Chocolate Chip Protein Energy Balls (Paleo, Low Carb, No Bake)
By Hannah Healy
Updated July 26, 2023
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This Chocolate Chip Protein Energy Balls (Paleo, Low Carb, No Bake) recipe is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Vital Proteins. The opinions and text are all mine.
These no bake chocolate chip protein energy balls are such an EASY and tasty healthy treat! They are little sweet chewy bites of paleo chocolatey goodness…almost like eating cookie dough!
The main ingredient in this recipe is Vital Proteins collagen peptides. It sort of doubles as the protein and the flour. Combine that with rich nut butter (Any will do! I used cashew butter, but peanut butter or almond butter work too!), chocolate chips and a few other things and you have an incredible low carb treat!
Why I Love This Recipe
- These energy balls are very quick to make. You could probably whip them up in about 5-10 minutes.
- This yummy dessert is also healthy! There is no added sugar– only a bit of stevia. It’s high protein because of the collagen peptides (which also adds healthy amino acids and joint supporting nutrients without adding any flavor). It’s also low carb, paleo and keto!
- These energy balls are very versatile. You can swap out different nut butters. I made them sugar-free, but if you want them to be sweeter you can add a sweetener.
Chocolate Chip Protein Energy Bites Recipe Tips
- I find that cashew butter gives these energy balls the best flavor, but you can use any nut butter like almond butter, peanut butter or even sunbutter.
- I used stevia for the sweetener to keep it low carb, but if you prefer a little more sweetness you can add some honey. I recommend adding one tablespoon of honey and one extra tablespoon of almond flour to make up for the extra moisture. Taste that and if you still want it to be sweeter add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey along with the extra corresponding almond flour to achieve the right texture.
- The texture should be like thick cookie dough. Texture may vary depending on the nut butter that you use. If the dough is too wet, add in more almond flour, 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach the desired texture. If it’s too dry, add 1 tbsp of applesauce at a time until you reach desired consistency
- Keep these energy balls in a sealed container in the fridge. They will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator or a month or more in the freezer.
What Are Collagen Peptides?
If you aren’t familiar with it, collagen peptides are similar to gelatin, but doesn’t gel up like jello when you add it to drinks. Vital Protein collagen is derived from grass fed cows.
It is odorless and tasteless for the most part. Collagen will just dissolve or mix in without changing the texture or taste.
My Love Affair With Collagen…
I literally have collagen every single day… I guess you could say I love it! It’s my most important supplement and just makes healthy eating SO MUCH EASIER for me!
Collagen is the first thing I added to my diet after I decided to stop being vegetarian as a result of crazy hunger and blood sugar problems. It really helped me with those issues and was a great transitional food that was easier to stomach at the time than meat. I love using it as a protein add-in for smoothies, coffee or baking it into recipes.
Most of the time I add it to a morning smoothie or my paleo no oats “oatmeal”. For most people, having a protein rich breakfast that is low sugar and low carb is the best thing for you to keep you full, to keep healthy blood sugar levels and to avoid energy crashes and sugar cravings.
I love vital proteins because their collagen is sourced from pasture raised grass fed animals. If you are getting collagen or gelatin that is not from grass fed animals, you will not get the same health benefits.
Why Everyone Should Add Collagen To Their Diet
Collagen is a super easy and healthy way to add nutrition and protein into recipes. It has many health benefits like…
- Supports skin
- Maintains healthy hair and nails
- Easily digested and absorbed by the body
- Supports healthy joints
- Promotes bone strength
- Maintains digestive system & gut health
- High in beneficial amino acids
- Supports good sleep
- And more!
To learn more about the benefits of collagen and gelatin, check out my post 10 Incredible Health Benefits of Gelatin!
Chocolate Chip Energy Balls Nutrition Facts
Check for the full nutrition facts at the bottom of the recipe box below. There are a few substitutions you could make with this recipe, but the nutrition facts below are for the sugarless version. I used stevia (no honey) and stevia sweetened sugarless chocolate chips.
The thing I love about these chocolate chip energy balls is that they are sugarless, low carb and keto friendly. There are only 3.2 grams of net carbs in each ball and they have 4.3 grams of protein in each. Plus there aren’t too many calories in them either! Win-win-win!
How to Make No Bake Chocolate Chip Protein Energy Balls
In a mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips including the collagen peptides, almond flour and coconut flour.
Next, add the wet ingredients including the nut butter, applesauce, vanilla extract and stevia.
Mix until they are fully combined. The texture should be like a thick cookie dough. Your texture may differ depending on the type of nut butter that you use. If it is too wet, add more almond flour, 1 tbsp at a time until you’ve reached the desired consistency. If it’s too dry, add 1 tbsp of applesauce at a time until you reach desired consistency.
Add the chocolate chips and fold evenly into the dough mixture.
Take small scoops of dough and roll into balls until all of the dough is gone.
Keep these energy balls in a sealed container in the fridge. They will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator or a month or more in the freezer.
Chocolate Chip Protein Energy Balls (Paleo, Keto, Sugar Free)
Ingredients
- ½ cup Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- 1 tbsp coconut flour
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp almond flour
- ¼ cup nut butter (cashew butter, almond butter or peanut butter work best)
- 4 drops liquid stevia (for sweeter version use 1-2 tbsp honey and add in extra 1-2 tbsp almond flour)
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup sugar-free chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a bowl mix together the collagen protein, coconut flour and almond flour. Then add the nut butter, stevia, applesauce and vanilla then mix together.
- The texture should be like thick cookie dough. Fold in the chocolate chips. Take small bits of the mixture to roll into balls. Enjoy right away or store for later in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
- The texture should be like thick cookie dough. Texture may vary depending on the nut butter that you use. If the dough is too wet, add in more almond flour, 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach the desired texture. If it's too dry, add 1 tbsp of applesauce at a time until you reach desired consistency
- I used stevia for the sweetener to keep it low carb, but if you prefer a little more sweetness you can add some honey. I recommend adding one tablespoon of honey and one extra tablespoon of almond flour to make up for the extra moisture. Taste that and if you still want it to be sweeter add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of honey along with the extra corresponding almond flour to achieve the right texture.
- Keep these energy balls in a sealed container in the fridge. They will last 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator or a month or more in the freezer.
- I find that cashew butter gives these energy balls the best flavor!
Nutrition
