Thin Mint Protein Balls
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
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.
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.
I took a sample plate with balls and bites to The Veil on Saturday — some for a surprise party Alyssa hosted for her fiancé and another plate to share with the staff. I went home empty handed so I guess that means they were a hit. I hope you all like these Thin Mint Protein Balls as well.
More Girl Scout Cookie Inspired Recipes
- Homemade Healthy Tagalongs
- 4-Ingredient Samoas
- Healthier Thin Mints
- Date Caramel Apple Slices
- Samoa Baked Oatmeal
More Energy Bite Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Blueberry Muffin Energy Balls
- Apple Pie Energy Balls
- No Bake Protein Balls
- Vanilla Cake Balls
- Salted Chocolate Protein Balls
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Thin Mint Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup 12-13 pitted dates
- ½ cup chocolate crispy rice cereal, I used Koala Crisp
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- 1 Tablespoon vegan mini chocolate chips, I used Enjoylife
- ⅛ teaspoon peppermint extract
- 3 Tablespoons vegan chocolate protein powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
Should I use regular smaller dates or the large medjool ones? Or does it not matter as long as the total quantity is correct? I’m excited to try these.
How will I ever ration these out over the course of a few days! Just delicious. Really satisfies my sweet tooth.
I know, it’s hard! So glad you loved this recipe, Jodie! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
Hi Brittany 🙂 I just wanted to say that I LOVE all your recipes! I’m probably on your blog or Instagram at least once a day. I was just wondering about a replacement nut for the cashews (I’m avoiding for my sensitive breastfed baby) I can have any other nuts. Can’t wait to try these, I love all things mint and the fact that they are sweetened naturally! Thank you!
Hey Tanya – You can swap the cashews for any other nut (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc.) just fine! Let me know how these turn out for you. 🙂
These are FANTASTIC! I’ve never seen a mint protein ball and so I just had to make! I love the idea of the crunchy crispy cereal! Loved this recipe!!
Yay!! So glad these think mint protein balls were a hit, Taylor! Thanks for the review 🙂
I made these yesterday as a healthier snack to give me a little boost of energy in the afternoons or before a workout. I used cacao nibs in place of chocolate chips, and added a little extra water since my dates were a bit drier. Came out perfectly!
So glad you loved these energy balls, Jena!! Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
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?
Can I substitute the equivalent amount of cocoa powder for the chocolate protein powder?
Hi Elena – I haven’t tested this recipe without the protein powder, so I am not sure how it’ll turn out with only cocoa powder. But if you give it a try, let me know how it turns out.
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! 🙂