Pecan Protein Balls

Looking for a healthy snack idea? These protein balls are one of the most easily prepared snacks and they come with one more benefit; they taste like pecan pie. They are dairy-free, simple to make, and delicious. If you are looking for that perfect meal-prep protein snack, write this recipe down!

There is absolutely nothing better than these Pecan Protein Balls stacked in your freezer and always available whenever you need a protein-packed snack. They are great for eating on the go and have several variations of flavors that you can use to spice them up. They are easily prepared without the hassle of baking and can be a quick way to get protein to the body on a busy day.

You may legitimately wonder why you should eat these Pecan Protein Balls. For health buffs, this is an important piece to planning meals. And, simply for anyone loving pecan pie, a healthy dessert, and an easy snack might question the health benefits.

Rest assured that the answer is yes. Pecan protein balls are definitely beneficial to health. To truly understand the extent to which the snack is valuable to your body, let’s understand the benefits of some of the main ingredients in the recipe.

Benefits of Pecan Protein Balls

Pecans are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and protein. They help in keeping you satisfied and energized. They also contain vitamin E which is useful in increasing eye health and also boosts the activities of the immune system.

More than 70% of the pecan is made of fat and this type of fat is considered healthy. This fat reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Pecans add bulk to your food and prevent you from getting hungry quickly. They are good for people who are trying to lose weight because they keep you fuller longer.

Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants which help in reducing oxidative stress in the body. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help in fighting inflammation and bring a warm and soothing effect to the body.

It has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that make it useful as a natural remedy for certain illnesses. It reduces blood sugar levels and also helps in reducing blood pressure. It improves gut health by helping balance the bacteria in the gut and improving digestive function.

Plant-based milk is a dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk and does not have lactose, so if you are lactose intolerant, you don’t need to worry.

It is rich in vitamins and minerals. Examples of these plant-based milk are soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, and rice milk. All these can be used to make pecan protein balls. They contain all the necessary nutrients to keep the body healthy.

You Will Love These Protein Balls

Generally, pecan protein balls are great for busy days. On busy days when you really don’t have time to prepare a decent meal, pecan protein balls can keep you going. They are low in carbs and filling so a few balls may be satisfying enough to help you get by the hours at work.

It is also a useful snack for when the kids are on vacation. Kids basically just want to snack and are not concerned by how healthy their snacks are. However, making pecan protein balls available is a win-win situation for you. It helps you satisfy their need for snacks and also ensures that they eat healthy snacks. This way, you end up improving the health of your kids without appearing to.

Pecan protein balls are nice and healthy snacks that don’t take long to make and do not need fancy equipment. So, what are you waiting for? Try this healthy recipe today.

Ingredients

1. Pecans: You should use raw pecans. You can get them from your grocery store and they should be finely chopped before usage.

2. Cashew butter: You can use cashew butter for this. However, pecan butter, almond butter, and even peanut butter can be used. (I recommend cashew, however.)

3. Vanilla: Vanilla extract is needed to give the protein ball flavor. Make sure to use pure vanilla extract instead of imitation vanilla.

4. Oat flour and oats: These are packed with nutrients and fiber and are great for making protein balls.

5. Coconut sugar: This is packed with healthy nutrients. It is used to sweeten the balls without exposing you to the risk that comes with processed sugar.

6. Ground flaxseeds: They help to control hunger and are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidants.

7. Cinnamon: This is also added to give it flavor and provides many health benefits.

8. Plant-based milk: This is a vegan recipe, hence, the need for plant-based milk. It is also good for people who are allergic to dairy products.

9. Maple syrup: This is also another ingredient for spicing up the flavor of the Pecan protein balls. It helps bring out the fall flavors.

10. Coconut oil: If you are not a coconut lover, don’t worry. =I cannot detect the flavor in these balls. This oil provides our bodies with healthy fats!

How to Make This Protein Snack

Making pecan protein balls is easy. You don’t need complex equipment to make this recipe. In fact, you may not even need a mixer depending on how proficient you are. Grab yourself a medium-sized bowl and a large spoon or spatula.

Step one: Place your oat flour, oats, coconut sugar, ground flaxseed, and cinnamon into a medium bowl and give it a mix. Then, get another bowl and mix your wet ingredients in it. Add the cashew butter, vanilla extract, maple syrup, plant-based milk, and coconut oil to the bowl and mix.

Step two: After mixing the wet ingredients, add the dry ingredients except for the pecans to the bowl. Continue mixing the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients to form a dough. Ensure that the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the dough is smooth. Then, use a cookie scoop to roll the dough into balls.

Step three: Chop the pecans and place them in a small bowl or on a plate. Press the tops of the rolled dough into the pecan pieces.

You can now put the balls into a container and place them in the fridge to get firm.

How Long Will They Last?

Pecan protein balls should be placed in a glass container with a lid and kept in the fridge. You can store it this way for up to 12 days.

Tips + Modifications

Feel free to replace the cashew butter with almond butter. They are the most similar kind of nut butter according to flavor.

Instead of chopping the pecans, you can simply press one or 1/2 of a pecan into the top of each ball.

Are you a chocolate lover? Add a drizzle of melted chocolate over top or simply dip the ball into a bowl of melted chocolate with coconut oil. Place the balls onto parchment paper to allow the chocolate to cool and harden.

How Much Do You Love These Pecan Pie Protein Balls?

I hope you enjoy these healthy protein balls as much as I do, especially during the fall season. Would you do me a favor and kindly rate and comment below? It really helps me make delicious recipes for y’all. Thanks!

Looking for other great protein ball recipes? Check out these!

Coconut Protein Balls: Talk about coconut. These coconutty protein balls are packed with all of the goodness from creamy almond butter to sweet maple syrup to the rich coconut. You’ll get several servings of protein with each ball thanks to the protein powder and almond butter. They are healthy, gluten-free, easy to make, dairy-free, and plant-based. What more could you want from a vegan protein snack?

Easy No-Bake Cashew Coconut Protein Bites: These bite-sized, protein-packed, vegan treats taste like you are having your favorite dessert.  The only difference is they are guilt-free, high in protein, and made with wholesome ingredients.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Michelle