Ingredients
Protein balls
- 120 g rolled oats about 1½ cups; not steel-cut
- 128 g creamy peanut butter ½ cup; stir well if separated
- 60 g vanilla whey protein powder weigh rather than counting scoops
- 42 g honey 2 tablespoons
- 42 g mini semisweet chocolate chips ¼ cup
- 30 ml whole milk 2 tablespoons, added gradually; plus teaspoons only if needed
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Flexible spatula
- 1 Small scoop optional
- 1 Airtight container
Instructions
Mix and chill
- Stir the peanut butter and honey in a medium bowl until evenly blended. Add the oats and whey powder, then stir and press with a spatula until there are no large pockets of dry powder.
- Add 1 tablespoon of milk and fold in the chocolate chips. Let stand for 5 minutes so the oats absorb moisture. Squeeze a small portion: it should hold together. Add the remaining milk a teaspoon at a time as needed. If your powder is especially absorbent, use another teaspoon or two; avoid making a wet paste.
- Divide into 16 equal portions, about 26 g each. Press each portion firmly together before rolling between clean palms. If sticky, refrigerate briefly before shaping rather than immediately adding more powder.
- Arrange in a covered container and refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until firm enough to lift cleanly. Keep refrigerated at 40°F (4°C) or below and use within 4 days. Freeze separated portions for up to 2 months for best texture; thaw in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Calories: 112kcalProtein: 5.8g
Video
Notes
Nutrition is an estimate per 1 of 16 equal balls, not a laboratory analysis. Calculation uses approximately 450 calories from oats, 760 peanut butter, 232 whey, 128 honey, 210 chocolate chips, and 19 milk: about 1,799 calories per batch. Protein is approximately 93 g per batch. Labels and extra milk change the estimate. Reference labels: Quaker oats (150 calories/40 g), Skippy creamy peanut butter (190/32 g), NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database vanilla whey label 253168 (120/31 g), Toll House semisweet morsels (70/14 g), and whole milk (150/240 ml); honey 64 calories/tablespoon. Cost is an ingredient-use estimate, not a current shopping quote.
Contains peanuts and milk; check chocolate and powder for soy and other allergens. For gluten-free preparation, use products labeled appropriately. Honey is unsuitable for infants younger than 12 months.
Video credit: Bodybuilding.com, Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Drops | Quick Recipes, published June 22, 2016. It demonstrates a related mix-and-shape method but uses different quantities and sweeteners. Follow this card's measured ingredients; this version adds milk gradually and does not use syrup.