Make way for these delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls recipe you’ll ever get to taste! It’s time to get back in the swing of things like chocolate. January, the month of purifying oneself from the holiday’s sins is almost over. Although that doesn’t mean that we will stop sharing dinner recipes, let’s turn our attention briefly to handfuls of raw cookie dough.
Three-Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bites Recipe by Nora from A Clean Bake
Three Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls
Since the recipe calls for so few ingredients, make sure you choose the best ones you can get your hands on. You can try this with almond butter, peanut butter, and – for a nut free alternative – sunflower butter. All three were delicious, so it really boils down to what flavor you prefer. The protein powder does the lion’s share of the work in terms of making the bites taste like actual cookie dough. Go with a vanilla powder that you already know you like the taste of.
You can Now Foods’s vanilla egg white protein powder, which has a wonderful vanilla flavor and is lightly sweetened with stevia, so we didn’t add any sweetener. **Edited to add: Yes, you can use any vanilla protein powder you like or have handy. It doesn’t have to be egg white-based** Depending on its level of sweetness, you certainly can add some granulated sweetener of your choice, or a few drops of liquid stevia, if you want to. Do not use honey or maple syrup, because there is nothing in the recipe to absorb the extra moisture.
All you need to know is that these protein bites are reasonably un-sinful (so, they’re perfect if you’re tapering off of a new year’s detox and need a treat). They taste like cookie dough but aren’t cookie dough, and they are terribly, terribly addictive – in the best way.
Other recipes you might like to try: Gluten Free Salmon Patties Recipe, Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Squares Recipe, Lemon Yogurt Pound Cake Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup nut or seed butter of choice e.g. peanut, almond, sunflower
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder plus an additional 1-2 Tbsp if your nut or seed butter is particularly oily
- pinch salt optional, to taste
- Granulated sweetener of choice optional, to taste
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips optional, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- In a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, heat your nut or seed butter for 30-60 seconds until softened and easier to stir. If you really want an arm workout, you can skip this step.
- Stir in the protein powder (and, if using, salt and/or sweetener) until combined.
- The dough should be soft and pliable, but hold its shape when you squeeze it together. If it is too soft, stir in another 1-2 Tablespoons protein powder until it resembles hearty (not soft or oily) cookie dough.
- The stirring should have cooled the mixture, but give it a few more minutes if necessary. Then fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop 1 Tablespoon portions and roll into balls. Press a few more chocolate chips into the top of each ball for garnish, if desired.
Notes
- These will be soft, like cookie dough. They will settle a little bit in the storage container, so will not hold a firm ball shape.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Yield: 16 bites
