Once upon a time, my husband and I went to a Pride and Prejudice party. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. You heard right my friends! I lived out my romantic dreams. My mother-in-law, seamstress extraordinaire, even made me a period-piece dress out of beautiful fabric I picked out that would make Caroline Bingley raise her brows in approval. Everyone was dressed to the nines, and the hosts were not going to miss this opportunity. Being that they were in a dance company together, they even taught us the dances from the movie!!! It truly was a night to remember.

Pride and Prejudice Dance Ball — It was the ball of the season!

But, the cherry on top of this dream come true? I learned how to make the newest member of my “regular recipes” club: protein balls. They were so delicious! So nutritious! So sweet and savory! We had to know how to make these little gems of protein and, thankfully, Hailey was more than happy to share. Of course with every recipe, I like to add my own flare and make my personal tweaks for health preferences.

While Hailey made her protein gems with peanut butter, I opted for almond butter instead. Almonds reduce the risk of heart disease, the number one cause of death in the US, by lowering LDL cholesterol levels; and help with diabetes as they help control blood sugar levels by slowing the release of glucose into the bloodstream. The nutrients help protect against inflammation, cancer, aging, and stress. The calcium and phosphorus in them are good for bone and digestive health. But almonds don’t just make you feel good, they make you look good! The vitamin E in them helps promote clear skin and repairs and renews skin cells!

Almonds have back up for all this work in the form of flaxseed and chia seeds. Both contain Omega 3 Fatty Acids that reduce the risk of heart disease; they support digestive health, protect against inflammation, cancer, and mental fatigue; and even support skin, hair, and bone health.

These little gems of protein will satisfy the sweetest tooth, helping you transition from the processed stuff of the holiday season to sweets that taste yummy AND make you feel good! So eat up and don’t feel an ounce of guilt when you go back for more!

Little Gems of Protein Recipe

Yield: 42-48 protein gems

Cost of Goods: $0.40/protein ball, $1.60 for a solid snack!

Dry Ingredients:

3 Cups of Organic Rolled Oats
1 Cup of Dairy-Free Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup of Ground Flax Seed
1/4 Cup of Chia Seeds
½ TSP of Sea Salt
½ TSP of Ground Cinnamon
½ TSP of Ground Clove

Wet Ingredients:

24 oz of Almond Butter (Or Nut Butter of your choice)
3/4 Cup of Honey
2 TSP of Vanilla Extract

Tools Needed:

Large mixing bowl
Wooden spoon or rubber scrapper
Measuring cups and spoons
Cookie sheet
Air-tight container

Get ‘Er Done:

Mix all the dry ingredients together.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry mix and mix it all together.
Roll into 1 inch balls.
Then enjoy! Store them in an air tight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Notes about this recipe:

This makes approximately 42-48 protein balls.
There are approximately 5 grams of protein in each ball, anywhere from 2-4 protein balls is a good snack, 10-20 grams of protein.
Winco has fresh ground almond butter you can get at a very reasonable price. Just almonds! They also have peanuts and cashews you can grind fresh!
I use a 1=inch muffin scoop and plop the balls right onto the cookie sheet. Saves so much time and creates a consistent size in the balls!
While maple syrup and agave are delicious, we learned that they do not keep their hold as much as honey does; but it’s still doable!
Throw in your favorite dried fruit or even some chopped nuts! Try adding hemp seeds, maca powder, or even bee pollen!
Oats are another powerhouse in this recipe, though information overload is a real thing. However, oats help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. They help boost your immune system, which in turn helps support gut health and constipation. They even help with sleep! They contain melatonin and magnesium. Alongside that, oats contain avenanthramides, an antioxidant that helps lower and stabilize blood pressure. Oats are epic.

Little Gems of Protein