Chocolate Raspberry Protein Balls Disguised as Truffles

By Jenny Sugar

Updated on 8/20/2016 at 1:05 PM

These decadent rose-colored gems may look like chocolate truffles but are protein balls in disguise. Soft, creamy, and chocolaty, they are also dusted with freeze-dried raspberries, giving them a gorgeous, bright look and a bold, fruity flavor that complements the chocolate perfectly.

POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

No baking, no weird ingredients, and they take just 15 minutes to prepare! Each 70-calorie ball offers three grams of protein and one gram of fiber. Enjoy two for a snack approved by nutritionists to help you lose weight! Oh, and the fact that they taste like a dessert is a complete bonus. Whip up a batch and keep them in the fridge to grab after a workout or when sugar cravings strike — with only three grams of sugar per ball, you won't have to worry about crashing from dessert.

Chocolate Raspberry Protein Balls

Cook Time15 minutes
Yield25 balls
Calories71 per ball

From Jenny Sugar, POPSUGAR Fitness

INGREDIENTS

    • 1 cup rolled oats
    • 1 cup raw cashews
    • 2 servings vanilla plant-based protein powder (about 35 grams; I used Vega)
    • 8 dates, pitted
    • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1 ripe banana
    • 1/2 cup freeze-dried raspberries

    INSTRUCTIONS

    1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

    2. Place the oats, cashews, protein powder, dates, cocoa powder, and salt in a food processor, and blend until everything is a smooth, floury consistency.

    3. Add the banana, and blend until a thick, slightly sticky dough forms.

    4. Roll out 25 balls, and place them on the parchment paper.

    5. Pulse the freeze-dried raspberries in a Nutribullet or food processor.

    6. Roll each ball in the raspberry powder, and return to the cookie sheet.

    7. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to a week.