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    Home » Healthy Sweet Treats

    Vegan Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls

    Published: Aug 2, 2021 by Meesha · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Taking out a protein ball from a white plate with text on the upper half.
    A plate of protein balls with a spoon filled with cocoa powder beside.
    2 images of energy balls on a white plate with text in between the images.

    These vegan chocolate coconut protein balls are indulgent, sweet and chewy, yet are super easy to fix and ready 15 minutes! Made with protein powder, these protein bites are high in protein, yet lower in sugar than store-bought ones. Makes a great healthy snack that is portable and can be taken on-the-go.

    Protein balls arranged on a white plate with a spoonful of cocoa powder beside.

    These vegan protein balls have been one of my favorite go-to snack recently, and are the higher protein chocolate version of my vanilla coconut bliss balls!

    Jump to:
    • 💚Why you will love this recipe
    • 🥥What you will need
    • 📃Notes / substitutions
    • 🔪How to make
    • ✔Helpful tips
    • 🥜Optional add-ins
    • ❔Commonly asked questions
    • 🍽More high protein vegan snacks
    • 📖 Recipe

    💚Why you will love this recipe

    • High in fiber and protein - They a great snack to have that are actually filling to hold you over your next meal!
    • Super quick and easy to make - All you need to do is whisk everything together in your food processor and portion mixture out into balls.
    • Easily portable and transport well - Hence, you will have something wholesome to snack on at school or work when that hunger strikes. You can even take vegan protein balls along for road trips or on long hikes!
    • Stores really well - They will last a week in the fridge, and months in the freezer. You can also doubled or tripled this recipe easily to make a larger batch as part of your meal prep.

    🥥What you will need

    Ingredients needed like dates, oats, protein powder, milk, coconut and cocoa powder.

    📃Notes / substitutions

    • Oats - You can use equal parts oat flour or quick oats in place.
    • Shredded coconut - It is recommended to use unsweetened shredded coconut. You can also use coconut flakes in place, but chop them into smaller pieces along with the oats first.
    • Protein powder - I am using chocolate flavored pea protein powder, but you can use other kinds of plant based protein powder like chia, hemp or soy. If using unflavored or vanilla flavored ones, you might need to add 1-2 tablespoons more cocoa powder.
    • Cocoa powder - Feel free to use cacao powder or carob powder in place.
    • Gluten-free - Make sure that your oats and protein powder are certified gluten-free.

    🔪How to make

    Place rolled oats into the food processor. Blend until they are finely chopped and resembles the texture of flour.

    Next, add in rest of the ingredients along with 2 tablespoons of plant milk. Blend until smooth, adding milk a tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too dry. (I ended up adding ¼ cup)

    Using a cookie dough scoop or measuring spoon, scoop out around 1.5 tablespoons of dough at a time and shape them into balls. Optionally, roll them in some extra shredded coconut.

    You can enjoy immediately, or let vegan protein balls firm up in the fridge for 30 minutes before digging in!

    Collage showing blending oats, blending rest of the ingredients, and protein balls on a lined tray.

    ✔Helpful tips

    • If your dates are dry, soak them in hot water for 20 minutes before using to soften them.
    • Depending on the type of protein powder used, you might need to add more liquid. If your mixture is dry and not sticking together, gradually add in more milk, a tablespoon at a time. The reverse is also true, so do add more oats or protein powder if your dough is sticky and wet!
    • If you are not a fan of protein powder, feel free to omit. You might need to add more oats. I recommend starting with an additional ¼ cup, then adding more from there.
    • You can also make vegan protein balls into bars, if desired. Press dough evenly into a lined square pan, then slice into squares.

    🥜Optional add-ins

    Here are some add-in ideas to spice up your chocolate coconut protein balls:

    • Chocolate chips of choice - I especially love these enjoy life morsel as they are vegan and gluten-free!
    • Chopped nuts like roasted cashews or peanuts for some extra crunch
    • Chia or flax seeds
    • Dried fruits
    • Complimentary spices and flavoring like cinnamon and vanilla extract
    • Superfoods powder - Maca powder, spirulina powder, acai powder
    Protein balls arranged on a white plate. There is one with a bite taken out.

    ❔Commonly asked questions

    Why are mine not sticking together?

    If the mixture of your vegan protein balls is dry and not sticking together properly, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time. As different brands and types of protein powder have different absorbency, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid used accordingly.

    How to store and how long do they last?

    You can either store vegan protein balls in the fridge or freezer in a sealed container. They will last for a week in the fridge, and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

    As they will harden when frozen, you can choose to let them thaw for 10-15 minutes on countertop before enjoying.

    Can I make them in a blender or Nutribullet?

    It is definitely possible to make chocolate coconut protein balls in a blender, but you will need to stop and scape down the sides multiple times to make sure that everything blends evenly. I do highly recommend using a food processor if you own one.

    Can I make them without protein powder?

    You can certainly make these vegan protein balls without protein powder, but you might need to add more oats if the mixture is too wet. Do keep in mind that the protein content will decrease significantly when protein powder is omitted.

    Can I eat oats raw in these balls?

    Yes, it is generally safe to eat raw oats, and the oats in these vegan protein balls are chopped into really tiny pieces making them easier to eat and gentler on your gut.

    Taking out a protein ball from a white plate lined with parchment paper.

    🍽More high protein vegan snacks

    • Vegan Tofu Chocolate Protein Mousse (no cream)
    • Creamy Tofu Ricotta
    • Healthy PB2 Peanut Butter Powder Cookies
    • Crispy Oven Roasted Lentils

    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    Protein balls arranged on a white plate with a teaspoon filled with cocoa powder beside.

    Vegan Chocolate Coconut Protein Balls

    Meesha
    These vegan chocolate coconut protein balls are indulgent, sweet and chewy, yet are super easy to fix and ready 15 minutes! Made with protein powder, these protein bites are high in protein, yet lower in sugar than store-bought ones. Makes a great healthy snack that is portable and can be taken on-the-go.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10 balls
    Calories 86 kcal

    Equipment

    • cookie dough scoop

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup rolled oats ( use gluten-free if needed )*
    • 1 cup dates pitted
    • ⅓ cup shredded coconut unsweetened **
    • ⅓ cup chocolate protein powder ***
    • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    • 3-6 tablespoons plant milk
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Place rolled oats into the food processor. Blend until they are finely chopped and resembles the texture of flour.
      ½ cup rolled oats
    • Next, add in rest of the ingredients along with 2 tablespoons of plant milk. Blend until a smooth, adding milk a tablespoon at a time if the mixture is too dry. (I ended up adding ¼ cup)
      1 cup dates, ⅓ cup shredded coconut, ⅓ cup chocolate protein powder, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
    • Using a cookie dough scoop or measuring spoon, scoop out around 1.5 tablespoons of dough at a time and shape them into balls. Optionally, roll them in some extra shredded coconut.
    • You can enjoy immediately, or let vegan protein balls firm up in the fridge for 30 minutes before digging in!

    Notes

    *Oats - You can use equal parts oat flour or quick oats in place.
    **Shredded coconut - It is recommended to use unsweetened shredded coconut. You can also use coconut flakes in place, but chop them into smaller pieces along with the oats first.
    ***Protein powder - I am using chocolate flavored pea protein powder, but you can use other kinds of plant based protein powder like chia, hemp or soy. If using unflavored or vanilla flavored ones, you might need to add 1-2 tablespoons more cocoa powder.
     
    Helpful tips
    • If your dates are dry, soak them in hot water for 20 minutes before using to soften them.
    • Depending on the type of protein powder used, you might need to add more liquid. If your mixture is dry and not sticking together, gradually add in more milk, a tablespoon at a time. The reverse is also true, so do add more oats or protein powder if your dough is sticky and wet!
    • If you are not a fan of protein powder, feel free to omit. You might need to add more oats. I recommend starting with an additional ¼ cup, then adding more from there.
     
    Storing - You can either store chocolate coconut protein balls in the fridge or freezer in a sealed container. They will last for a week in the fridge, and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

    As these vegan protein balls will harden when frozen, you can choose to let them thaw for 10-15 minutes on countertop before enjoying. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 86kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 3gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 29mgPotassium: 164mgFiber: 3gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg

    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.

    Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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