Here’s a snack recipe that’s green, healthy and bite-sized! These delicious soft avocado protein balls are the perfect post-workout nutritious protein dose that you need to boost your energy or beat your late-night cravings.
You might be a little skeptical at the idea of using avocados in a dessert recipe, but trust me – it works!
What I love about this recipe
• Easy to make
• Soft and Delicious at-bakery taste in your kitchen
• Perfect late hour snack
• Can go as a dessert with any dish
• Children or grown-ups, nobody is spared from the yummy Avocado spell.
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 🙂
- Cream Cheese – You can use either regular (dairy) cream cheese or a vegan variety made from almond milk or soy milk. Both will turn out delicious!
- Protein Powder – You can use any protein powder for this. I used a vanilla plant-based protein powder which I find yields a good texture. Whey protein tends to produce slightly gummier results.
- Coconut Flour is gluten free, wheat and grain free, and ideal 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.
- Avocado- Avocado is a healthy fat, containing high concentrations of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that can help improve blood cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation. It’s also high in potassium (even more than bananas) and fiber which helps curb cravings. For this recipe, I would strongly recommend that you use a ripened avocado. But if it’s not ripe yet, you can ripen it by putting it on the counter at room temperature. Or, if you want to quicken the ripening process, place it in a paper bag with an apple, banana, or kiwi. They produce ethene gas that softens hard fruits.
- Lemon Zest and lemon juice – adding the lemon juice here helps keep the avocado from turning brown. The lemon zest is optional, but they add great texture and boost the lemony flavor in the protein balls.
More Recipes that Use Avocado
For the Deco
- Melted white chocolate chips – I used regular white chocolate chips, but you can also use white candy melts or almond bark. I also like using this stevia sweetened brand since it’s lower-carb/lower sugar diet-friendly
How to Make
Avocado Protein Balls with Lemon Chocolate
STEP 1
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl
STEP 2
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.
STEP 3
Roll the batter into tablespoon-sized balls, refrigerate for 15 minutes to set. Coat with melted white chocolate, sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins:
- Add natural flavoring / extracts. You can 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 caramel flavoring, hazelnut extract or almond extract.
- Add mini chocolate chips, or up to 1 Tbsp of cocoa powder to make these chocolate flavored
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.
- Instead of the chocolate coating, drizzle powdered sugar glaze (1/4 cup powdered sugar + 1 tsp water or milk) and lemon zest.
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
Avocado Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp vanilla protein powder*
- 2 Tbsp coconut flour
- 2 Tbsp mashed avocado
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp cream cheese** about 1 oz
Optional Deco
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 2-3 drops lemon oil (food grade) optional, to flavor the chocolate
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together. Add more coconut flour if the dough is too soft, add a teaspoon or more of water, or lemon juice if the dough is too thick***
- Roll the batter into tablespoon sized balls, refrigerate for 15 minutes to set**
- To glaze: melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 20 second bursts until melted, stirring in between. Stir in the lemon oil
- Dip the protein balls into the chocolate and then set them on a clean parchment paper until the chocolate is set.
Notes
**You can use low fat or vegan (almond milk) cream cheese
***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.
Nutrition
Making this for St. Patrick’s Day?
Here’s my new round-up of Best 10 Easy St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Recipes >> GO TO COLLECTION
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