Pistachio Protein Balls with oats, pistachio butter (or almond butter), protein powder, dates, and more! This nutritious snack recipe is loaded with nutty pistachio flavor!
This just in! Your newest snack obsession featuring feel-good ingredients like pistachios, oats, chocolate chips, and more!
If you’re a pistachio lover like me, and you’re all about a homemade energy ball recipe, you’re going to go nutty over this nut fest!
I modeled this recipe off of my No Bake Power Balls, simply making a couple of ingredient swaps. Pistachios being key! They are the ideal snack for the pistachio fan that is always on the go and appreciates homemade snacks between meals.
The recipe is simple to customize using ingredients you already have on hand! Let’s discuss the basic ingredients!
Ingredients for Pistachio Protein Balls:
Pistachio Butter or Unsweetened Almond Butter: Did you know many grocery stores now sell pistachio butter? For a bigger pistachio flavor, use pistachio butter. If you prefer the convenience of almond butter, it works great too.
This ingredient is here to help bind everything together and to add richness and healthy fats to the balls.
Unsalted Pistachios: The star of the show! Shelled pistachios bring that classic nutty flavor to this healthy snack recipe.
Quick Oats: Adds complex carbohydrates and oat flavor. Replace it with 1 cup of almond flour if you prefer.
Protein Powder: Here to provide a protein boost to the balls. I use unflavored unsweetened protein powder so that the pistachio flavor shines through. For vegan no bake energy balls, use pea protein, rice protein, or hemp protein.
Medjool Dates: The natural sweetener! Pitted medjool dates act as the sweetness and stickiness to make the protein bites extra delicious.
Mini Chocolate Chips: Pistachios and chocolate go together famously! I love this combination, but you can skip the chocolate chips for less added sugar.
Ground Cinnamon: Bringing a lovely warm flavor, I find cinnamon complements the nuts and chocolate.
Pure Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla makes the recipe taste divine! You can skip it if you don’t have it on hand.
Sea Salt: Big flavor enhancer! Without salt, the balls taste a little bland. Adding it levels up the flavor of all of the ingredients.
Optional Recipe Additions and Customizations:
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, or flax seeds
- ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- Use peanut butter, cashew nut butter, or sunflower seed butter if you prefer. Just know the flavor will change accordingly.
- Replace the protein powder with more oats or desiccated coconut if you prefer.
Now that we’ve covered the healthy ingredients for these delicious balls, let’s make them!
How to Make Pistachio Protein Balls:
If your pistachio butter or almond butter has been sitting in the refrigerator (or is relatively hard), microwave it for 30 seconds, or until it is easy to stir.
Add all of the ingredients for the pistachio energy bites except for the chocolate chips to a food processor.
Process until all of the ingredients are well combined and a thick and sticky dough forms.
Add 2 to 6 tablespoons of water, a little at a time, until the mixture presses together easily in your fingers. Taste the mixture for flavor and add more sea salt or medjool dates if the mixture tastes bland.
Transfer the mini chocolate chips to the food processor and use a rubber spatula to fold them into the dough.
Roll the pistachio mixture into your desired sized balls.
If you’d like, you can grind up ⅓ cup of pistachios in a small blender to chop them or grind them into a flour. Roll the balls in the chopped pistachios for extra pistachio flavor and for looks.
I find this step to be unnecessary from a taste perspective, but I like the way they look.
Recipe Tips:
- Use well-stirred almond butter. If there is a lot of oil separation, you may end up with stickier or dryer mixture than is needed. For this reason, stirring the almond butter ahead of time ensures the best results.
- Add a small amount of water to the mixture a little bit at a time, until you have a consistency that is easy to press together without leaving much of anything on your fingers. Avoid adding too much water, as it can cause the mixture to be too sticky.
Storage Options:
- Room Temperature: You can store the balls in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. For warmer climates, I recommend refrigeration so that the bites don’t soften up too much.
- Refrigerator: Refrigerate balls in a large zip lock bag or a sealed container for up to 10 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in a freezer bag or a large zip lock for up to 3 months.
The next time you’re having a snack attack, whip up these pistachio energy balls! If you’re looking for more healthy snack recipes, also try out these reader favorites.
More Healthy Snack Recipes:
- Sweet Potato Breakfast Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Lemon Poppy Seed Energy Balls
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Balls
- 4-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
Pistachio bites for all your snacking needs!
Pistachio Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened pistachio butter or almond butter*
- ⅔ cup quick oats or rolled oats
- ½ cup protein powder or more oats
- 6 pitted medjool dates **
- ½ cup unsalted pistachios + more for rolling, optional
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips optional
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon optional
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract optional
- ½ tsp sea salt to taste
- 2-6 Tbsp water ***
Instructions
- If your pistachio butter or almond butter has been sitting in the refrigerator (or is relatively hard), microwave it for 30 seconds, or until it is easy to stir.
- Add all of the ingredients for the pistachio energy bites except for the chocolate chips to a food processor. Process until all of the ingredients are well combined and a thick and sticky dough forms. Add 2 to 6 tablespoons of water, a little at a time, until the mixture presses together easily in your fingers. Taste the mixture for flavor and add more sea salt or medjool dates if the mixture tastes bland.
- Transfer the mini chocolate chips to the food processor and use a rubber spatula to fold them into the dough.
- Roll the pistachio mixture into your desired sized balls.
- If you’d like, you can grind up ⅓ cup of pistachios in a small blender to roll the balls in chopped pistachios. This is entirely optional and just makes the balls look pretty, as they’re dusted with vibrant green.
