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Chocolate Pistachio Protein Balls {No Bake}

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This protein ball recipe makes paleo and vegan friendly dark chocolate energy bites with pistachios. They’re a crunchy, lightly sweet, delicious NO BAKE snack! These little chocolate balls are naturally sweetened and full of healthy fats. With a low carb and keto option, so that everyone can enjoy these tasty treats!

protein balls on sheet pan with coating

Just letting you know this chocolate pistachio balls/bite recipe was originally published in 2015. I retested, rephotographed, updated content and URL. I hope you enjoy. Thank you for following Cotter Crunch Y’all!.

I have a couple of quick notes regarding the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. Because you can make the protein ball recipe keto friendly, I want to give you plenty of ingredient options.

Keto Protein Ball Recipe Notes

ingredients for protein balls

  • Sweetener

If you can find keto-friendly maple syrup that isn’t full of unhealthy chemicals, by all means, use it! Honestly, it’s not an easy ingredient to find. So instead, I suggest that you use xylitol syrup. Just keep in mind that the texture of the protein balls will be a little different than if you use pure maple syrup or honey.

  • Cocoa powder

We’re using unsweetened dark cocoa powder to make this recipe, which makes them low carb, but not necessarily keto. To be sure the energy bites are keto-friendly, you can use shredded, unsweetened coconut instead.

  • Protein powder

Not all brands of protein powder are keto compliant. So, you will need to read the label to be sure that the brand you use is approved for your diet.

Other chocolate protein ball ingredients to have on hand!

  • Pistachios (unshelled)
  • Maple Syrup or sweetener of choice
  • Dark Chocolate
  • No Stir Nut or Seed Butter. Tahini also works great!

 

 

I make a lot of protein balls, energy bites… whatever you want to call them. Sometimes I use almonds, like in The Ultimate No Bake Breakfast Cookie Bites. But, the combination of chocolate and pistachios is, in my opinion, hard to beat. It is my favorite nut, which happens to be in my favorite color. Pistachio green!

Because these are no bake energy bites, there isn’t much prep necessary. Just a couple of steps and you are good to go!

Pulse the nuts and chocolate in a food processor or high speed blender. Transfer to a large bowl.

Add in the rest of your ingredients and shape into a large ball!

 

Once you have that large ball of batter, section off a tablespoon or more and roll into a smaller golf size ball. Then coat in extra crush pistachio!

x

 

Look how pretty! Once you’re done staring at the pretty protein balls (LOL), transfer the freezer to chill.

 

Should protein balls be kept in the freezer?

You don’t have to store them in the freezer, but for the best flavor and “shelf life”, definitely keep them cold. Although, since part of the process of making the protein ball recipe involves freezing them, it makes sense to store the protein balls there.

Do I have to use protein powder to make the energy bites?

I call this a protein ball recipe, but not necessarily because of protein powder. Pistachios on their own are a great source of protein. If you prefer not to use protein powder, you can make the bites with coconut flour or flour instead.

This protein ball recipe makes crunchy, lightly sweet, delicious HEALTHY BITE! In fact, the texture reminds me of a Krinkle bar. They’re crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside. Can you handle that?

This combo is so good I shared them with only a few of my favorite people, then ate the rest within a few days. They are ALL gone, which means I need to make more stat! I’m okay with that. It seems to be a good problem, ya know?

Because these protein bites are UBER healthy! Packed with all the good fats you need, plus antioxidants.

That being said, let’s get to the protein ball recipe.

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No Bake Chocolate Pistachio Protein Ball Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 18 reviews
  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: n/a
  • Total Time: 2 minute
  • Yield: 15 -17 balls 1x
Print Recipe

Description

This protein ball recipe makes paleo and vegan friendly dark chocolate energy bites with pistachios. They’re a crunchy, lightly sweet, delicious NO BAKE snack!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pistachios, shell removed
  • 1/3 cup dark chocolate (finely chopped or finely ground in a food processor) – see notes for keto
  • 1 1/2 tbsp (20–25 grams) coconut flour, protein powder, or oat flour
  • 1/4 cup (heaping) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup almond butter or tahini (smooth, no stir variety)
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey (start with 1/4 c and adjust as needed) – see notes for keto
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Optional – extra ground pistachio or cocoa powder to coat bites

Instructions

  1. Blend pistachios in a food processor or chop finely with a chef’s knife. Transfer into a large bowl and whisk in all the remaining dry ingredients. Add the syrup and vanilla extract and and any other add ins.
  2. Mix well (I use my hands) then roll into bite size balls.
  3. If the batter is too dry add more almond butter and/or syrup. If it’s too wet, add more protein powder, oat flour, or coconut flour.
  4. Freeze balls on a cookie sheet and once frozen, coat bites in extra cocoa or ground pistachios, if desired.
  5. Makes about 15-17 bites. Freeze or keep in refrigerator to maintain freshness.

Notes

Keto Substitutions

  • shredded unsweetened coconut maybe be used in place of dark chocolate for keto option.
  • Xylitol syrup to replace maple syrup. NOTE: the texture and consistency will vary.
  • Category: snacks
  • Method: no bake
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: protein ball recipe, energy bites, keto, no bake, vegan, paleo

What is your favorite chocolate nut combo? Are you a protein ball fan? 

 

Cheers,

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Related Posts

Photo of Lindsay Cotter of Cotter CrunchHi, I’m Lindsay!  Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of Nourishing Superfood Bowls, and meal plan guru! I’d love to know you more! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and drop a comment below.

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  10. Maureen says

    No joke….I was just thinking yesterday how I needed to incorporate pistachios in my next chocolate baking endeavor! These look divine and I have all the ingredients here already. 🙂

    Reply

  12. [email protected] says

    Pistachio mmmm! These look great and the recipe relatively simple too! Pistachio is definitely a popular recipe ingredient choice at the moment, but I like this recipe the most! 🙂

    Ps. Hiking pics were published last week. Hope you get a chance to take a look as I know you appreciate that kind of thing too. 😀

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  19. [email protected] says

    Holy jeez, pistachios have been my everything lately! I can’t get enough. They’re my favorite nut, by far. If I had to pick a favorite nut/chocolate combo I would say the peanut clusters my mother makes every year for Christmas.

    Reply

  32. Liz says

    So my ‘Bars & Bites’ Pinterest board has basically been taken over by all of these recipes you’ve been sharing lately! LOL! And every week I tell myself I’m going to try them.. and then I always get caught up. I NEED to try this one though. They look so yummy!

    Reply

  34. Shashi at RunninSrilankan says

    You seriously rocked my socks off with this months flavor!!! (Seriously, they are off)
    🙂
    Looks like we both had pistachios on the brain today, I love pistachios and chocolate a whole lot, but I think I love almond butter and dark chocolate a tad more! And thanks for the giveaway lady! I so wish you were my neighbor – then you could just give them away to ME!!! 🙂

    Reply

  40. Bonnie Lang says

    What a unique combo! You have so many great ideas! As for me? Can’t go wrong with ANY nut and chocolate…But I love the simple dark chocolate with almonds kind of crunch in my mouth! Fingers crossed for the giveaway – you are so generous!

    Reply

  41. Paleo Lunch says

    Thats so smart! I can’t wait to try this recipe. My favorite recipe is gluten free pizza I use my Paleo Pizza Crust. Its easy and healthy! Heres an amazing recipe for it: http://paleolunch.net/paleo-pizza-recipe/

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  42. Sarah says

    My favorite has to be peanut butter cups! Of course almond butter or the pistachio butter ones we made were right up there… I don’t really discriminate with nut butters! 😉

    Reply

  62. jessica z says

    I just love dark chocolate and all-natural peanut butter – not the super sweet peanut butter with all the additives!

    Reply

  66. Haley says

    This look fabulous! My favorite nut/chocolate combo would probably be salty peanuts with milk chocolate – that sweet & salty combo gets me every time!

    Reply

  67. lisa says

    I like chocolate and pecans in truffles, so I know I will enjoy these truffle size bites. I really enjoy coconut and pistachios & I am mostly vegan, but vegetarian. Thanks for another great paleo recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  77. Jane S. says

    Love pistachios! And thanks for giving a lower sugar option! My favorite combo would be dark chocolate and cashews 🙂

    Reply

  81. Eric says

    Anyone else find these to be super dry? I added a lot more almond butter and honey, but they are still dry. If I make these again, I would probably start out using much less coconut flour.

    Reply

  82. Lori mosher says

    These treats look amazing! But I’m confused about the unshelled pistachios. It’s one cup in the shell or is it suppose to be 1 cup already shelled? Thanks! Looking forward to making these soon!

    Reply

  85. Gina says

    Is this one cup pistachios measured out in the shells – then shelled to proceed with the recipe or 1 c shelled?

    ★★★★

    Reply

  86. Jessica says

    Wow. Wow. Wow. These are DELICIOUS and so easy to make. I substituted the coconut flour with flax seed and just threw everything in the food processor.

    Reply

  87. Lauren Kelly says

    I made them over the weekend and I love them! I will definitely make them again and add them to my regular rotation!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  91. wilhelmina says

    These are great to have on hand when I need a little snack. They really satisfy my sweet tooth without blowing my diet!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  93. Suzy says

    Great recipe! I found they were quite moist, but I am heavy handed on ingredients! And perhaps need a wee bit more sweetener? I used sugar free ingredients and rolled them in crushed unsalted peanuts. Would definitely make again!

    ★★★★

    Reply

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