Irresistible Keto Peanut Butter Protein Balls: The Ultimate Low-Carb Snack You Need Now!

If you love peanut butter and need a quick, healthy snack, this keto peanut butter protein balls recipe is your new best friend! These no-bake, easy keto peanut butter balls have a soft, light consistency and a potent peanut butter flavor, making them a perfect sugar-free and gluten-free treat. They’re soft, creamy, slightly sweet, and packed with energy to keep you going.

Why Keto Peanut Butter Protein Balls?

Keto peanut butter protein balls are a delicious, no-bake snack packed with protein, healthy fats, and low-carb sweetness. They are an excellent source of energy, with the ideal combination of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. They keep you full and satisfied for whatever the day throws your way!

This simple peanut butter energy balls recipe has been on our snack list all year long. It’s perfect when you’re running between trips to the gym, school, sports practice, and games, or any time of day when you need to squeeze in a healthy snack.

Benefits of Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Easy to make: These no-bake protein balls take all of 15 minutes to make!
No special equipment: It’s easy to just mix your ingredients by hand, so you don’t need to dirty a food processor.
Make ahead: This is a great recipe for storing in the fridge. They last up to two weeks so you can grab a bite whenever you need it.
Adaptable: You can adapt this recipe easily for your preferred nut butter, protein powder, flours, etc.
Great flavor: They taste like peanut butter cookie dough!
Great macros: With 12 grams of protein and less than 7 grams of carbs, these are a great snack for keto and low carb diets.
Portable: Extremely portable for on-the-go snacks.

Ingredients You'll Need

Here's what you'll need to whip up a batch of these delightful keto peanut butter protein balls:

Natural Peanut Butter: Use sugar-free peanut butter for the best keto results. Always look for unsweetened peanut butter, made just from peanuts, without added sugar or other sweeteners and without added oils, especially palm oil. If it’s the kind that separates and has a lot of oil at the top, mix it in well.
Butter: I use salted butter because it adds flavour.
Whey Protein Isolate: Choose unflavored or flavored whey protein isolate for variety. Whey protein: I like a whey protein isolate as it has a higher protein content and a lower carb count. You can use vanilla or unflavored. If using vanilla, you may want to reduce the sweetener and the added vanilla extract.
Powdered Sweetener: Allulose or erythritol works best for a smooth texture. Low Carb Sweetener: A vital ingredient in these keto energy bites, this low carb sweetener is what actually makes this a keto recipe. I use powdered erythritol. Confectioner’s style powdered sweeteners add bulk without grittiness, so they are my preference. But it can be erythritol, allulose, or BochaSweet. I don’t recommend granular sweeteners as they just won’t mix in well enough.
Almond Flour: You do need some flour to add bulk and create a dough. But it doesn’t have to be almond flour.
Hemp seeds: Hemp seeds have a surprising amount of protein and add a nutty crunch to the protein balls. This is entirely optional.
Chocolate chips: Mini chocolate chips work best in these, as it’s easier to roll them into balls. Dark Chocolate Chips - It's great to add few tablespoons of dark chocolate chips. Also choose dark chocolate without added sugar. Now you can find chocolate sweetened with stevia and erythritol.
Keto Pancake Syrup: Just 2 TBS of keto or sugar-free pancake syrup. I prefer ones with caramel flavor. That's so delicious in this combination. Really irresistible.
Finely Shredded Coconut: When choosing shredded coconut, definitely take unsweetened and finely shredded.

Optional ingredient alternatives

Collagen protein: You can also use collagen protein (aka collagen peptides) but it has a different consistency in recipes like this. So you will likely have to add additional flour to firm up the dough.
Egg white protein powder: I find that plain egg white protein gives these protein balls a funny flavor.
Plant protein: Pea protein, hemp protein, and other plant based protein powders should also work well here. Make sure they don’t have a greenish tinge as some do.
Nut Milks are always good to have in your fridge. I prefer to make my own, it's so easy to make, literally you just take few nuts and bled them with water in a blender.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s how to make these easy keto peanut butter protein balls:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Melt the peanut butter: It’s a lot easier to mix in the sweetener, protein powder, and other ingredients if you melt the peanut butter first. Melt peanut butter in microwave. You can do this in the microwave in a bowl, or you can do it in a pan over very low heat.
Combine ingredients: In a medium bowl, add peanut butter, coconut flour, and keto maple syrup. In a large microwave safe bowl, melt the peanut butter with the butter until it can be stirred together. Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add the protein powder, sweetener, almond flour, hemp seeds, and vanilla extract. Mix until a cohesive dough forms and you can roll into firm balls (see notes for any adjustments).
Mix well: Using a fork, stir until well mixed. Then, use a silicone spatula to fold until well incorporated and thickened. Add all other ingredients, except the chocolate chips, and combine with a spoon. In a large mixing bowl, combine all your ingredients and mix well using a spatula (or your hands) until the dough has a crumbly consistency.
Add Chocolate Chips: When everything combined, add dark chocolate chips and make the balls with your hands. Stir in the chocolate chips until well distributed.
Form the balls: Using a small or medium cookie scoop, scoop and drop peanut butter balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spaced evenly apart. Step 2. Step 3. Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to make balls. Roll between hands to make it into a ball shape. Using your hands, form small keto balls from the dough. You should end up with 9 balls around 30g each.
Roll into balls: Use your hands to roll into 1 inch balls. You should get about 20 of them. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet. Make into balls - Remove from refrigerator form mixture into 1-inch balls. If you don’t have a cookie scoop you can just use a spoon.
Refrigerate: Refrigerate until firm. Lastly, roll the peanut butter fat bombs in shredded coconut, place on a tray or a plate, and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving them. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour
Enjoy: Are you ready to try making all the keto energy balls? I can’t wait to hear what you think! Just, know that I truly love making and sharing in these sweet kitchen moments with you.

Optional steps

Dipping in sugar free chocolate: Dipped in sugar free chocolate, they can easily be made into keto buckeyes too! For this batch of keto peanut butter balls, I dipped some all the way in and left some with the classic eye in the center. Melt the chocolate. I always recommend melting double boiler style with a bit of cocoa butter to thin it out a bit. Drop the frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate and use a fork to roll around to coat. Lift out and tap the fork firmly against the side of the the bowl to remove excess chocolate. If making buckeyes, use a small skewer to dip the peanut butter balls most of the way into the chocolate, swirling to coat. Leave just the very top of the ball uncoated.
Coating into shredded coconut: If you like you may coat them into shredded coconut. Coconut Peanut Butter Keto Snacks - Roll in shredded coconut after coating in chocolate.
Garnish with chopped peanuts: Place back on the baking sheet and sprinkle with chopped peanuts, if desired. If you plan to garnish with chopped peanuts, do it right away after dipping.

Tips and Variations

Adjusting the consistency: Depending on the choice of nut butter and protein powder, the consistency of the dough may differ. But it’s easy to adjust it as needed. If your dough is too stiff and won’t hold together, add a bit more oil. If the dough is too goopy and you can’t roll it into balls, work in a bit more flour.
Sweetness: You can sweeten them more or less, according to your tastes.
Thermomix Method: Melt butter at 90°C for 2 minutes, speed 1. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix for 1 minute, speed 3.
Refrigerator Method: The easiest! CONVENTIONAL METHODCombine all ingredients in a medium size bowl until smooth. Check Note 1Transfer mix to shallow container and refrigerate or freeze until mix is firm. Check Note 2.Using a small melon baller scoop into balls. Roll between hands to make ball shape.

Storing and Freezing

Storing Notes: Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. On Day 1, bites will be soft and moist. Unless you live in a very hot climate, the peanut butter balls are fine on the counter in a covered container for up to 5 days. They will last in the fridge for 10 days. Store the balls in a covered container on the counter for up to 5 days, or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing Instructions: Store in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Can You Freeze Peanut Butter Energy Balls? Yes! Just store them in an airtight container and you can keep them in your freezer for up to 6 months. You may find it easier to put some wax paper between them to keep them from freezing together. When you’re ready to use them, just pop them in the fridge to let them thaw. You can also keep the un-dipped peanut butter balls in the freezer for several months and dip them whenever you are ready. The dipped balls can be stored in the freezer as well, but the chocolate may take on a bit of a greyish, dull appearance.

When to Eat Energy Balls?

Energy Balls will help you any time of day you need a quick pick up!

If you eat them before your physical activity, like a workout or sports practice, it will help give you the energy you need to power through and give a peak performance.
After your physical activity, your muscles are primed for soaking up all the health benefits you will get from eating this protein packed energy balls. The vitamins and nutrients in these energy balls will help to repair and refresh your body.
They are also great to get your through that mid-afternoon slump where many people start to feel their energy wane. A quick snack on these energy bites and you can breeze through the rest of your afternoon!

Peanut Butter: A Keto-Friendly Ingredient?

It depends on what peanut butter you use. All-natural, unsweetened peanut butter is indeed a keto-friendly food. It's a source of healthy fats and proteins and it's also low in carbs. One tablespoon of all-natural unsalted PB provides around 2.1g of net carbs. But not all peanut butters are made equal - that's why you want to read labels carefully.

Nutritional Information

These energy balls have approximately 110 calories per ball. The calorie amount will vary as you modify the recipe, so if you are counting calories you may want to be mindful of any variations you make.

This recipe for peanut butter protein balls has 6.8g of carbs and 3g of fiber. The net carb count comes to 3.8g for 2 balls.

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