Make your mornings (and life) better with Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

In the not so distant past, I was miserable. I hated my job. I had no energy. I could not get out of bed. I was hangry. ALL. THE. TIME. And so, I embarked on a journey to feel better and not hate everything. A tall order, I know. Fortunately, I was able to make progress in the “feel better and have more energy” department. The answer- protein before caffeine. “Eat food before a caffeinated, life-giving, soul-saving nectar?!” you ask?  Yes- and there’s a simple solution!  

Make these easy protein balls for the week ahead, pop one while you’re making your coffee and increase your chances of not running away to live in an off-the-grid treehouse in the jungle by 9 am. This protein before caffeine strategy gave me more lasting energy throughout the day and prevented hangry meltdowns. Full disclosure: I did quit my job, but in an energized, yet emotionally regulated way. 

With about 4 grams of protein, Omega-3 fats and fiber, you’ll be feeling full and less frazzled all day. Did I mention they are delicious and use real ingredients instead of expensive pre-made protein powder???

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Emily Schmidt

A lot of protein balls call for expensive protein powders, containing all sorts of odd ingredients. My recipe is made with real ingredients that you can actually recognize! Make these delicious, high-protein balls for the week ahead so you can get out the door fast, feeling full and unfrazzled. They’re also great as an afternoon pick-me-up or pre-workout snack.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Refrigeration Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Snack

Servings 14

Equipment

• Optional: disposable latex or nitrile gloves make rolling these less messy

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ⅓ cup hemp hearts
• ⅓ cup unsalted sunflower seeds
• ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut shreds
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ cup cashews raw, unsalted
• ½ cup dark chocolate baking chunks or chips
• ⅓ cup coconut oil
• 8 dates pitted
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter preferably all-natural, unsweetened

Instructions

 

• Combine hemp hearts, sunflower seeds, coconut shreds, and ground cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Coarsely chop the cashews and dark chocolate chunks and add to the bowl.
• Coarsely chop dates and add to the jar of a blender or the chopping/ blending attachment of an immersion blender (more right-sized for this job, in my opinion). If you don’t have a blender (or simply don’t want to wash it after) chop the dates more finely and form a coarse paste by smushing them up with the back of your knife or a bench scraper.
• Melt coconut oil in the microwave for 5-10 seconds – just until liquid, and add to your chopped dates. Blend dates and coconut oil together until a smooth paste forms. Don’t worry if the coconut oil separates. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients.
• Add peanut butter to the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.
• Refrigerate for about an hour until the mixture is easily formed into balls.
• Wearing disposable gloves (if using), roll into ping pong-sized balls (1 oz), refrigerate, and enjoy!

Keyword breakfast, chocolate, high-protein, peanut butter, snack

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