Chocolate mint protein balls are the perfect healthy sweet treat. These protein packed vegan peppermint truffles are great for dessert or a healthy afternoon snack!
You won’t believe how easy they are to make and how quickly they will disappear! Naturally vegan, gluten free and dairy free these mint protein balls are fancy enough for parties but easy enough to make any time of year!
Why you will love mint chocolate protein bites
- These chocolate mint bliss balls are chocolate covered mint protein balls that are easy to make and super decadent!
- Made with healthy ingredients that are easy to find, these chocolate mint protein balls are packed with flavor and are perfect for holiday parties or weekday snacking!
- The energy bites are a combination of dates, nuts, cacao powder and protein powder and are extremely filling and the perfect sweet snack. Topped with melted dairy free chocolate these truffles are everything you love about truffles with a healthy spin!
- These mint protein balls would be the perfect homemade gift for the holidays! You can easily customize these based on preferences and allergies! These are already gluten free, vegan and dairy free!
Ingredients
- Medjool Dates
- Walnuts
- Cacao Powder
- Chocolate Protein Powder
- Dairy Free Milk
- Peppermint Extract
- Dairy Free Chocolate Chips
How to make chocolate mint protein balls
- Remove the pits from the dates. Add the dates to a food processor and process on high about 30 seconds.
- Add walnuts to the food processor and process on high for 1 minute.
- Add the cacao powder, protein powder, dairy free milk and peppermint extract to the food processor and process on high until well combined.
- Form the mixture into energy bites (this recipe will make about 20-21 total).
- Place the energy bites in the freezer 5-10 minutes to help them firm up.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals (takes about 1 minute total).
- Add wax paper to a small baking sheet.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the peppermint energy bites and place directly on the wax paper. Place in the freezer for 15-20 minutes to allow the chocolate to fully set up.
- Store in the freezer (up to 2 months) or fridge (up to 10 days).
Top tips
- When you are working with medjool dates, it’s important to take the pits out of the center. To do this simply cut the date in half and remove the pit. Also the dates should be relatively soft to the touch. If the dates feel hard when you squeeze them, you may want to soak them in hot water for 5-10 minutes or microwave them for 10-15 seconds to help soften them.
- You can make these into mint chocolate protein bars instead! Instead of forming these into balls, you can press the mixture down into a glass Pyrex dish lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Once flat in the dish, place in the freezer for 30 minutes to 1 hour to harden. Remove from the dish and slice into bars. Then coat the bars with chocolate. You may decide just to coat just one side with chocolate then let it sit in the freezer for 10 minutes to harden before coating or drizzling the other side.
- When you are rolling out energy balls, it can be helpful to have slightly damp hands to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands.
Recommended kitchen tools
Common questions
What protein powder to use?
This recipe uses a vegan protein powder. It absorbs water and helps add to the structure of the peppermint energy balls. I love to use Nuzest Protein powder because it has minimal ingredient (no artificial flavors) and is easy to digest. You can use whatever your favorite vegan protein powder you love.
How to store mint chocolate protein balls
Since these are made with protein powder and dates, you can store them in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for about 2 months.
TIP: I like to store the chocolate mint protein balls in the freezer and take 2-3 out at a time and move these to the fridge for at least 45 minutes before snacking! This is because they are a bit tough to bite down on right out of the freezer.
Substitutions
Protein powder: If you do not have vegan protein powder, you can also use gluten free oat flour or gluten free flour. You will need about 2/3 cups of gluten free flour to replace the protein powder in this recipe.
Walnuts: If you cannot have walnuts, you can also use whatever your favorite nuts or seeds are. Some other great options include:
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Pecans
- Almonds
Cacao powder: I use cacao powder because it is less bitter than cocoa powder. However if you cannot find cacao powder, you can use cocoa powder (unsweetened).
Dairy free chocolate chips: These protein truffles are essentially chocolate covered energy bites. Dairy free chocolate chips are easy to melt and typically easy to find. You can also use dairy free chocolate squares, like Unsweetened Bakers Chocolate.
If you love this recipe, you should try
Chocolate Mint Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 8 medjool dates - pitted
- 1 cup walnuts
- 2 servings vegan chocolate protein powder - see below for alternatives
- 1/4 cup cacao powder - or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 tbsp dairy free milk
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- 8 oz dairy free chocolate chips - or chocolate of choice
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates.
- Put the dates in the food processor and process on high about 30 seconds to 1 minute to break them down until they eventually form a ball in the food processor.
- Add the walnuts to the date mixture and blend on high for about 1 minute. This mixture should resemble wet sand at this point.
- Add the protein powder, cacao powder, dairy free milk and peppermint extract to the food processor and process on high, about 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Take about 1-1.5 tablespoons worth of the mixture into your palm and form it into balls, squeezing the mixture together well to ensure it sticks together. You should be able to make about 20-21 energy bites from this.
- Place the energy bites in the freezer for 5-10 minutes before coating in chocolate so the chocolate coating will quickly start to harden.
Chocolate Coating
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave using 30 intervals until melted (will take about 1-1:30 minutes). Stir chocolate well between intervals.
- Using two spoons, cover energy bites in a thin layer of chocolate.
- Place on wax paper lined plate or sheet and freeze for 5-10 minutes so chocolate can harden.
Notes
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Pecans
- Almonds
sprint2thetable
Friday 12th of December 2014
These look great! I especially like the pistachio add - those are my favorite!
Alessandra @ the foodie teen
Thursday 11th of December 2014
Love the vibrant colour! Yum!
Sam
Sunday 14th of December 2014
Alessandra thank you so much!
Linda @ The Fitty
Thursday 11th of December 2014
I love the purple look of this treat. :)
Sam
Sunday 14th of December 2014
Linda than you! You've gotta love a good chocolate coating!
makingthymeforhealth
Thursday 11th of December 2014
These look awesome! I love the way you describe the breaking of the chocolate shell with the smooth center. You've officially got me craving one!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment
Thursday 11th of December 2014
Both to nuts and chocolate of course! I love themed gifts. The yoga basket you put together in the picture is really cute.
Sam
Sunday 14th of December 2014
Lauren thank you - I know I'd love getting a yoga basket like that :) Hope you are enjoying the weekend! I know you love dark chocolate - it's my favorite too!