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These Protein Brownie Bites are rich, fudgy, and taste like little bites of brownie batter, with no baking required. Each serving has 10 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber, making them an easy treat to keep in the fridge or freezer.
I love having a few no bake treats in the fridge because they’re so easy to make and even easier to grab when I’m craving something chocolately. These no bake brownie bites have become one of my favorites because they come together in just a few minutes and taste like an actual treat.
I usually make a batch at the beginning of the week because they disappear quickly. They’re just as good as an afternoon snack as they are for an easy dessert after dinner.
The Secret to Rich Fudgy Protein Brownie Bites
If you’ve made any of my high protein recipes, you know I never set out to make them taste like they’re “high protein.” I want them to taste just as good as the classic version.
That’s exactly what I had in mind when I created this recipe. I wanted them to taste like a brownie first, while adding a little extra protein and fiber along the way.
If you’re ever been disappointed by dry protein balls, these are the opposite. They’re soft, fudgy, and taste like little bites of brownie batter.
Here’s what makes these protein brownie bites worth making:
- Soft fudgy texture. Blending the oats, might seem like a small step, but it makes a big difference. Combined with peanut butter, it gives these bites a soft, chewy texture instead of a dry one.
- Classic brownie flavor. I found that using both cocoa powder and a brownie-flavored protein powder gives these bites a deep chocolate flavor without making them overly sweet.
- No baking required. All you need is a good processor and a few minutes to bring everything together. Then just roll, chill, and enjoy.
- Perfect for meal prep. I almost always keep a batch in the fridge because they’re so easy to grab whenever I want a chocolate treat.
Ingredient Notes
These no bake brownie bites come together with simple ingredients, but a few of them make all the difference. Here’s what I want you to know before you get started.
For full recipe instructions and complete list of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Oats: I blend old-fashioned oats into a fine flour to create a smoother, fudgier texture. Quick oats work just as well if that’s what you have. If you’d rather skip the oats, you can also make these with 1⅓ cups almond flour or coconut flour.
- Chocolate protein powder: I like using this brownie-flavored protein powder because it gives these bites an even richer brownie flavor while adding extra protein. Any chocolate protein powder will work, but different brands absorb moisture differently, so you may need an extra splash of milk.
- Cocoa powder: You can’t have brownies without cocoa powder! Cocoa powder is what gives these bites their deep brownie flavor, so don’t skip it.
- Flax: Ground flaxseed is one of those ingredients you don’t notice in the finished bites, but it helps hold everything together while adding a little extra fiber.
- Peanut butter: I like using creamy peanut butter because it creates a smooth mixture that’s easy to roll into bites. Almond butter or another smooth nut or seed butter works just as well.
- Pure maple syrup: Maple syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps keep these protein brownie bites soft and fudgy. If you’d like to reduce the sugar, a sugar-free maple syrup works well here, too.
- Vanilla extract: Just a little vanilla brings out the chocolate flavor even more.
- Milk: I usually use dairy milk, but almond milk, oat milk, or any milk you like will work just as well.
- Mini chocolate chips: I love using mini chocolate chips because they give you little pockets of chocolate in every bite. Regular chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, chopped dark chocolate, or even sugar-free chocolate chips all work well, too.
Make These Protein Brownie Bites Your Own
One of my favorite things about these protein brownie balls is how easy they are to customize. Here are a few ways to change them up:
- Peanut butter lovers. Stir in a few tablespoons of peanut butter chips or drizzle the finished bites with melted peanut butter.
- Double chocolate. Fold in a few extra mini chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate for even more chocolate in every bite.
- Espresso brownie bites. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of instant espresso powder to deepen the chocolate flavor without making the bites taste like coffee.
- Dark chocolate sea salt. Sprinkle a little flaky sea salt over the bites before chilling. The salt makes the chocolate flavor stand out even more.
- Turn them into brownie bars. Press the mixture into an 8×8-inch pan instead of rolling them into bites, then chill and cut into squares.
How to Make Protein Brownie Bites
- Blend the oats. Add the oats to a food processor and blend until they resemble a fine oat flour. This helps give the bites a smooth, fudgy texture instead of an oat-like one.
- Blend everything together. Add the protein powder, cocoa powder, flaxseed, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and milk. Blend until a dough forms, leaving out the chocolate chips for now.
- Check the texture. Keep blending until the mixture comes together into one large ball and pulls away from the sides of the food processor. It should be soft and easy to roll between your hands. If it still looks crumbly, blend in another tablespoon of milk. Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
- Roll and enjoy. Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough, then roll into 18 smooth brownie bites. Chill for a few minutes if you’d like them a little firmer before serving.
Jamie’s Tips
Tips for the Best Brownie Balls
- Blend the oats first. It might seem like an extra step, but blending the oats into a fine flour gives these protein brownie balls a much smoother, fudgier texture.
- Look for the dough ball. Keep blending until the mixture comes together into one large ball and pulls away from the sides of the food processor. That’s how I know it’s ready to roll.
- Taste the mixture before rolling. Protein powders vary quite a bit in sweetness, so if you’d like the bites a little sweeter, mix in the extra tablespoon of maple syrup before scooping.
- Use a cookie scoop. I like using a packed 2-tablespoon cookie scoop so all of the bites are the same size. It also makes rolling them much quicker.
- Give them time to chill. You can enjoy these right away, but I like popping them in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes first. They firm up just enough while still staying soft and chewy.
Storage and Meal Prep
These protein brownie bites are one of my favorite treats to make ahead because they keep so well. They’re one of my favorite recipes to meal prep because they’re ready whenever I need a quick snack or dessert.
- Storage: Store the bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: If I know I won’t finish them within a few days, I freeze the bites in a single layer until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 4 months.
More No Bake Protein Recipes
If you’ve made and loved these No Bake Protein Brownie Bites or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
Protein Brownie Bites
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups rolled oats or quick oats
- 1/2 cups chocolate protein powder
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 2/3 cup peanut butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add oats to a food processor. Blend on high until oats are fine and resemble flour.
- Add all remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Blend until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the food processor. Note: if it appears too crumbly, add one additional tbsp milk.
- Stir in chocolate chips by hand (transfer into a bowl to do this if needed).
- Divide mixture and roll into 18 equal-sized smooth balls (packed 2 tbsp cookie scoop).
Notes
- Blend the oats into a fine flour for the smoothest, fudgiest texture.
- Taste the mixture before rolling. Protein powders vary in sweetness, so add the extra tablespoon of maple syrup if needed.
- If the mixture seems dry, blend in 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until it comes together into a soft dough.
- Quick oats work just as well as old-fashioned oats if that’s what you have on hand.
- Store in the refrigerator or freezer for an easy grab-and-go snack.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
Can I use almond flour instead of the oats?
I haven’t tested it but I think it should work- I’d wait to add the milk until the end since the moisture may be different.
These hit the spot easy to eat and very satisfying.
Thanks for leaving a review!
Easy and delicious!
Yay! So happy you enjoyed these! Thanks for leaving a review 🙂
Love these, so easy and delicious!
Me and my kids loved these! So chocolatey and filling—the brownie texture is so thick it’s almost like eating fudge but protein packed!😋 Can’t wait to make again!
Seriously SO good!!
Alternative for flax? — due to allergy
Thank-you 🙂
Chia seeds! 🙂
Is there a good alternative for the protein powder? Trying to stick to whole foods…
You can omit the protein powder, they’ll just be a little lower protein but still delish!
Finally one recip, that works! It is delicious and a healthy snack, which is made in just a few minutes! Thank you!
Thanks for making and trying them!
Hi,
Can I substitute something for the protein powder? Thank you!
I would just omit it!
I loved the deep chocolate flavor, very tasty. The texture is not my favorite and it made them a little difficult to roll. I did add the extra tbsp. of milk, but some of them where still fairly crumbly. I also found them quite thick to scoop so I rolled the whole thing into a log, then sliced in half, then thirds, then thirds again. Then I rolled the slices.
So glad you loved the flavor! If they’re still crumbly, I recommend adding more milk until they’re easy to roll. It’s really common to sometimes have to adjust the moisture for no bake recipes like this one :).