Banana Bread Protein Balls have the same warm and comforting flavors of banana bread. Made with oats, bananas, peanut butter, and protein powder, each bite is an energy boost!
Oatmeal Protein Balls
It’s easy to make healthy choices when these banana bread protein balls are around! Loaded with natural, healthy ingredients, you can feel great about reaching for these bites. No preservatives or additives here!
These protein balls are naturally sweetened with bananas and have the same great flavors we love about banana bread. Oats add texture and peanut butter pairs wonderfully with chocolate protein powder. Enjoy a couple protein bites pre or post workout, on your way to work, or for a late night treat. Satisfy your snack craving with these banana bread protein balls!
Be sure to try my Peanut Butter Energy Balls and Walnut Brownie Protein Balls too!
Why You’ll Love this Energy Balls Recipe:
- HEALTHY: Made from scratch with wholesome ingredients, these bites are a protein-packed snack.
- FLAVORFUL: With sweet bananas, warm cinnamon, and salty peanut butter, each protein ball is loaded with flavor.
- MAKE AHEAD: Keep a batch of banana bread protein balls in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Skip the store bought snacks and whip up a batch of these protein balls instead. Homemade always tastes better!
How to Make Banana Bread Protein Balls
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Mix the dry ingredients together.
- Add the remaining ingredients.
- Chill the protein ball mixture.
- Scoop the mixture into balls.
- Refrigerate and enjoy.
Absolutely! Simply replace the chocolate protein powder with an equal amount of vanilla protein powder.
Use 60 grams of your favorite kind of chocolate or vanilla protein powder! This is typically about 2 scoops, but make sure to read the label or weigh the powder before adding.
I don’t recommend it. This step allows the mixture to firm up a bit before scooping and shaping into balls.
Store protein balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Make sure they’ve chilled in a single layer in the refrigerator first to prevent the protein balls from sticking to each other.
I love keeping a batch of these protein balls on hand for a quick breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, or a healthy dessert.
Tips!
- For a vegan alternative, use maple syrup instead of honey and make sure the protein powder is also vegan.
- The mixture is super sticky, so wet your hands before rolling the mixture into balls.
- Overripe bananas are best! They’re naturally sweeter and will combine more easily with the other ingredients.
Beat the afternoon slump with these banana bread protein balls!
Are these protein balls gluten free?
To ensure these protein balls are gluten free, use certified gluten free oats and protein powder.
How can I make these protein balls without nuts?
Replace the peanut butter with an equal amount of a nut butter alternative (like sunflower seed butter) and make sure all of the other ingredients you use are also nut free.
What kind of oats should I use?
For best results, use old-fashioned rolled oats. In a pinch, you can use quick oats but they won’t have the same chewy texture.
More Quick Breakfast Recipes We Love
- PBJ Overnight Oats
- Cereal Milk Breakfast Smoothie
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
- Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes
- French Toast with Almond Milk
Tasty and healthy, banana bread protein balls are hard to resist!
More Healthy Snack Recipes to Try:
- Cream Cheese Fruit Dip
- Banana Breakfast Cookies
- Baked Sweet Potato Chips
- Creamy Green Smoothie
- Healthy Spinach Dip
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Banana Bread Protein Balls Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 300 grams
- ½ cup ground flaxseed 70 grams
- 2 ounces chocolate protein powder 60 grams (approximately 2 scoops)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 overripe bananas mashed
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter 68 grams
- 2 tablespoons honey 44 grams
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Hand Mixer (optional)
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the oats, flaxseed, protein powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together.3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup ground flaxseed, 2 ounces chocolate protein powder, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the mashed bananas, peanut butter, and honey. Use a hand mixer or spatula to combine.2 overripe bananas, ¼ cup natural peanut butter, 2 tablespoons honey
- Tightly cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Once the mixture has chilled, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Use a 1-tablespoon-sized scoop to scoop out protein balls. Use your hands to shape the scoops into balls and place them in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. This is a sticky process so wet your hands to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands. Repeat until all of the protein ball mixture has been shaped into balls.
- To prevent protein balls from sticking to each other, wrap the baking sheet in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour before combining the protein balls into an airtight container. Protein balls can be enjoyed immediately without any additional chill time.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- For a vegan alternative, use maple syrup instead of honey and make sure the protein powder is also vegan.
- The mixture is super sticky, so wet your hands before rolling the mixture into balls.
- Overripe bananas are best! They’re naturally sweeter and will combine more easily with the other ingredients.
Nutrition Information
I’ve made this recipe 3x now. I add Lily’s chocolate chips before I roll the balls. These are great to keep in the fridge and my teenage boys love them. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear you are loving them, Bree!
That was gross… maybe use half the nutmeg listed.. or 1/4 of it… and expect it to taste like unfinished, dry, oat banana bread. It was just gnarly IMO
I’m sorry this recipe didn’t work out for you! You can always add more peanut butter to change the consistency!
Can you use chia seeds instead of flaxseed?
I don’t see why not!
How many balls does this make
This recipe makes about 35 protein balls!
Can you use vanilla flavor protein powder instead? Has anyone else tried another flavor?
Yes, you can use vanilla!
Very delicious..was eating out of the bowl before oats were set! Lol! You are always a go-to for new recipes!(:
I love to hear that!
Approximately, how much protein is in one ball?
Three grams