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These No-Bake Protein Balls are as cute as they are delicious, made with just five simple ingredients and decorated with candy eyes and chocolate buttons to look like little turkeys.
I always keep a batch of these on hand during Thanksgiving. Rich, chocolatey, and satisfying, they’re a better-for-you treat that will keep you full and energized.
They’re perfect for snacking, entertaining, or adding a festive touch to a holiday spread alongside other favorites like my pumpkin veggie tray or easy Thanksgiving turkey appetizers.
Recipe Tip
Try dipping the balls in melted dark chocolate before adding the turkey details.
Even better, there’s no baking required! With just a few simple steps, they come together quickly and are practically foolproof. My kids love helping roll the bites and decorate the faces, which makes them just as fun to make as they are to eat. Add these to your lineup of healthy snacks, and you may never reach for store-bought protein bars again.
No Bake Protein Balls Ingredients
- Oats: I prefer fine-rolled oats for this recipe for a softer texture.
- Butter: Room temperature salted or unsalted butter.
- Dates: Soft medjool dates add caramel flavor and sweetness. If I only have hard dates, I like to soak them in water for 15 minutes before blending.
- Cacao: Dutch-processed or natural unsweetened cocoa.
- Protein powder: I use whey, but you can use any you like, or omit.
- Turkey details: You’ll need candy eyes and red, orange, and yellow chocolate buttons.
How to Make Homemade Protein Balls
- Mix oats, butter, dates, cacao, and protein powder in a mini food processor.
- Shape the mixture into similar sized balls. Flatten them slightly.
- Top with candy eyes and halved chocolate buttons.
Possible Variations
- Dates: Swap for maple syrup, agave, honey, or dried figs.
- Add-ins: Add sea salt, coffee, nuts, seeds, shredded coconut, raisins, vanilla extract, nut butter, pumpkin pie spice, or chocolate chips.
- Presentation: To make a plain version, simply roll them in shredded coconut, cocoa, sprinkles, or dip them in melted chocolate for a plain treat.
How to Store Leftovers
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3 days.
FAQs
Add a tablespoon of milk at a time until the consistency is easier to shape.
Add more oats a bit at a time.
More Thanksgiving Snacks
If you make this recipe or any other recipe on Foodbites, then I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment and rating below.
No Bake Protein Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 130 grams oats
- 100 grams butter, soft
- 3 medjool dates
- 3 tablespoons cacao
- 1 tablespoon protein powder, chocolate or vanilla
- 12 candy eyes
- chocolate buttons, yellow, red & orange
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together in a mini food processor.
- Roll them into balls. Press them flat.
- Top with candy eyes.
- Halve a red and orange chocolate button for the beak and the red wattle next to the beak.
- Stick yellow and orange chocolate buttons onto the top of the balls to resemble the turkey’s tail fan.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
