Chocolate Mint Protein Balls

Chocolate mint protein balls are the perfect sweet treat. These protein packed vegan peppermint truffles are great for dessert or a healthy afternoon snack. Easy to make and great to keep stashed in your freezer anytime.

Bowl of chocolate protein energy balls with a single truffle having a bite taken.
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Why you will love this recipe

  • Easy to make – these mint chocolate protein bites are made in the food processor in just a few minutes. They are dipped in chocolate and stored in the freezer so they can be made in advance and ready anytime you have a sweet tooth.
  • Simple ingredients – these mint protein bites are made with a combination of dates, nuts, cacao powder and protein powder and are extremely filling. Top with melted dairy free chocolate to make these even more like protein truffles. This recipe is vegan, gluten free and dairy free.
  • Fun homemade gift – these are easy enough to make for your weekday snacking but are good enough to make as a gift for the holidays.
Hand holding a single peppermint truffle with bite taken.

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).

Pour the melted chocolate over the peppermint energy bites and place directly on wax paper lined plate. 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

  • Be sure to remove the pits from the medjool dates before adding them to the food processor. 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.

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.

Bowl full of peppermint truffles with candy cane pieces.

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.

★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Chocolate mint energy balls in a white bowl.

Chocolate Mint Protein Balls

Chocolate mint protein balls are the perfect healthy dessert or snack! These peppermint energy bites are coated in dairy free chocolate and are so delicious. This easy vegan chocolate mint protein bites recipe can be made anytime of the year for parties or for weekday snacking!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate mint protein balls, mint protien balls, peppermint energy bites, peppermint protein truffles
Prep Time: 10 minutes
15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 20

Ingredients

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

Storage information:
Store the protein truffles in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for about 2 months.
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).

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Amount per Serving
Calories
134
Fat
 
8
g
Carbohydrates
 
16
g
Fiber
 
2
g
Sugar
 
12
g
Protein
 
4
g
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database.
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12 Comments

  1. 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!

  2. Both to nuts and chocolate of course! I love themed gifts. The yoga basket you put together in the picture is really cute.

    1. 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!

  3. 5 stars
    Chocolate is, hands down, the best coating for truffles. I loooove the tiny little crispness it adds to the outside before giving way to a soft and chewy interior. Gah! Now I’m craving chocolate and it’s not even 9 AM :lol: But these are healthy, and therefore perfectly acceptable for breakfast… right? :D

    1. Amanda those brownies you posted on Friday – holy chocolate! I’m still drooling over the pics trying to decide when to make them. Thanks for hosting Thinking Out Loud!

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