These healthy Lemon Coconut Protein Balls are packed with nutrients and good carbs. Made with almond flour, dates, coconut, and lemon, these were made to please everybody, as I've created both whey and vegan versions, using plant-based protein powder. They are the perfect no-bake postworkout or on the go snack! Gluten-free, paleo, refined sugar-free, egg-free, no-bake, and kid-friendly!
This is not a sponsored post. All the ideas, images and opinions here are my own.
It has been a while since I've made protein balls or any kind of bliss balls. Not sure why these are so handy and easy to make!
But after one of my readers asked me if I sometimes did these types of recipes, it made me realize that I might have been doing recipes which are a little bit more complicated lately.
While these types of recipes were absolutely delicious, not everybody has the time to freeze a recipe for several hours, cut it into bars and then dip said bars into chocolate (I'm referring to my Twix Protein Bars here. Soooo good tho!).
So I am making you a promise here: While I am still going to make these more complicated (and extremely delicious) protein recipes here and there, a lot more of my recipes will be quick and easy like this one here.
The "ready in 15" kind of recipe. Everybody's busy and most people ain't got no time for a complicated recipe when we're talking meal prep. Am I right?
And so were born these Lemon Coconut Protein Balls.
You'll Love These Lemon Coconut Protein Balls
- Vegan Version. Some time ago, I stopped making vegan versions of my protein snacks, simply because I had very bad experiences with certain plant-based protein powders I used. But recently, my love, @heels_and_dumbbells became an Arbonne consultant and I had the chance to try their plant-based protein powder. Not going to lie, I was very impressed by the quality of the product: Very little after-taste, very easy to work with. So from now on, I will be making vegan versions of most of my protein snacks using Arbonne protein powder. Feel free to use my spouse's link to buy a bag of their amazing protein powder. CLICK HERE to order.
- Ready in 10 minutes. I know this is a major selling argument for a lot of you gym-goers. Ain't no time for no crazy, time-consuming meal-prep, right? So yes, these are entirely no-bake and whipped up in no time at all.
- 100% Sugar-Free. Yes, these are 100% naturally sweetened with dates, no sugar involved. They are still very sweet-tasting, tho.
- Very Fudgy and Flavorful. You know me, if it doesn't taste amazing, it's not going on the blog, period. But still, I find it important to state that these have an amazing, chewy and moist texture and that the taste is sooooo on point!
Do Protein Balls Have to Be Refrigerated?
You can keep these on the counter for up to 3 days in a sealed container without a problem. After that, I would recommend placing them in the refrigerator for 4 more days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Are Protein Balls Good for Losing Weight?
Depending on what they are made of, as a general rule, I would say yes. Protein will help you feel full longer and cut your cravings, but like all things in life, they have to be eaten in moderation (and also made with the right ingredients!). Depending on your body weight and nutritional needs, 1-3 balls should be enough to satisfy your hunger.
Which Protein Powder did you Use?
- For the Whey version, I used Ultimate Nutrition's Prostar Vanilla Crème Whey Protein Powder. (Use this link for 15% off!) It is low-carb and low-fat. Very Macro-friendly, easy to work with. Love the product.
- For the Vegan Version, I used Arbonne's Vanilla Protein Shake Mix.
More Protein Balls
Have you tried this Lemon Coconut Protein Balls recipe? Let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment & rating below! Don't forget to Follow Me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more delicious recipes. I also LOVE seeing your creations, take a pic and Tag @onecleverchef on Instagram!
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Recipe
Lemon Coconut Protein Balls
Equipment
- High-Velocity Blender or Food Processor
Ingredients
WHEY VERSION
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup pitted dates
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup vanilla whey protein powder Vanilla Crème Prostar Whey (15% off using the link)
- ⅓ cup coconut oil melted
- juice of 1 lemon
- zest of 1 lemon
- More Unsweetened Shredded coconut for rolling
VEGAN VERSION, Same ingredients as above except for:
- ½ cup Arbonne Vanilla Protein Shake Mix Instead of whey protein powder
- ¼ cup coconut oil Instead of the ⅓ cup in the whey version above
Instructions
- Grind. Using a high-velocity blender (see notes for the Blender I use) or food processor, turn the 1 cup almond flour and 1 cup pitted dates into a fine flour. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir Everything Together. Stir in ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut, ½ cup vanilla whey protein powder, ⅓ cup melted the coconut oil (I melted it in the microwave for 40 seconds, make sure it is warm, not hot), juice of 1 lemon, and the zest of a lemon, until it forms a hard ball.
- Roll Into Balls. Roll into 14 balls using your hands. I used a ⅛ cup scoop to make sure every ball was the same size. You may also use a tablespoon (2 tablespoon per ball).
- Roll into More Shredded Coconut. Pour some more shredded unsweetened coconut into a large plate, then proceed to roll each ball into it.
- Store. Place into a sealed container. Can be stored for up to 3 days at room temp, then place in the fridge for 4 more days. Can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
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