These matcha balls are the perfect snack to have around! They are delicious, sweet, and packed with nutrients. Simple to prepare, you will only need 10 minutes to make this recipe.
These matcha protein balls are one of my favorite treats to have on hand, along with my oatmeal protein bars and vegan protein cookies! They are a convenient grab-and-go snack that is nutritious and delicious and offers a small caffeine boost. I love pairing a few of them with my soy milk latte for a light yet filling afternoon snack.
💚Why you will love this recipe
- Decadent, chewy, and perfectly sweetened
- It makes a great mid-afternoon treat that is healthy and filling
- Meal prep friendly and are freezable
- Simple to prepare and ready in 10 minutes
🍵What you will need
📃Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Oats—This recipe will work with either rolled or quick oats. To keep it gluten-free, use gluten-free oats.
- Matcha - Made from grinding young green tea leaves. Both culinary and ceremonial matcha will work in this recipe. I am using Jade Leaf's culinary matcha.
- Protein powder - I recommend using unflavored or vanilla-flavored protein powder. Feel free to omit, but you might need to add more oat flour to thicken the energy ball mixture. (I am using Orgain's vanilla protein powder).
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with other liquid sweeteners like agave syrup or honey. To make this lower in calories, feel free to use sugar-free syrup.
- Peanut butter - Other nut butter, like cashew or almond butter, can be used instead of almond butter. For a nut-free version, opt for sunflower seed butter or tahini.
🔪How to make
Place oats along with desiccated coconut in a food processor. Process until a flour-like consistency forms.
Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until well-mixed. If the mixture is too crumbly to shape, you might need to add a splash of milk or water.
Scoop out 1 tablespoon of the mixture using a cookie dough scoop or a measuring spoon, and roll it into a ball. Optionally, roll your protein ball in more desiccated coconut (or crushed pistachios).
Let your matcha balls sit in the fridge to firm up for at least 15 minutes before enjoying them.
✔Helpful tips
- Use a food processor - A food processor can better handle the thick and sticky mixture of the matcha balls. Although a high-speed blender like Vitamix will work, it requires more effort to achieve the desired consistency.
- Making without a food processor - If you do not own a food processor, you can mix the mixture by hand. For easier mixing, I recommend using quick oats or oat flour instead of rolled oats.
- Stop and scrape down the sides - When blending ingredients, you might need to stop and scrape down the sides and bottom of your food processor to ensure the mixture is well-mixed.
- Use high-quality matcha - Higher-quality matcha will be bright green, taste fresh, be slightly sweet, and have minimal bitterness. On the other hand, low-quality matcha is usually dull green or yellow in color and can have quite an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.
- Chill matcha balls before serving - Although they can be eaten straight after being made, energy balls do not hold their shape well and might crumble easily. Simply refrigerating them for 10-15 minutes will help firm them up.
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❄Storing suggestions
Fridge - Matcha balls will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freezer - These energy balls are freezable too and can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let them thaw and soften for a few minutes at room temperature before enjoying.
❔Commonly asked questions
Both culinary-grade and ceremonial-grade matcha powder can be used in this recipe. Although culinary-grade matcha is slightly more bitter than the latter, the addition of other ingredients in this recipe will help to mask its bitterness.
Both matcha and green tea originated from the same species of plant. Matcha is finely ground tea leaves, while green tea usually consists of loose or bagged whole leaves. Hence, matcha contains more caffeine, antioxidants, and nutrients than its counterpart.
Bitter matcha powder is usually due to the use of lower-quality tea leaves. Additionally, improper storage can make matcha go stale and more bitter. To preserve its freshness, store matcha powder in an airtight container away from light.
Although you can make energy balls in the blender, it will require more effort due to the sticky and thick consistency of the mixture. A high-speed blender (like Vitamix) will help ease the blending process.
Alternatively, you can mix the energy balls mixture by hand. Do use oat flour or quick oats instead of rolled oats for easy mixing.
📖 Recipe
Healthy Matcha Balls
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats or quick oats (use gluten-free if needed)
- 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut unsweetened
- ¼ cup peanut butter or cashew/almond butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup or other liquid sweeteners
- 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder or unflavored
- 2 teaspoons matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place oats and desiccated coconut into food processor and blend until a flour-like consistency form.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until everything is well-mixed. Add a splash of water or milk if the mixture is too dry to be shaped.
- Using a cookie dough scoop or a measuring spoon, scoop out a tablespoon of the mixture and shape it into a ball. Optionally, you can roll it in more desiccated coconut.
- Let your matcha balls set in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before enjoying.
Notes
- Use a food processor - A food processor can better handle the thick and sticky mixture of the matcha balls. Although a high-speed blender like Vitamix will work, it requires more effort to achieve the desired consistency.
- Making without a food processor - If you do not own a food processor, you can mix the mixture by hand. For easier mixing, I recommend using quick oats or oat flour instead of rolled oats.
- Use high-quality matcha - Higher-quality matcha will be bright green, taste fresh, be slightly sweet, and have minimal bitterness. On the other hand, low-quality matcha is usually dull green or yellow and can have quite an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.
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Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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