Brownie Protein Bites (Printer-friendly)
Fudgy chocolate-protein bites with oats and nut butter; no baking, quick chill for a ready snack or post-workout boost.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup rolled oats
02 - 1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
03 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
05 - 1/4 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter
06 - 2 tablespoons milk of choice
07 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
→ Add-ins
08 - 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
09 - Pinch fine sea salt
# How to Make It:
01 - In a food processor, pulse rolled oats until a coarse, flour-like texture forms.
02 - Add chocolate protein powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, and fine sea salt. Pulse until evenly mixed.
03 - Add pure maple syrup or honey, nut butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Blend until a cohesive, sticky dough forms. Add additional milk by teaspoon if needed for consistency.
04 - Fold dark chocolate chips into the mixture using a spatula or spoon.
05 - Portion and roll dough into 12 evenly-sized balls. Place onto a parchment-lined tray or plate.
06 - Refrigerate the bites for at least 30 minutes to set and enhance the fudgy texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They taste sinful but secretly pack a protein punch for that mid-afternoon energy drop.
- No baking required, so cleanup and impatience are both kept to a minimum.
02 -
- I once skipped chilling because I was impatient; they were so sticky it was almost comical.
- Adding extra milk—just a teaspoon at a time—completely saves the dough if it seems stubbornly dry.
03 -
- For the smoothest mixing, warm up your nut butter slightly so it’s easy to blend with the other ingredients.
- Don’t skimp on the sea salt; just a pinch really does make the chocolate pop.