These are delicious! A perfect healthy sweet treat. I love how quick and easy they are and they are gluten-free too. -Colleen
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 5 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 7
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 299 kcals and 9 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Almond flour, almond butter, vanilla protein powder, coconut oil and mini chocolate chips.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, high protein.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: These quick no-bake cookie dough protein balls are soft, chewy, and ready in just 5 minutes when a sweet craving hits.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Skip the granulated and brown sugar and whip up these easy, healthy chocolate chip cookie dough protein balls instead. They have that classic, vanilla cookie dough flavor you love, but come together quickly for a simple no-bake snack busy moms can keep on hand.
Soft, sweet, and packed with chocolate chips, these bites deliver that nostalgic cookie dough taste in a healthier way, similar to protein buckeyes or protein rice krispie treats. They're perfect for when you’re craving something sweet but still want a better-for-you option.
Jump To
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- 💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- Flavor Variations
- How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
- Expert Tips To Make It
- How To Store Them
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls FAQs
- More Healthy Cookie Dough Recipes
- Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls
💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
No-baking: Prepped in just 5 minutes, these healthy protein cookie dough balls come together with little effort.
Texture: They have the texture of raw cookie dough you like to lick off a spoon. Sweet, chewy, not too sticky.
Meal prep: These cookie dough bites can be made and stored in the fridge or freezer to make for easy, grab-and-go snacking.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Almond Flour: Really helps give a cookie-dough taste to the balls because it's high in healthy fats. Make sure to use blanched almond flour and not almond meal, or the texture will be too gritty. (learn the difference between almond flour and ground almonds).
- Vanilla Protein Powder: The kind of protein you choose will affect the taste and texture, but any protein can work here. Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!
- Almond Butter: Most people use peanut butter as the base, but almond butter gives a more cookie-dough taste. Make sure it’s creamy and fresh (versus the hardened part at the bottom).
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
- Sprinkles: Just like with dairy-free protein cookie dough, swap the chocolate chips for sprinkles, chopped nuts, or coconut for a different kind of cookie flavor.
- Double chocolate: Use a chocolate protein powder in the base and maybe swirl in some dairy-free chocolate glaze for maximum indulgence.
- Buttery bliss: Use butter (vegan or regular) in place of the coconut oil for a more buttery-based cookie.
How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add in the almond butter, honey, and coconut oil before the mini chocolate chips.
Step 3: Mix well and let sit for 5 full minutes.
Step 4: Roll the cookie dough batter into balls and freeze to set.
Expert Tips To Make It
The protein powder you choose will make a difference to both the texture and the flavor of the cookie dough protein bites.
Adjust the texture of the cookie dough balls by adding the coconut oil in a little at a time. You only want enough that the dough is sticky and holds together, but not that it's sloppy. You need to adjust this based on the protein you choose.
The best protein powder for the balls
- Originally made with a thick, pea-based protein powder that absorbs a lot of liquid.
- If using a non-fermented protein, you may not need as much coconut oil.
- If using collagen powder or whey protein (learn more about what collagen powder is), you will only need about ½ the amount of coconut oil, but you may need an extra bit of honey.
- I recently switched to beef isolate protein powder for healthy reasons, and it makes the TASTIEST cookie dough balls. However, it also creates a stickier texture. So, only use ½ of the coconut flour and add more in as needed only. Equip Protein is my favorite.
How To Store Them
You want to keep the balls in the fridge or freezer as they do firm up more the longer they’re chilled.
If you plan to eat these cookie dough protein balls (or even the batter) as soon as you make them, know that they’ll be a bit sticky and much softer. They're best if placed in the fridge for 30 minutes; they still taste amazing and are decadently soft, but they’re less gooey.
Stored in the fridge, they'll last up to 7 days. Bring them to room temperature to enjoy them again.
In the freezer, separate layers of balls with sheets of parchment paper and know they'll stay fresh for up to 3 months. To enjoy them, let them sit on the counter until soft.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls FAQs
Yes, cookie dough bites are safe to eat as long as the balls do not contain raw eggs.
Protein balls can dry out depending on the protein powder used and how much liquid is in the mixture. If you notice that the batter seems a bit crumbly, add a splash more of coconut oil or even non-dairy milk to freshen it up.
Yes, cookie dough protein balls can be part of a healthy diet. They're based on quality protein and healthy fats, which help you satisfy a sweet tooth while still giving your body the nutrients it needs.
More Healthy Cookie Dough Recipes
If you tried this Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup almond butter smooth and runny
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ¼ cup vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup coconut oil measured solid
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoons sea salt
- 3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- If you haven’t already, melt the coconut oil (and honey if needed).
- Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl (omit the chocolate chips) and mix well. Pour in the coconut oil and honey and mix to combine.
- Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and mix well.
- Grease or wet your hands and roll the dough into bite-sized balls (about 14 of them).
- Enjoy them as is or place them in the fridge to set firmer.
Notes
- Any nut butter will work for the cookie dough balls. So, use what you have on hand or try new nut butters to switch up the flavor!
- You can eat this cookie dough as-is off a spoon, rolled into bites/balls, or firm it up in the fridge for pop-in-your-mouth snacks.
- The type of protein powder you choose will affect the texture and the flavor of the recipe. See the notes in the blog post on how to adjust the recipe based on the protein powder you're using.
- One serving is two balls
- Want more protein-packed, dessert-like snacks? Check out the Strong and Sweet Protein Guide!
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
fitasamamabear says
Yay, glad you loved it!
Anne says
Yum! This is a great guilt free snack.
Ann says
Yummy, healthy cookie dough... what more do you need?
fitasamamabear says
Haha it's a life staple
Lisa says
Yum! Love how simple these are! Thanks for sharing!
fitasamamabear says
Simple is a life staple for me haha
Colleen says
These are delicious! A perfect healthy sweet treat. I love how quick and easy they are and they are gluten-free too.
fitasamamabear says
Yes! Super simple to whip up! Glad you enjoy them!
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
I was never a fan of cookie dough, but I might actually enjoy these! Love the ingredients!
fitasamamabear says
Haha really?! Oh god I remember wanting to eat nothing but cookie dough as a kid haha Give this one a go- it's addictive!