Coconut Protein Balls

4.14

Published Jan 02, 2022, Updated Sep 12, 2023

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High protein, low carb coconut protein balls made with coconut butter and hemp seeds! You’ll love the coconut flavor and the energy boost these protein balls provide. Low carb, vegan and gluten-free.

One of my overarching health goals is to make sure I’m getting enough protein. Most of the time, it’s pretty easy for me to get a good amount of protein at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but snacks are another story.

An overhead photo looking down at 5 coconut protein balls on a plate. One of the balls has a bite taken out of it.

It can be a challenge to find protein-packed snacks that I actually want to eat! Greek yogurt bowls with fruit and granola have been my go-to for a while, but recently I was inspired to use protein powder, hemp seeds and coconut butter to make a low-sugar coconut protein ball for snacking.

Ingredients measured out to make coconut protein balls: coconut, vanilla protein powder, hemp seeds, cinnamon, maple syrup and water.

Ingredients Needed

vegan vanilla protein powder – any vanilla protein powder works, I just recommend vegan protein powder to keep these energy balls vegan! My go-to brand recently is Nuzest and you can use the code “eatingbirdfood” for 15% off your order if you want to try it out!
hemp seeds – packed with healthy fats and protein, these seeds are a great addition to energy balls!
coconut butter – use store bought or make your own coconut butter for the most delectable ingredient!
maple syrup – a natural sweetener to balance the rest of the flavors. You should be able to swap for a different liquid sweetener of choice if needed.
water – to help get theses balls to stick, you just need a touch of water!
cinnamon – the perfect spice pairing.

Collage of four photos, two photos of coconut flakes being turned into coconut butter in a food processor, and two photos of ingredients added to the food processor to make coconut protein balls.

What the Heck is Coconut Butter?

If you’re unfamiliar with coconut butter, it’s the most amazing thing ever – it’s a spread just like almond or peanut butter but made from coconut! You can find it at most grocery stores or simply follow my simple coconut butter recipe (linked above)! I’ve made protein balls with nut butter a bazillion times and finally decided it’s time to make one with coconut butter.

Eight coconut protein balls on a plate, the front and center ball has a bite taken out of it, exposing the inside.

How to Make Coconut Protein Balls

Start by making sure your coconut butter is softened by putting the jar in a mug of hot water. Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse a few times to incorporate. Stir the dough with a mixing spoon and then use your hands to roll 1 Tablespoon of the mixture into balls. Repeat until you’ve made about 8 balls. If the dough is too crumbly and not sticking together, add a few more drops of water.

pro tip!
If your coconut butter is hard, place the jar in a bowl of hot water to let it soften. Alternatively, you can scoop out the amount of coconut butter you need and place it in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second increments until softened, stirring often! Just keep an eye on it because the coconut butter can burn in the microwave!

An overhead photo looking down on 10 coconut protein balls on a plate. The center ball has a bite taken out of it. The plate is on a khaki dish cloth.

How to Store Protein Balls

You can enjoy the protein balls right away or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. For longer storage, store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for 2-3 months.

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