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These Protein Bites are a simple solution for the afternoon slump. Filled with healthy fats, whole grains and then topped off with whey protein, you and your kids will LOVE this snacking recipe. A great snack to throw into the rotation with protein snack boxes, the after-school cheese snack board, and homemade Lara bars.
Protein Bites for everyone!
So excited to be sharing this recipe for Protein Bites with you today! Me and all four of my kids adore this recipe because it basically tastes like a sweet cookie dough that just so happens to be healthy. Filled with fresh carrots, natural peanut butter, oats, flax and whey protein, you too will fall in love with this recipe.
As I was developing this recipe, I was trying to find a flavor that everyone would like and for some reason, I gravitated toward carrot cake protein bites because it was another way I could get vegetables into my kids without them realizing (for sure check out my latest veggie-hiding muffin recipe. SO GOOD.) Like I mentioned above, this almost has the texture of cookie dough, and who doesn’t love eating cookie dough? Its taste is similar to carrot cake but obviously, make a straight-up carrot cake if you want a legit amazing dessert.
Love Carrot Cake? Here are a couple more recipes for this flavor combo: Carrot Cake Cookies, Carrot Cake Cobbler, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, Carrot Cake Oatmeal, and Carrot Cake Donuts.
Main Ingredients Needed
The basis of these protein bites are the same regardless of what flavor you’re making:
- Natural Peanut Butter– I used Adam’s pre-stirred all-natural smooth peanut butter. Any peanut butter will work, but I prefer using all-natural because it doesn’t have extra sugar.
- Whey Protein – I talk in great depth about this ingredient in my protein muffins post which I would recommend reading. This stuff is basically a pure protein that is unsweetened and unflavored…perfect for this application. I use Bob’s Red Mill whey protein, found at most grocery stores in the health foods section. It’s typically cheaper buying at the grocery store than getting it online.
- Rolled Oats – a healthy whole grain that adds great texture!
- Maple Syrup– be sure to use real maple syrup and not just ‘pancake syrup’ which is just high fructose corn syrup with flavoring, or sugar and water boiled together…with flavoring. Check the ingredients list! Also, it should say real maple syrup on the label.
Variations
Other extras for these protein bites include shredded carrots, unsweetened coconut, cinnamon, flax seeds, sea salt, and vanilla. However, you could add whatever you’d like to this recipes, here are a couple of options:
- chocolate chips
- nuts
- chopped up dried fruit
- orange or lemon zest
- cocoa powder
- chia seeds
- spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg or even chai for a holiday flavor
How to make Carrot Cake Protein Bites
Because this is a no-bake protein bites recipe, you can make these start to finish in 15 minutes or less. And feel free to mix all the ingredients by hand or in a stand mixer. Super simple.
Mix Ingredients Together
Add all ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer.
Mix together until well incorporated. Scrape the sides and mix again briefly.
Portion Out + Roll
Using a cookie scoop, portion out into 30 small bites.
Optional step: roll between your palms to smooth the sides.
Storing Protein Bites
As long as these are in airtight containers, they will last one week in the refrigerator. I don’t recommend freezing these because they use fresh carrots and carrots that have been frozen and then defrosted are not delicious.
If you wanted to make these to freeze them, simply omit the carrots for a tasty cinnamon protein bite!
More Energizing Snacks!
Would you like me to make more protein bite flavors? Do you like them as much as we do? Would love to get your feedback in the comments below.
Hope you love these and use this recipe just as frequently as I do. It makes a great snack or addition to a packed school lunch for this rather different school year. Be sure to save/print/bookmark/pin this recipe so you don’t lose it because it’s a good one if I do say so myself.
Have a great day, friends!
Carrot Cake Protein Bites
Ingredients
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup whey protein
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup carrot finely chopped
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Chop up carrot into very small pieces. Add all ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Mix together until well incorporated. Scrape the sides and mix again briefly. Using a cookie scoop, portion out into 30 small bites. As the mixture sits, the whey protein will soak up any extra moisture making them sticky.
- Optional step: roll between your palms to smooth the sides. (If they seem too sticky to roll, refrigerate for 30 minutes and then roll between palms to smooth.) Store in airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Made these with the addition of a few dates finely chopped. They are delicious! Will definitely be making again!
I am vegan, do you think this would work with vegan protein powdee?
I think it should be ok with a vegan protein powder as long as you like the taste of the one you’re using.
I know I can’t eat them fast enough so I just make Half the recipe and it turns out ok for me
Since you asked for feedback, I’ll go ahead and be honest. My teenagers saw the pictures and recipe and thought these looked unappetizing. They like their vegetables to look like plants, and their snacks to look delicious. These weren’t either.
These look great! My kids can’t eat dairy (whey) so I’ll going to try making it with Orgain protein powder. Fingers crossed it’s still as tasty.
Did it work with orgain protein powder? 1 of my kids and myself can’t eat dairy, also. Or do you have to have a protein powder or do you know of a better one?
Is the peanut butter flavor pronounced in these? Neither me nor my daughter are really fans of peanut butter flavor and since these are “carrot cake” I’d assume not, but wanted to ask before I try making them. Thanks!