So here it is, a recipe for my healthy, no-bake, 5-ingredient Pecan Pie protein balls that uses pecan butter as the base ingredient. If you’ve never tried pecan butter before, I urge you to give it a try! The deep toasted pecan flavor is just perfect for any fall recipe.
Ingredients used to make this
**I’ve linked some of these ingredients to amazon.com to give you an idea of what they are, but you should also be able to find them in your local grocery store (usually, the natural & organic food section). They are also affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission as an Amazon Associate if you decide to purchase the items. The price will be the same for you, link or no link 🙂
- Protein Powder – You can use any protein powder for this, but I found that whey protein tends to produce gummier results. I used a vanilla plant-based protein powder, like this one below.
- Coconut Flour – Packed with fiber and nutrients, you can’t forget about this gluten-free, wheat free and grain-free ingredient. Coconut flour is great for those allergic to gluten and wanting a low-carb option. While it’s called coco-nut it’s actually nut-free because this flour is made from coconut flesh (which is a fruit, not a nut) that’s been dried and then grind into small flour particles. Coconut flour feels and looks similar to grain flour, and also it has a very mild taste. Here is a brand of coconut flour I like to use.
- Molasses – a fantastic ingredient with the richest warmth and depth of flavor. You can usually find this ingredient in the baking section near the honeys and maple syrups.
- Pecan Butter – this stuff is creamy, dense and full of the toasted pecan flavor that reminds me of fall.
How to Make
Pecan Pie Protein Balls using Pecan Butter
STEP 1
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl
STEP 2
Roll the batter into tablespoon-sized balls, refrigerate for 15 minutes to set. Note: I find that it’s best to use my hands to mix the dough because it takes some kneading and pressing to get the dough to come together.
Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins:
- I do love pecan butter for this one but you can use any nut butter you have in hand — almond butter, cashew butter, even peanut butter; they’ll all work nicely
- Ever tried Chocolate Pecan Pie? Add a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips to the batter before rolling.
- Feel free to experiment with natural flavoring / extracts. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract (I didn’t feel like it was essential so I left it out in this recipe), or other flavorings or extracts such as hazelnut, maple, or butter extract
How to Make this Healthier
- Make this even healthier by adding a handful of nuts, seeds and old-fashioned oats to add texture and nutrition. Even better, add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, hemp seeds, or chia seeds.
How to Store
- Store these protein balls covered in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Final Tips
- Coconut flour and protein powders are all very different depending on brands, so if you find that the dough is too soft, add more coconut flour; if the dough is too thick, add a teaspoon or more of water, honey or liquid sweetener of choice.
More Energy Bite Recipes
Pecan Butter Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 2 T Pecan Butter
- 1 T Coconut Flour
- 2 T Protein Powder
- 1 T Molasses
- 1-2 T Chopped Pecans
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together. Add more coconut flour (only a teaspoon at a time) if the dough is too soft, add a teaspoon or more of water, or almond milk if the dough is too thick***
- Roll the batter into tablespoon sized balls, and press a pecan piece into the top.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes to set
Notes
Nutrition
thanks for sharing this amazing and easy way to make healthy snacks. Can’t wait to try, but I can’t find coconut flour easily in my country, can I substitute the coconut flour with other gluten-free options? such as brown rice flour or oats flour? thanks a lot. 🙂
For this recipe, oat flour should work just as well!