No Bake Nougat Protein Bites are sneaky nutrient dense little energy balls with a few simple ingredients – but taste like you’re eating dessert! Gluten-free, refined sugar-free and completely vegan, these will be your new favourite healthy dessert!
Ingredients you’ll need:
- Oat flour (see FAQ’s if you don’t have it)
- Protein powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Banana
- Dates
- Vanilla extract
- Almond mutter
- Soy milk
- Chocolate chips
- Coconut oil
- Optional: cacao nibs for topping
How to make these chocolate nougat protein bites:
Like most protein ball and no bake energy bites recipes, this is pretty simple. In a small food processor, combine all ingredients except chocolate and coconut oil and blend until the mixture a thick, sticky, nougat-like texture. If you don’t have a small size food processor, you can blend the milk, banana and dates and then stir together the ingredients by hand in a mixing bowl. Scoop the mixture into 12 balls and put in the freezer while you melt the chocolate. Roll each in the chocolate and top with cacao nibs, then store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Note: if you want these to be chocolate flavour, use a chocolate protein powder. You can also use a different flavour like vanilla protein powder and add a tablespoon of cocoa powder.
If you want to add even more healthy omega-3’s you can add in some common ingredients like flax seed or chia seeds, but keep in mind this will make them more “seedy” and less like a cookie dough texture.
Frequently asked questions:
I don’t have oat flour – what can I do?
I just make my own oat flour! Simply blend 1 cup of rolled oats or quick oats until finely ground into a powdery flour consistency. If you need them gluten-free make sure you use certified gluten-free oats
Can I make these nut-free?
Yes. Simply sub the almond butter or peanut butter for sunflower seed butter (or other seed butter).
Can I substitute the dates?
You can substitute the dates for more banana (if you want a banana bread flavour!) or 2 tbsp maple syrup (or honey if not vegan) and you can do more or less depending on your preferred sweetness. However, I always have a box of dates in my pantry and I love throwing them into recipes like this when I want natural sweetener!
Are protein bites good for you?
Protein bites are such a convenient and healthy little snack – especially when you make them yourself! With wholesome ingredients like oats, nut butter, banana, cinnamon and protein powder these little bites are a great pick me up when you need a quick snack or are craving something sweet and chocolatey. Watch out for store-bought protein balls or ones that contain a ton of sugar – they might actually spike your blood sugar and cause you to be even hungrier soon. However, ones with a good balance of carbs, fat, protein and fibre are a perfectly fine snack choice (or a healthier dessert!)
Are protein balls good after before and a workout?
I definitely think they could be – especially if you make some without the chocolate coating. The chocolate coating is amazing if you want these for a healthy dessert option, but if having them before or after a workout I think the plain nougat protein bite would be even better and avoid a large blood sugar spike and crash!
What vegan chocolate do you use for the outside?
I use dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Looking for more healthy dessert recipes?
Healthy Vegan Blueberry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Healthy Snickers Ice-cream Bars
Vegan Half-Baked Apple Pie Chia Pudding
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No Bake Nougat Protein Bites Recipe (Vegan and Healthy)
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 bites
Description
No Bake Nougat Protein Bites are sneaky nutrient dense little energy balls with a few simple ingredients – but taste like you’re eating dessert! Gluten-free, refined sugar-free and completely vegan, these will be your new favourite healthy dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 banana
- 3–4 dates or sub 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 cup nut or seed butter
- splash of vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup nondairy milk
- For coating: 2 tsp coconut oil + 1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Blend all ingredients except coconut oil and chocolate chips in a small food processor (or alternatively blend the banana and dates with the milk first and then mix it all together by hand if you don’t have a mini food processor)!
- Roll into 12 balls then freeze the balls while you melt the chocolate and coconut oil.
- Roll each ball in chocolate and place on parchment lined tray. Add cacao nibs, nuts or sea salt if desired.
- Freeze again for about 20 mins. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week!
What brand of vegan protein powder do you recommend?
★★★★★
The one I use is Vega Sport but I find it a bit artificial tasting. It is good in this particular recipe though!