Date Free Protein Balls

Two protein balls that don't use dates - but in fact chickpeas and oats. I love dates but sometimes we can't find them, they are expensive, and they are hard on the blender, so alternative ingredients are sometimes useful! These treats are also vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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Date Free Protein Balls

Two ultimate no date protein balls! These useful and easy protein snacks, or bliss ball, don't require dates! So we have bliss balls without dates.

I love dates but decided to create two recipes that don't need them since they are not always accessible and are a bit hard on the blender/processor. Of course, you can always use dates if you want. I think you will love the ease and nutrition in these two recipes.

Why Protein Balls Are Good For You

Snack balls are an important element to the healthy diet because they provide a fast route to energy. And this recipe also provides sustained energy and a feeling of fullness because chickpeas and oats are used.

Protein Balls are Useful for Weight Loss

Why? Because chickpeas and oats provide protein and fiber, and many essential minerals that provide energy. So hunger pangs are diminished. Let's look at the nutrition the two base ingredients provide.

Why Chickpeas Are Perfect for Protein Balls

Chickpeas have a lot of nutrition, though until a few years ago they were considered to be another boring legume, haha. Three years ago or so, they rose to the level of superfood and have stayed there.

In general, chickpeas are a legume or bean that is low in fat and sodium, high in protein, fiber, iron, antioxidants. They are also high in vitamin K, folate, phosphorus, zinc, choline, and selenium - all of which are often in short supply in current diets.

Many people build them into edible healthy cookie dough recipes because they provide the correct flavor, blank palate, and color to resemble traditional unhealthy cookie dough. I did that too in this chickpea cookie dough recipe. And I used them in these other popular chickpea recipes:

Chickpea Clusters

Chickpea Donuts

Chickpea Pizza Crust

I used them in this recipe today to make a chickpea protein ball, which makes sense, right? Cookie dough is malleable and high in protein, and provides the perfect texture to roll into a protein ball.

Can You Eat Raw Oats in Energy Balls?

Yes! Rolled oats are a grain that bring a huge amount of nutrition to any meal or recipe. They are full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants that support weight control, lower blood sugar levels, reduced risk of heart disease and even boost the immune system.

And oats are actually higher in protein and healthy fats, and lower in carbohydrates, and contain more fiber than most other whole grains. So of course, they make the perfect choice for a foundation for a protein ball recipe.

How to Make These Protein Ball Recipes

Choose the recipes you want to make, either the oat protein ball or the chickpea protein ball.

Blend or process the ingredients into a smooth, malleable batter. Chill it, roll it into balls, and coat with the coating of your choice. Keep them refrigerated until ready to eat.

Along with two different recipes, I also share with you many optional toppings for each so you can make dozens of flavor combinations. Some choices include popped quinoa, beetroot powder, cinnamon, cacao powder, cacaco nibs, goji berries, and more.

Do Protein Balls Go Bad?

Yes, at least they go stale. So store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for two weeks. After that, freeze for up to three months.
If you like my protein balls, you might these similar recipes:

• Marzipan
• Sugar Cookie Truffles
• Chocolate Spice Truffles
• Vegan Cookie Dough
• Easy Truffles Recipe
• Chocolate Covered Chickpea Snack

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Date Free Protein Balls

Created by Dee Dine

Two ultimate protein balls that don't have dates. Instead they use oats and chickpeas which provide tons of protein and fiber. I love dates but sometimes we can't find them, and they are hard on the blender, so alternative ingredients are sometimes useful!

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Cuisine vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free

Servings 18

Ingredients

 

US Customary - Metric

Oat Protein Ball

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ⅓ cup ground flax seed
• ½ cup nut butter
• 1 tbsp cacao powder
• ¼ cup of water
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of salt

Optional Mix-ins or Coatings

• popped quinoa, beetroot powder, cinnamon, cacao

Chickpea Protein Ball

• 1 15oz can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• ½ cup almond flour
• ⅓ cup cashew butter
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla paste (or vanilla extract)
• pinch of salt

Optional Mix-ins or Coatings

• cacao nibs, goji berries, cinnamon, cacao

Instructions

 

Prep

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Make Either Oats Or Chickpea Protein Ball Recipe

• Blend all ingredients for either recipe in a food processor or blender.
  
• The dough should be dry enough to stick together but if you find it crumbly add more nut butter (if it's the runny type), or maple syrup if you taste and would like it sweeter, or water if the taste is fine, you just want the texture sticker to be able to scoop and roll.
• Once you are happy with the taste and texture, use a cookie scoop to grab a consistent amount, and put the portions on the lined cookie sheet.
• Rub your hands with either cacao powder if your recipe chocolate, or chickpea or almond flour. Then pick up each portion and roll into a ball shape.
• You can get anywhere from 12 to 18 balls from each recipe depending on the size you make the
• Rolle the balls into any coating you choose. See ingredient list for options. Chill for ½ hour on the cookie sheet in the refrigerator to allow coating to set. Then store in a sealed container in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

How to Store Protein Balls

• Store them for 7 days in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer.

Notes

Want to make these nut-free? Swap the nut butters out for Sunflower butter.

The nutrition information is for the oat bliss ball only. This chickpea recipe has similar nutrition although higher protein.

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

Keyword chickpea bliss balls, date-free snacks, oat bliss balls, protein ball recipes, protein snacks

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Dee Dine

Dee Dine is founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a plant based recipe blog, and author of the recent cookbook, Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients and another immunity-boosting smoothie shot book, 4-Ingredient Smoothies + Juices , due out in January 2021. On this blog you'll find incredibly easy recipes with hidden veggies for anyone wanting to eat healthier, regardless of diet. Dee has graduate degrees in sciences and  journalism, editor at The Feedfeed and a nutritional expert at WikiHow. More about Dee Dine here.