Almond Joy Protein Balls
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Published Jan 24, 2023, Updated Sep 12, 2023
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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, dairy-free and can easily be made vegan.
- 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
- No Bake Protein Balls – 4 Ways
- No Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Tahini Chocolate Chip Protein Balls
- Coconut Protein Balls
- Thin Mint Protein Balls
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Protein Bites
- Vegan Protein Balls
- Cinnamon Raisin Cookie Protein Balls
- Pumpkin Protein Balls
More Healthy Snacks
- Date Energy Balls
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars
- Protein Cookies
- Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Nut Free Granola Bars
- Baked Oatmeal Cups 4-Ways
Be sure to check out all of my snack recipes as well as the full collection of protein recipes here on EBF!
Almond Joy Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup natural almond butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 scoops chocolate protein powder, 50-60 grams
- 1-2 Tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- 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.
- Once combined, use a small cookie scoop to scoop and form the dough into balls.
- Store in a covered container in the fridge or freezer.
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!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi! I think I did something wrong because these came out way drier than what I buy in the store and what your picture shows. Any ideas? They basically crumble.
Oh no!! So sorry to hear these protein balls didn’t turn out for you. Did you change anything about the recipe? It could have been the protein powder or almond butter you used. Was the almond butter chunky or runny? Next time, you can always add a little applesauce or milk if the batter seems too dry. 🙂
I found that I already have steel cut oats in my cabinets, which I would love to use because I fear otherwise I won’t. Do you know if the measurements might be the same? I will cook first and then follow the recipe the same way.
Ohh I haven’t tried these with steel cut oats, so I’m not exactly sure on the measurements. I would just go off the measurements I listed and see if you need more / less. Let me know how they turn out for you!!
Hi, I was wondering if I can substitute the protein powder with something else? Not really a fan of the protein powder. (Probably because the one I have literally taste like chalky powder and no flavor)
Hey Yvonne – If you’re not a fan of protein powder, I would try these no bake energy balls instead. 🙂
I just made these… so good! I used agave nectar instead of honey. The protein powder: Orgain Creamy Chocolate Fudge. I will be making these again – thank you!
Yay!! So glad these protein balls were a hit! Thanks for making them and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
These were delicious! I used cocoa powder in place of protein powder and they turned out pretty well! A little crumbly but still delicious.
I’m glad these turned out with the cocoa powder instead of the protein powder, Kaitlin. Next time, you can always add a splash of water or milk if the dough seems too dry.
I also subbed unsweetened cocoa powder like an earlier commenter and loved the chocolatey taste. Added a couple tablespoons of water and that got it totally workable to roll into balls. I’m a nursing, working mom so having fast one handed snacks that are easy to meal prep are a life saver!
So glad you’re loving these, Hannah! Thanks for the review, I really appreciate it!
Almond Joys are my favorite candy! I was so excited to try these so that I can enjoy guilt free snacking. They are so good! I added 2 tbsp of water and they came out perfectly! Thank you for this recipe.
Yay! I’m so glad you loved this recipe Montia! Thanks so much for making it and coming back to leave a review, I really appreciate it!
This was so easy to make. I only made 1 modification and used maple syrup instead of honey and they are delicious!! My new go to snack, especially when craving as something sweet or chocolate.
I’m so glad to hear you love this recipe, Christine! Thanks for making it and coming back to leave a review, I really appreciate it.
These turned out great, I only added a little bit of water. My husband and I love these! Thank you for the recipe!
YAY! I am happy to hear that you all enjoyed this recipe, Haleigh. Thank you for your review & star rating, I so appreciate it.
Great recipe. I added a couple Tblsp. of Coconut Milk to make mixing easier.
Then refrigerated for an hour before rolling in toasted coconut. They turned out quite tasty!
YUM! This sounds amazing, Peggy! I am excited to hear that you are loving this recipe. Thank you so much for your review + star rating, it truly means so much to me!
50 g of my Vital Proteins is about 5 scoops, also I make my own roasted almonds butter, which is dryer than store bought.
It was quite dry.
Therefore, I added some melted virgin coconut oil, and I have a tiny freezer, so I put it in a glass pan, and will cut into bite size squares later.
Hi Laine – I am glad you were able to adjust the ingredients for these to work out for you. Hope you enjoy them. Thank you for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it.
These were great! I honestly used vanilla protein and threw some chocolate chips in because I didn’t have the exact ingredients, but the ratios she has down are perfect and the use of almond butter gives it a more mellow taste then peanut butter and it tastes great with the coconut and chocolate. Definitely a win!
Excellent! I am so glad these turned out for you, Hannah. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!