Easy no bake protein bites made with peanut butter, dried strawberries, oats and chocolate chips. 80 calories and 4 grams of protein each!
I’m going to start by saying that these are first treat I’ve made with protein powder that Isaac has tried and loved! He usually always has something to say about the texture or the flavor. Not this time — he’s been eating one or two a day and repeatedly telling me how tasty they are. That’s a good sign… well for you guys — not so much for me because my supply of afternoon protein bites is diminishing rather quickly. 😉
It’s okay, though. I’ve made four batches in the past week (just to be sure the recipe is spot on) so I have plenty to share.
The idea to make these bites came from my cousin’s wife, Samantha. She’s a bikini competitor and she’s always posting about clean recipes on Facebook. A few weeks ago she posted about these chocolate strawberry protein balls and I knew I wanted to make something similar.
Around that same time I was also contacted by Santa Cruz Organic about creating a recipe to enter into a blogger recipe contest so I decided to use their creamy peanut butter and applesauce to make a homemade, organic peanut butter protein treat of my own.
Sticking with the organic theme, all the ingredients in these bites are organic or natural including Perfect Fit protein powder, which is organic, vegan and gluten-free.
I also used organic freeze-dried strawberries. I haven’t done much baking or cooking with freeze-dried fruit before, but I think I might need experiment more now. I really like the berry flavor and crunchy texture the freeze-dried strawberries add to the bites and the fact that they contain less sugar than most regular dried fruit.
These little bites contain a good amount of protein, taste delicious and work great for breakfast, an afternoon treat or as a pre or post-workout snack. I’ve been eating them for all of the above. They also take almost no time to make — I like to make a batch while doing my food prep on Sunday so I have a portable snack for the rest of the week.
We are absolutely loving this recipe and hope you all enjoy it as much as we do. For those of you that requested the protein cookie, don’t fret! I’ll be sharing the cookie version in the next couple days.
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PinIngredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 2 scoops of organic vanilla protein powder (I used Perfect Fit)
- heaping 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce + 1-2 Tablespoons more, if needed
- 1/2 cup organic freeze-dried strawberries
- 2 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons mini chocolate or carob chips (optional)
Instructions
- Place oats, protein powder, freeze-dried strawberries and chocolate chips into a small bowl and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl mix together the peanut butter, applesauce and honey. Pour the wet peanut butter mixture over the dry mixture and stir well. Combining this mixture will take a little stirring power and it may seem a little crumbly at first. I used my hands to knead the dough near the end and that seems to help. If it’s too crumbly, you can add an extra tablespoon of applesauce to moisten it.
- Once combined, start forming the the dough into one inch balls.
- Store in a covered container in the fridge or freezer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 3
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 4
Wow these look awesome! My favorite go to protein packed snack is plain greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit and homemade granola!
omg, strawberries, peanut butter and chocolate all rolled into one? I need to make these!
Big fan of Greek yogurt with granola and/or hardboiled eggs.. Would love to try some of that organic food, and my baby will too
I cant wait to make these!! I love that you made them with Perfect Fit. Good stuff!
I love plain greek yogurt mixed with peanut butter!
Love almonds!
peanut butter smoothies made with a little greek yogurt tossed in.
My favorite protein snack is greek yogurt!
trail mix (nuts) or Greek yogurt or a hard boiled egg
I loooove organic peanut butter, for one makes me feel better when I eat over the required amount by accident. lol Also I eat at least one protein shake a day to make it through!
Carrots and hummus!
I love roasting chickpeas!
greek yogurt, berries and banana!
I like mixed nuts!
My favorite protein packed snack is definitely almonds mixed with raisins!
Greek yogurt with pb & j mixed in!
Peanut butter is my go-to protein snack when I need something to hold me over. It tastes good on almost everything!
My favorite protein snack is a couple of hard boiled eggs. However, they can’t be transported without getting gross and warm, so my second favorite is protein balls. I look forward to trying out your recipe!
My favorite protein packed snack is veggies dipped in hummus or just a spoonful of almond butter!
You can’t beat good ole’ handful of almonds!
I think my favorite protein packed snack are low fat cheese sticks, yum!
My favorite protein packed snack is greek yogurt with a spoonful of almond butter!
We love to make our own homemade “trail mix” with high fiber cereal, nuts and dried fruit!
cottage cheese!
Mmm…these look delicious! Energy bites are always my favorite protein packed snack!
I love making homemade protein bars and balls like these. Definitely trying this recipe out!
I loooove protein powder smoothies with kale, berries and almond milk. Mmmm… but my kids LOVE applesauce. I’ll have to try these!
pb, chocolate, and berries flavored mixed together?? literally cannot get any more perfect. looks so so good!
I love having my own “trail mix” made with roasted chickpeas, raisins, and almonds.
My favorite protein packed snack is greek yogurt with a half a scoop of protein powder on it. Delicious!
Probably hard-boiled eggs!
almonds or a protein smoothie with nut butter!
Hummus with carrots!
Peanut butter!
These look awesome! It would be so hard to eat just one!
Just simple raw nuts are my favorite protein packed snack!
Almond butter and apples!
Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Sliced natural deli turkey 🙂
These look great! My go to snack usually involves nuts so these would fit right in with that!
Peanut Butter and nuts !!
Peanut butter on whole wheat blueberry waffles
My favorite protein packed snack is anything adding almond butter! 🙂
greek yogurt with peanut butter!
My favorite protein packed snack is peanut butter!
I love cottage cheese w peanut butter and nuts.
Turkey on potato chips
I love greek yogurt and peanut butter
my favorite protein packed snack is definitely a green smoothie!
These sound amazing! I make bites just like it with coconut in them. My go to protein snack is a power protein smoothie with almond butter, Greek yogurt, banana and coconut milk. My morning protein concoction is oats, chia seeds, milk, almond milk, cinnamon, and sprinkle nuts or seeds in top with a drizzle of honey! Yum addicted!! 🙂
Plain Greek yogurt topped with 1/2 sliced banana, maple syrup, and sunflower kernels. I call it my “traveling snack” because I always eat it before road trips because it keeps me full the whole time.
I love just a hunk of peanut butter on a spoon. It really gives me a boost and is just what I need to get going. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
fairyfractal at gmail dot com
At home, I love meat and cheese roll-ups. On the go, I love trail mix or quest bars.
greek yogurt!
These would be a great snack to tide me over until lunch! I usually have Greek yogurt as a daily snack.
Love almond butter! A tablespoon with anything is delicious 🙂
homemade oatmeal protein bars are my fave but these are easier and sound tasty!
My favorite has to be hummus and carrots!
Oh, I love me some Greek Yogurt!
My favorite protein snack is almonds!
I love greek yogurt!
I can never get tired of a banana with a giant scoop of peanut butter!
I am a sucker for protein smoothies…I could eat them breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Eggy oatmeal! Or high protein black bean brownies!
Oh yum! I love black bean brownies too. 🙂 Do you add protein powder to yours?
I added hemp protein powder as well as ricotta (for some creaminess) – turned out quite good!
My favorite protein snack is a handful of raw, mixed nuts and half an apple!
I really enjoy cottage cheese and cranberry sauce
Lately I’ve been loving microwave mug cakes!
Wow! Talk about perfect timing… I was looking for no-bake bites that weren’t too high in calories. These look great! My fave protein packed snacks are hard-boiled eggs and tamari-flavored almonds. So good!
Peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip balls! Thanks for the giveaway!
Hummus with veggies
Lately I’ve been into homemade larabars!
Definitely Greek yogurt!
Definitely Greek yogurt!
I love me some PB balls! Now adding applesauce and strawberries!! Yummy!!! Would love to try Santa Cruz products!
I have never used protein powder, what is the texture like? You mentioned your boy normally dislikes it. I wonder what it is like.
Sometimes protein powder can add a chalky texture or funny taste. Hope that helps!
eggs!!
No-bake recipes are my absolute favourite! Lately I have been all about snack plates with hummus, veggies and hard boiled eggs! 🙂
I have to have some peanut butter everyday.
My favorite protein packed snack is QUEST BAR!!!
My favorite protein packed snack is eggs cooked any way or an all natural protein bar!!!
Banana & peanut butter! Yum!
Nuts, any and all
My favorite protein snacks are either Greek yogurt with fruit and/or granola or a protein shake.
I love Greek yogurt or protein shakes
Greek yogurt or just a spoonful of peanut butter!
No bake Protein balls are my pre-workout snack right now, loving your recipe!
I love smoothies and homemade protein larabars
I often have apple slices and almond butter for a morning snack.
I love me some protein smoothies!
I love Greek yogurt and putting nut butters on bananas, apples or pears!
My mouth started watering the second I looked at this post! I love peanut butter protein balls of any sort 🙂
I love some greek yogurt with granola and fresh fruit!
Anything peanut butter, or greek yogurt!
These look great! I like to have no-bake protein bars and such on hand for snacks. It isn’t that much harder than buying protein bars, and there aren’t any of those weird chemicals in them 🙂
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yum! these will be great as a pre or post workout snack for me! always need more of those!
I love anything with peanut butter! I also love greek yogurt parfaits and cottage cheese!
Anything with peanut butter! I love peanut butter!
These look so yummy!! I love greek yogurt and trail mix…mmmm
I love hard boiled eggs!
I love Greek yogurt with your kale granola!
I like greek yogurt with mixed nuts
I like to make no-cook cashew butter bars! I use almond flour, cashew butter, chopped cashews and dates, honey, and sometimes other add-ins like black sesame seeds. I cut them into squares and wrap them individually.
★★★★★
I love any nut or seed butter on an apple, banana, or homemade banana protein muffin!
My favorite protein snack is a Quest Bar.
I usually eat string cheese when I need a snack with protein….
My go to is apple slices and peanut butter. So easy and great pre-workout snack!
I like to snack on almonds
Raw almonds are my favorite!
I am a huge fan of the Tone It Up protein pancakes topped with fruit and/or nut butter!
My favorite protein snack is definitely peanut butter and apples. The combination is perfect!
I love almond butter – a 1/2 tbsp by itself!
Greek yogurt
My favorite protein packed snacks are raw almonds or greek yogurt.
For a protein-packed snack, I love grass-fed beef jerky!
I really love roasted chickpeas! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love that you used freeze-dried strawberries! So creative. Do you ever find that eating raw oats is difficult on your digestive system?
I love Greek yogurt with extra protein powder and fruit!
I love anything with peanut butter like peanut butter and banana or peanut butter and dates!
nuts, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, protein shake!
I like to spread almond butter on a banana for a healthy snack or quick breakfast
Peanut butter and bananas!
My go to snack for protein is mixed nuts they work great for me.
★★★★★
Is it horrible if I say my favorite protein snack is beef jerky??! At 730 am that sounds amazing.
Not at all. 🙂
Dried fruit and nuts are a great snack for me! It’s nutrient dense, and settles sweet and salty cravings.
I love grek yogurt for a quick snack that fills me up. I want to try this new recipe though because pb is also a fav!
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Peanut butter, nuts, and yougurt are my go-to protein snacks!
Favorite protein filled snack is cottage cheese and a few almonds!
I love peanut butter and banana as a filling but healthy snack!
Yum! My kids would even try this!
We love peanut butter and the baby loves tofu and edamame.
I adore plain Greek yogurt mixed with a tbs of peanut butter!
Straight-up raw almonds (soaked for a few hours) are my favorite protein-packed snack. They are delicious and portable!
I LOVE wasabi edamame!
greek yogurt or almonds! =)
Those look great! I love PB but for straight protein I usually do tuna or eggs.
Yum! I love Santa Cruz products. My favorite protein filled snack would be apples with peanut butter, or plain yogurt with a dollop of peanut butter and fruit!
We like to make peanut butter “cake” using peanut butter, honey, baking soda, and eggs. It bakes into a nice treat. Sometimes we add enjoy life chocolate chips too.
My favorite protein packed snack is something fairly similar to these – the TIU/Tenley Peanut Butter Bites. Super easy, yummy, and packed with protein!!
My favorite protein snack is greek yogurt with melons and nuts!
Plain greek yogurt with honey!
I love pb and apples or yogurt and berries! yum 🙂
i love protein smoothie bowls topped with a little cereal or granola!
I make these awesome protein brownies with, basically, just cocoa powder and protein powder, using stevia as my sweetener, and they TOTALLY hit the spot.
i like to go with plain nuts
Ya this recipe is saved. I love anything peanut butter. Apples too! yay cool recipe, thanks
★★★★★
Anything with peanut butter or almond butter is a winner for me!
My favorite protein packed snack is cottage cheese with peaches, cinnamon, goji berries, and muesli all piled up!
I love Beanitos. 🙂
★★★★★
Greek yogurt!
My favorite protein snack is definitely protein smoothies! So many different combos to be made. I am usually a fan of anything with some greens, banana, and a nut butter!
I love Greek yogurt or a green smoothie, but these look easy and convenient (and delicious!)
Protein smoothies, with PB of course
I’m assuming the giveaway is closed, but I love greek yogurt with powdered pb.
These look yummy and a great easy snack to travel with!
Wow!!! I love these no bake bites and I love that applesauce became a part of the bite. It made them creamy and lowered my PP (I’m a WW leader and often these bites are too high for me to justify the point values all of the time for such a tiny bite). LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!! I will definitely be making these very, very soon!
Awesome, Cathy. I hope you love them.