If you love the taste of chocolate and coffee, you must try this chocolate coffee protein balls recipe.
Chocolate coffee protein balls are packed with healthy fat, fiber, and protein — and they’re easy to make!
The basic recipe for protein balls is quite simple. You only need some dry ingredients (like oats, nuts, and protein powder) and a sticky ingredient to hold the protein balls together (like dates, honey, or maple syrup).
You can also add other ingredients like:
- Chia, flax, etc. to boost the nutrition
- Fruit, cocoa powder, etc. to boost the flavor
Simple Coffee Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Food processor
- Mixing bowl
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chocolate-flavored protein powder
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup coffee
- 1/2 cup pitted dates
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Brew the coffee and allow it to cool.
- Put all the ingredients into a food processor. Process them for 20 seconds or until the mixture begins to clump together.
- Then, roll the mixture into balls and store them in the fridge for up to four days.
- Simple Coffee Protein Balls Recipe
- Coffee Protein Balls Health Benefits
- Other Coffee Protein Balls Recipes
- Whey Coconut Protein Balls Recipe
- Coffee Chocolate Chip Protein Balls Recipe
- Vegan Coconut Coffee Protein Balls Recipe
- Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter Protein Balls Recipe
- Coffee Protein Balls Recipe FAQs
Coffee Protein Balls Health Benefits
The ingredients in these coffee protein balls offer many health benefits, including:
Protein Powder
I don’t use protein powder regularly, but I always keep some for making snacks like coffee protein balls and baking. Protein is a macronutrient that provides a satiating effect, which can help you feel full longer.
Oats
This whole grain is a good source of soluble fiber. This fiber helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Walnuts
This nut contains high levels of antioxidants, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Walnut is also a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants.
Cold Brew Coffee
Despite the bad reputation, coffee has beneficial effects when consumed moderately. Consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine, about four to five cups of coffee, per day seems to be safe for most healthy adults. In addition, cold brew coffee is prepared differently, which makes it less acidic and less bitter.
You may also be interested in reading our guide on how to make cold-brew coffee at home.
Dates
Dates serve as the sweetener in this recipe. Dates are a concentrated source of natural sugars but contain other nutrients like antioxidants and fiber, which offer many health benefits.
Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a good source of healthy fats and fiber. They also add an extra layer of texture to the coffee protein balls.
Other Coffee Protein Balls Recipes
Whey Coconut Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Mug
- Mixing bowl
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cashew butter
- 1/4 cup rice malt syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tsp instant coffee granules
- 4 tsp hot water
- 6 tsp coconut flour
- 1/2 cup unflavored whey protein isolate
- a pinch of sea salt
- almonds (for coating) optional
Instructions
- Brew the instant coffee with the hot water and set it aside to cool.
- Mix the cashew butter, rice malt syrup, vanilla extract, coffee, and sea salt in a large mixing bowl until combined.
- Add the whey protein powder and coconut flour, then mix until you get a dough.
- Divide the mixture into 16 portions. To do this, you can roll the mixture into a large sausage, split it in two, then split each half in two, and repeat the process until you get 16.
- Roll a portion of the mixture into a bite-sized ball, then roll it in the crushed almonds over it. Repeat this process with the remaining mixture.
- You can put your coffee protein balls in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for one to two days.
- You can wrap the remaining balls in a foil or a ziplock bag and freeze them. Defrost in the fridge when you’re ready to eat them.
Check out these mocha coffee energy balls recipes.
Coffee Chocolate Chip Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Food processor
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/3 cup collagen powder
- 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips
- 2 tsp instant coffee
- 5 tbsp cashew butter
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- a pinch of sea salt
- a pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Grind the oats in a food processor until coarse.
- Mix the ground oats, collagen powder, mini chocolate chips, instant coffee, sea salt, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
- Add the cashew butter, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract and mix.
- Roll into 10 to 12 balls and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
Vegan Coconut Coffee Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Food processor
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pitted dates
- 1/2 cup flavored protein powder of choice
- 1/2 cup strongly brewed coffee
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- Brew the coffee and set it aside to cool.
- Place the pitted dates in a bowl, add hot water, and allow to soak for 15 minutes. If the dates are nice and soft, you can skip this step.
- Drain the dates well, then add the ingredients to a food processor. Mix into a thick dough — one that you can press together between your fingers.
- Roll the dough using your hand into about 18 balls.
- You can roll the balls in coconut, cinnamon, or cocoa powder for extra flavor.
- Put the vegan coconut coffee protein balls in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to three months. You can store them at room temperature for one to two days for better texture.
Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter Protein Balls Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Airtight container
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup vanilla whey protein powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp instant coffee
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix the old-fashioned oats, vanilla whey protein powder, salt, and coffee in a medium bowl.
- Combine the almond butter and maple syrup in a microwave-safe bowl, then heat for 30 seconds. Stir until mixed.
- Add the almond butter mixture to the old-fashioned oats mixture.
- Put the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes. When the dough is firm, roll it into 20 balls.
- Store the balls in an airtight container. The protein balls can be stored in your fridge for up to a week.
Coffee Protein Balls Recipe FAQs
What Kind Of Protein Powder Should I Use?
You can use any protein powder, including any plant-based options.
What Should The Consistency Be?
The mixture should not be too dry but should not be too wet either. The perfect sweet spot is where it is a bit tacky, so you can easily roll them into balls.
If the mixture is too sticky or too wet when you try to roll it, you can add a few spoonfuls of oats and then process again. If it is too dry, add one more tablespoon of cold-brew coffee.
What If I Don’t Have A Food Processor?
The coffee protein balls recipe uses a food processor. However, if you don’t have a food processor at home, you can use a blender to mix your dry and wet ingredients separately or mix them by hand.
Remember that if you try to blend all the ingredients in a blender, they won’t combine properly — so make sure to blend them separately!
You may also be interested in reading our guide on how to grind coffee beans without a grinder.
Can You Make Coffee Protein Balls With Steel-Cut Oats?
Unfortunately, no. Steel-cut oats are too hard for a coffee protein ball recipe. So, just save them for your breakfast!
Related Article: Can You Mix Protein Powder With Coffee? The Good And Bad Side