Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Protein Balls
No-bake protein balls made with creamy peanut butter, honey, vanilla whey protein powder and Rice Krispies cereal, ready in 15 minutes and kept in the fridge.
These little balls taste like cookie dough, yet each serving of two gives you about 8 g of protein. You only need five pantry ingredients, one bowl and your hands: stir, scoop, roll and they are ready. Keep them in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for a month, for after-school snacks or a quick bite between meals.
Instructions
- 1
Line a lidded storage container with parchment paper. Set aside.
- 2
In a medium mixing bowl, mix together the peanut butter, honey, protein powder and salt until combined. It might look a little dry at first, but it will come together. Clean hands work best for this, but a stiff spatula or wooden spoon will work just fine. Add the Rice Krispies cereal and mix until incorporated.
- 3
Use a small cookie scoop (2 teaspoons) to portion each protein ball. Give each one a quick roll between your hands and place it in the parchment-lined container. If you like, press a couple of mini chocolate chips or mini M&M's on top of each ball.
- 4
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 1 month.
Ago's Notes
- Makes about 24 balls of 2 teaspoons each; one serving is 2 balls.
- Nut-free or peanut-free: use almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter. The protein per serving will be slightly lower.
- A whey-based vanilla protein powder gives the best cookie-dough flavor; most brands work.
- Gluten-free: Kellogg's Rice Krispies contain barley malt, so use a certified gluten-free crispy rice cereal and a certified gluten-free protein powder.
- Vegan: swap the honey for maple syrup or agave nectar and use a plant-based protein powder.
- Instead of the chocolate topping, you can roll the balls in unsweetened shredded coconut. They are also good straight from the freezer.
I really like how these turn out: soft and chewy, with a light crunch from the cereal, and no one guesses they are a protein snack. This is my kind of cooking, one bowl, clean hands and no oven at all. They remind me of our Italian salame di cioccolato, another no-bake treat simply mixed, shaped and chilled, though here peanut butter and honey hold everything together. The taste is sweet and nutty, with a soft vanilla note.
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