Easy Confetti Birthday Cake Collagen Protein Balls Recipe

These confetti birthday cake collagen protein balls have all of the flavors of your favorite birthday cake but they are healthier and so much easier to make!

The main ingredient for these 5-minute easy treats is collagen peptides powder, a powdered supplement that helps support healthy hair, skin, nail, bone and joint health. Unlike other protein powders, the collagen powder really helps to make these protein balls thick and chewy, kind of like a dense sugar cookie.

Keep in mind that collagen powder and other protein powders like whey, casein, hemp, brown rice, egg protein, etc, are NOT interchangeable. If you don't have collagen powder on hand, here's the original applesauce birthday cake protein ball recipe that uses a plant-based protein powder.

Most of my protein ball recipes are made with plant-based protein powder, so here's a short intro to what collagen peptides are and what it's good for:

What are Collagen Peptides?

Collagen Peptides Powder is a powdered supplement that are made of hydrolyzed collagen peptides — small chains of amino acids that help support healthy hair, skin, nail, bone and joint health.

What are the benefits of Collagen Peptides?

Collagen peptides help maintain the integrity of connective tissue throughout the body. This includes skin, bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and internal organs. They also support the immune system by helping to fight off infections and prevent the development of cancerous cells. In addition, collagen peptides promote cell growth and repair damaged tissues.

How is Collagen Peptides Powder Different from other Protein Powders (like Whey, Casein, Pea, Hemp, Brown Rice, etc.)?

Both protein powders and collagen supplements contain proteins that help build muscle and improve athletic performance, but studies have shown that collagen peptides are less effective at building muscle mass, and so are not the best choice for bodybuilders.

In terms of texture, collagen behaves very differently from other types of protein powders and is not interchangeable.

Ingredients used to make these Confetti Birthday Cake Collagen Protein Balls

_{**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 🙂}

• Collagen Peptides - I used Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder for this recipe. You're welcome to substitute with other brands of collagen peptides, but I would not try substituting with other protein powders (i.e. whey, casein, pea, hemp, brown rice, egg protein, etc) since collagen behaves very differently from other types of protein powders and is not interchangeable.

• Coconut Flour - Packed with fiber and nutrients, coconut flour is a great low carb flour that is gluten-free, wheat free, and grain-free. Coconut flour is also nut-free (even though it's called coco-nut) because it's made from coconut flesh (which is a fruit, not a nut) that’s been dried and then grind into small flour particles. Coconut flour has a mild, somewhat tropical flavor. Here is a brand of coconut flour I like to use.

• Sugar of Choice – I used monk fruit sweetener in this recipe to keep this recipe low-sugar and low carb, but raw cane sugar, coconut, date, and maple sugars are perfectly acceptable substitutes. 

• Applesauce - you can use any kind or any flavored applesauce. I used unsweetened.

• Pastel colored sprinkles - I used this brand

More Collagen Posts (HERE)

Step by Step

Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins:

• 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 lemon extract or raspberry extract

Just keep in mind that some extracts contain alcohol, and since this is a no-bake recipe, the alcohol won't have a chance to fully evaporate. If serving this to kids, or if you're sensitive to alcohol, be sure to use non-alcoholic extracts or flavorings. Here are some non-alcoholic brands, here: Non-alcoholic peppermint extract, non-alcoholic vanilla 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 Confetti Birthday Cake Collagen Protein Balls

• Store these protein balls covered in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
• These protein balls also freeze very well! Seal them inside an airtight container or Ziploc bag and freeze them in a single layer so that they don't stick together. I recommend double-bagging if you want to keep out the fridge smell.

Collagen Peptides FAQ:

Are Collagen Peptides vegan?

Most commercial forms of collagen peptides are not suitable for vegan diets, as collagen is most abundant in skin, nails, bones and ligaments and are thus sourced from animals. The Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder I used in this recipe were sourced from the hides of grass-fed, pasture-raised cows.

Can I substitute collagen peptides powder with other protein powders?

For most recipes, collagen peptides should not be replaced with other protein powders. This is because Collagen Peptides contribute a different texture to the recipe than other protein powders. In my experience, collagen powder adds a denser, chewier texture to most protein powder recipes (which I actually prefer!)

Final Tips

• Coconut flour behaves differently sometimes 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.
• I haven't used other protein powders to make this particular recipe, so substitute at your own risk!

SEE ALL OF MY PROTEIN BALL RECIPES HERE