Healthier than cookie dough, my Vegan Cookie Dough Protein Balls are made with plant-based protein powder and are low in sugar for a tasty treat the whole family will love. Enjoy these no-bake treats after a workout, for an easy snack, or when the sugar cravings hit! 

A healthy vegan snack that tastes like dessert and keeps me full for hours? Sign me up! 

These delicious Vegan Cookie Dough Protein Balls are made with your healthy, refined sugar-free ingredients and are perfect to combat unexpected sugar cravings. They’re full of protein and low in sugar for a tasty treat the whole family will love. 

You’re going to love these vegan protein balls because they’re:

• So easy!
• A no-bake recipe
• Made with only 7 ingredients
• Healthier than real cookie dough!

Cookie dough protein bites are flexible and don’t require any baking. You can add fun mix-ins to the dough like chopped nuts or dried fruit to increase the flavor before rolling them up and popping one in your mouth. The balls store well in the fridge and can even be frozen for later.
If you love having an easy and filling snack ready to eat at all times, then you’ll need to make my Chocolate Cherry Protein Balls or my Vanilla Almond Balls as well. It’s so great to always have an entire platter of healthy vegan treats at the ready!

Are protein balls bad for you?

Not these protein balls! I used almond flour and vanilla protein powder as the base of my balls to give them extra protein. They’re still decadent and sweet thanks to natural maple syrup and mini vegan chocolate chips.

These healthy cookie dough balls are not bad for you, have lots of good fats, and enough protein to help you feel satisfied after 1 or 2. The ingredients will reduce the blood sugar spike you’d get from a handful of regular raw cookie dough but still, moderation is key. I wouldn’t down 12 of these puppies in one sitting.

Ingredients and substitutions

All you need are plant-based baking staples and some extra protein to make this recipe: 

• Almond flour – These balls need to be made with flour to give them the realistic cookie dough taste and texture. Almond flour binds everything together while lending a nutty flavor and additional protein. If you don’t have any at home, you can sub oat flour, chickpea flour, or quinoa flour. DO NOT sub in coconut flour – that will make the balls dry and fall apart.
• Vanilla protein powder – Protein is important in every diet and not just vegans! Mixing powdered protein into energy balls, smoothies, shakes, and more is an easy way to keep you going for hours. Plus, the vanilla flavoring makes the balls extra sweet! If you don’t have vanilla protein powder, you can sub plain protein powder (just add a little extra vanilla extract) or chocolate protein powder for a double-chocolate-flavored cookie dough.
• Mini vegan chocolate chips – I like the Enjoy Life brand but use any kind you like.
• Almond butter – Or you can use natural peanut butter or seed butter instead.
• Maple syrup – To give the cookie dough a little bit of natural sweetness.
• Dairy-free milk – I usually use almond milk but any non-dairy milk would work.
• Vanilla extract – For flavor!

How to make cookie dough energy balls

This easy no-bake vegan recipe takes minutes to make. As a bonus, the balls stay fresh all week long. Bring them to work, the gym, or carry some in your purse for an easy and filling snack. Here’s how this recipe comes together: 

Make the cookie dough

Mix the dry and wet ingredients in separate large bowls. Pour the wet into the dry and mix until the dough forms.

Roll the balls

Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to scoop 1 inch balls from the dough. Roll them in your hands to smooth out the edges, then store away or enjoy!

Tips and customizing

• Is the dough too thick? Add a little bit of milk at a time until you reach the desired consistency (it should be a thick, sticky cookie dough).
• To make the protein balls nut-free, replace the almond flour with quinoa or oat flour, and the nut butter with seed butter or tahini. Make sure you use nut-free plant milk as well.
• Customize the flavors! You can easily add more mix-ins to this recipe, like rolled oats, coconut flakes, cinnamon sugar, finely chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even sprinkles. To give them a boost of chocolate, roll the balls in melted vegan chocolate and pop them in the freezer until the chocolate is set.

Make ahead chocolate chip cookie dough protein balls

This feel good snack was made to be enjoyed all week long. To prepare a batch of vegan protein balls ahead of time, make the recipe as normal and store a few balls in separate containers in the fridge for an easy grab-and-go snack. They’ll stay fresh for up to 1 week.

Can you freeze cookie dough protein balls?

I haven’t tested it but cookie dough balls should freeze quite well. Make a batch in bulk and store them in freezer-safe bags or containers. They should freeze nicely for up to 3 or 4 months. When it’s time to eat, let the balls thaw completely in the fridge.