These Thin Mint Protein Balls taste like the girl scout cookie we all love, but are packed with good for you ingredients like dates, cashews and chocolate protein powder. Vegan and gluten-free.Â
Minty things, even if they’re not green, totally work for St. Patrick’s Day, right? I think so, but if you’re not so convinced you can always make a green salad (I’ve got plenty of those for ya), a green detox smoothie or use sunflower butter to make these flourless zucchini muffins and they’ll turn out green. <– Trust me, it works!
No, but really, you should just make these thin mint protein balls because they’re pretty amazing.
Typically I don’t spend a ton of time in the kitchen on the weekends for work stuff, but this past weekend I was inspired and went a little ball crazy. I made a batch of my samoas energy balls, chocolate almond crispy bites, and these thin mint protein balls.
I’m most excited about the thin mint balls because now I finally have a healthy alternative for both of my favorite girl scout cookies.
Ingredients Needed for Thin Mint Protein Balls
These babies start with a base of fresh medjool dates that are processed with raw cashews and chocolate protein powder. There’s peppermint extract to give the balls a minty flavor, but what really makes these balls taste like thin mint cookies is the chocolate crispy rice cereal. It gives them the perfect amount of crispy, cookie crunch.
I’ve been eating these little protein balls as a snack on the daily and they’re so good! Perfect as a pre or post workout snack or an energy booster in the middle of the afternoon. Did you know that peppermint has uplifting, energizing properties? Yup, even just taking a whiff of peppermint can help with anxiety and increase concentration. I have a bottle of peppermint essential oil that I keep on my desk for this very purpose. It’s awesome for helping to ease headaches, too.
If you make these thin mint protein balls, please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Your feedback is super helpful for the EBF team and other readers who are thinking about making the recipe.Â
These Thin Mint Protein Balls taste like the girl scout cookie we all love, but are packed with good for you ingredients like dates, cashews and chocolate protein powder. Vegan and gluten-free.Â
Ingredients
1 cup (12-13) pitted dates
1/2 cup chocolate crispy rice cereal (I used Koala Crisp)
1/4 cup raw cashews
1 Tablespoon vegan mini chocolate chips (I used Enjoylife)
Add dates, 1/4 cup crispy rice cereal, protein powder, cashews, chocolate chips, peppermint extract and water into a food processor and process until combined. A large ball of dough will likely form. Separate the dough, add remaining rice cereal and pulse until just combined. (You want these to be broken up, but not completely crushed into flour.) It’s okay if a few rice cereal pieces fall out of the dough, you can press them in as you roll the dough.
Scoop about 1 Tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into balls. Place balls on parchment paper as you roll them and then place in the fridge until ready to enjoy.
I just made these and WOW! They are so yummy! I love how the texture is like cookie dough and the added crunch from the Rice Krispies is so good! My little toddler loved them too and kept asking for more.
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Emma! I’m glad these protein balls are a hit. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It’s super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it!
Hey Christy! The dates are a pretty big component to this recipe, so I’m not sure how they’d turn out without them. I do have these recipes for protein balls that don’t require dates, you could try?
I just made these. I didn’t have vegan choc protein powder, so I used 3 tbsp hemp protein and added 1 tbsp cocoa powder. It could use a little more cocoa powder and a little more peppermint extract. Otherwise, these are pretty good! Thanks ENF!
I made these again because they disappeared quickly. I knew the first time that 1/4 tsp of salt would be too much so I decreased it slightly. Still too much. So this time I used less than an 1/8 tsp and it is just right. I also added a Tbsp of cacao powder each time for more chocolate flavor. Made a coating of bittersweet chocolate melted with a little refined coconut oil and Andes baking chips.
I made these tonight! I subbed dark chocolate for the vegan chips, but followed the rest of the ingredient list and they are VERY good. They are sweet like something packed with sugar would be and the peppermint adds a nice, subtle, freshness.
These are very sticky, so be warned. I have seen a similar recipe that adds some kind of flour, but I think adding would dull the flavor a bit.
YUM! omg these sound SO good! i’ve passed by about a billion girl scouts and i want so badly to buy a box of thin mints, but can’t bring myself to do it because i’m trying to eat more healthfully this spring! so thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow, these sound soooo good! I can’t wait to try them and I love your website! I have gotten some delicious recipes that have helped me immensely with my diet. Now all we need is the cold weather to pass so I can get out with my dogs for walks around Carytown and such to get me back on track.
Thank you for all of your hard work with this site!
We have some but allergies in my house, though pecans are safe. I’ve used pecans in place of almonds with success; do you think they’re a good sub for cashews in this??
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I just made these and WOW! They are so yummy! I love how the texture is like cookie dough and the added crunch from the Rice Krispies is so good! My little toddler loved them too and kept asking for more.
★★★★★
Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Emma! I’m glad these protein balls are a hit. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It’s super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it!
I am in my corona cabin for the foreseeable future. I have everything but dates. What should I sub?
Hey Christy! The dates are a pretty big component to this recipe, so I’m not sure how they’d turn out without them. I do have these recipes for protein balls that don’t require dates, you could try?
I just made these. I didn’t have vegan choc protein powder, so I used 3 tbsp hemp protein and added 1 tbsp cocoa powder. It could use a little more cocoa powder and a little more peppermint extract. Otherwise, these are pretty good! Thanks ENF!
★★★★
I made these again because they disappeared quickly. I knew the first time that 1/4 tsp of salt would be too much so I decreased it slightly. Still too much. So this time I used less than an 1/8 tsp and it is just right. I also added a Tbsp of cacao powder each time for more chocolate flavor. Made a coating of bittersweet chocolate melted with a little refined coconut oil and Andes baking chips.
★★★★★
Thanks so much for the feedback on the salt, Barbara. So glad you liked them. 🙂
Is there a nut free substitute for the cashews? We are a nut free house.
Has anyone tried raw peanuts. My daughter has a tree nut allergy to cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans. Welcome thoughts.
I haven’t tried peanuts, but I think they should definitely work! Let me know if you try it. 🙂
I made these tonight! I subbed dark chocolate for the vegan chips, but followed the rest of the ingredient list and they are VERY good. They are sweet like something packed with sugar would be and the peppermint adds a nice, subtle, freshness.
These are very sticky, so be warned. I have seen a similar recipe that adds some kind of flour, but I think adding would dull the flavor a bit.
Thin mints are my favorite! Definitely will have to try this recipe out. Thanks for sharing!
These look wonderful, simple and not too sweet. Thanks!
Is there a good substitute for the crispy rice cereal?
Rolled oats should work, but you won’t get the crispy cookie texture.
Have you ever tried puffed quinoa? I’ve read about making it but haven’t tried yet.
I haven’t, but I think that’s an awesome idea! Let me know if you try it. 🙂
How long will these keep in the fridge? (Assuming I don’t scarf them all in the first hour that is).
★★★★
They should last up to a week in the fridge! But I suspect they’ll go fast. 🙂
Thin mints were always my fave girl scout cookie, so thanks for giving a healthier, gluten free alternative! YUM!
YUM! omg these sound SO good! i’ve passed by about a billion girl scouts and i want so badly to buy a box of thin mints, but can’t bring myself to do it because i’m trying to eat more healthfully this spring! so thanks for sharing 🙂
These look incredible!!!!!!
Izzy
I’m new to your blog and am excited to try this as one out! What would you recommend as substitutions for all the nuts used in this recipe?
★★★★★
Wow, these sound soooo good! I can’t wait to try them and I love your website! I have gotten some delicious recipes that have helped me immensely with my diet. Now all we need is the cold weather to pass so I can get out with my dogs for walks around Carytown and such to get me back on track.
Thank you for all of your hard work with this site!
We have some but allergies in my house, though pecans are safe. I’ve used pecans in place of almonds with success; do you think they’re a good sub for cashews in this??
I think pecans will definitely work as a sub for the cashews. Enjoy, Dee!
HELLO YUMMY! Thin mints are one of my favorite girl scout cookies, along with tagalongs. These look so delicious!
Ohh!! I forgot about tagalongs. I used to love those too! 🙂