a warm environment.

In the fridge: These protein balls can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. To store them in the fridge, place them in an airtight container.  I like using glass storage containers or Stasher bags for storing protein balls.

In the freezer: Store these balls in the freezer for up to 3 months. To store them in the freezer, place them in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag and seal it tightly. Label the container or bag with the date. When you’re ready to enjoy a protein ball, simply remove it from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.

More Protein Ball Recipes

More Healthy Snacks

Be sure to check out all of my snack recipes as well as the full collection of protein recipes here on EBF!