Pistachio Protein Balls Recipe
These wholesome pistachio protein balls are packed with great-for-you ingredients and have a fresh-tasing nutty flavor. Customize them using other nuts, seeds, and dried fruit!
Servings: 18 Balls
Calories: 170kcal
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.
Notes
*Peanut butter and sunflower seed butter work too. Just note that using either one changes the flavor of the balls dramatically.
**Medjool dates vary in size. If you notice the mixture isn’t as sticky or as sweet as you would like, add another two pitted dates, or 2 to 3 tablespoons of pure maple syrup.
***Start with 2 tablespoons and increase slowly, one tablespoon at a time, blending between each addition.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Ball (of 18) | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 131mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g