Protein Balls in Four Ways

Need to get your gains but don’t want to drink bland protein milkshakes everyday? Well, protein balls, currently taking the Internet by storm, are both filled with protein and serve as a delicious dessert. And, they don’t have an artificial taste to them like most protein desserts because they are made using only a few natural ingredients. These little bites can also be made completely vegan and are naturally gluten free. You can make them in just about any flavor with the right proportions. We, the Parves Apes, have, through trial and error, come up with four unique takes on our basic protein ball recipe, each which makes about twelve protein balls. We also want to give credit to Elle Gibson, who posts lots of similar recipes. Without further ado, here are our creations:

Dark Chocolate Raspberry

1. To make the dough:

-1 ½ cups of dates

-2 scoops of dark chocolate protein powder (you can also use milk chocolate or a vegan variation)

-3 tbsp cocoa powder 

-¼ dried raspberries

-2 tbsp almond butter (peanut butter works too)

2. To assemble the balls

One at a time, make flat circles out of the dough and put a little bit of raspberry jam in the middle. Then, roll them up so that it is a ball with jam only in the middle. Coat the balls in ½ of melted dark chocolate and set on a tray. 

3. To decorate:

Crush some dried raspberries into small bits and sprinkle them on top of the chocolate-coated balls. Finally, sprinkle them with flaky salt before popping them into the freezer.

Ferrero Roche

1. To make the dough:

-1 ½ cup dates

-2 scoops chocolate protein powder (milk chocolate is preferable)

-3 tbsp of cocoa powder

-2 tbsp almond butter (peanut works too)

2. To assemble the balls:

Again, one at a time, roll pieces of dough into circles. Take individual whole hazelnuts and wrap them in Nutella before placing them at the center of the disassembled balls. Then roll the dough around the Nutella hazelnut center just like a Fererro Roche and coat them with chocolate (melted semi-sweet chocolate is recommended).

3. To top them off:

Cut up hazelnuts into small pieces and top the balls with them along with flaky salt. Pop into the freezer and enjoy your healthy Ferrero Roches!

Tiramisu

-1 ½ cups of dates

-3 tbsp oat flour (almond flour works too)

-3 tbsp cocoa powder 

-2 tbsp chocolate protein powder (or a mix of chocolate and vanilla)

-2 tbsp almond butter (peanut butter works too, but almond butter has a more neutral flavor)

-1 shot instant/regular espresso

1. To assemble the balls

After combining all of the ingredients together, roll the dough into balls. Melt ½ cup of white chocolate and coat the balls in the chocolate.

2. To decorate:

Before the chocolate hardens, sift some cacao powder on top of the balls and add some flaky salt. Place them in the freezer to set and then enjoy your little tiramisu balls!

Lemon

1. To make the dough:

-1 ½ cups of dates

-4 tbsp oat/almond flour

-2 tbsp vanilla protein powder

-2 tbsp almond butter 

-2 tbsp lemon curd

2. To assemble the balls:

Scoop out dough and make flat circles out of the dough and put some lemon curd in the middle. Then, roll them up so that it is a ball with curd only in the middle. Coat the balls in ½ cup of melted white chocolate and set on a tray.

3. To decorate:

Grate lemon zest on top of the balls as a garnish and for extra lemon flavor!