These healthy snowman protein balls are soft with a hard chocolate shell. They're made with almond butter and protein powder and coated in white chocolate. This recipe is gluten free, dairy free and no-bake.
I love homemade protein balls, as they're so easy to make and stash well in the freezer. And these snowman protein balls are not only adorable, but the perfect healthy treat to share this holiday season.
The filling is made with almond butter and protein powder, rolled and shaped to look like snowmen, then dipped in white chocolate. They're then topped with a dried mango carrot nose and melted dark chocolate for the eyes and buttons.
These protein balls are perfect if you're looking for a fun, festive treat that's healthy but still tastes great!
Why You'll Love these Snowmen Protein Balls
- gluten free and dairy free - these protein balls are flourless and dipped in a dairy free white chocolate.
- easy to make - they have a simple one-bowl dough that's shaped, chilled and then dipped in chocolate. No baking needed!
- Less than 10 ingredients - I made these snowmen balls with 7 ingredients, but only 5 are required.
- fun and festive - great for a healthy Christmas or winter-themed dessert
Ingredients
The full recipe for these snowman protein balls can be found in the recipe card below, but here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need:
- almond butter - I recommend using an almond butter that's drippy in texture and made with dry roasted almonds (nothing else).
- maple syrup - optional for adding a bit more sweetness.
- protein powder - the best protein powder for this recipe will be an animal based protein powder (like beef protein isolate, whey or collagen peptides). I used Equip cinnamon roll beef protein isolate.
- salt - optional ingredient to enhance the flavors. If your almond butter is salted, then leave this out.
- white chocolate - I used Pascha white chocolate chips which are vegan and dairy free, but not paleo. The best paleo option would be to use melted coconut butter or make your own paleo white chocolate.
- dried mango (not pictured) - cut dried mango into small triangles to make the carrot noses.
- dark chocolate (not pictured)- just a little to pipe the eyes and buttons onto the snowmen.
How to Make Protein Balls Shaped Like Snowmen
These no-bake snowmen are easy to make, but you will need time to chill the filling before dipping them into the chocolate. Here are the steps:
- First, line a small baking sheet or plate with parchment paper.
- Make the filling by combining the almond butter, maple syrup, protein powder and salt.
- Roll the filling mixture into balls and shape the snowmen. Place the snowmen in the freezer and freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Melt the white chocolate and dip the snowmen into it.
- Add the carrot noses and dark chocolate for the eyes and buttons.
Tips and Tricks
- Use a drippy almond butter. A no-stir almond butter won't work as well for this recipe. Use one that has a drippy texture so that the filling isn't too dry.
- Go for an animal based protein powder. For best results, use either a beef protein isolate, whey protein or collagen peptides.
- Freeze the fillings. The snowmen should hold together well once frozen. This also makes them much easier to dip in the white chocolate.
Storage
These protein balls need to be kept in an airtight container or baggie in the fridge or freezer. They are best eaten within 10 days if stored in the fridge, and 3 months in the freezer.
FAQ
The white chocolate I used is not paleo, but it is dairy free. If you want this recipe to be strict paleo, then either make your own paleo white chocolate or dip the snowmen in melted coconut butter.
This recipe works best with an animal based protein powder. Plant protein powders tend to be more absorbent and very different in texture than animal based protein powders. For this recipe, I recommend either beef protein isolate, whey protein or collagen peptides. If you want to test a plant protein, then start with just 3 tablespoons and add more as needed to get the right filling texture.
First, melt your dark chocolate. Place it in a small ziplock baggie and cut a small hole on one end. Pipe the chocolate to make the eyes and buttons.
If your snowman falls apart while dipping it in the white chocolate, don't fret. Just dip the body and the head and place them next to one another (touching) on a lined baking sheet. When the chocolate hardens, the head and body will stay attached.
More Protein Dessert Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Healthy Snowman Protein Balls (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 7 snowmen 1x
Description
These protein balls are shaped like snowmen and dipped in white chocolate. They have a sweet vanilla flavor and soft texture.
Ingredients
Protein Balls
- ½ cup unsweetened almond butter
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup (optional)
- ⅓ cup protein powder*
- pinch of salt (optional)
Coating
- ½ cup white chocolate chips**
Toppings
- 2 Tbsp dark chocolate
- dried mango, cut to small triangles
Instructions
- Line a small baking sheet or plate with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, make the filling by combining the almond butter, maple syrup, protein powder and salt.
- Roll the filling mixture into balls and shape the snowmen. The body of each snowman should be 1 rounded tablespoon in size, and the head is ½ tablespoon. Roll the body and the head for each snowman, lay them on the lined baking sheet and press them together.
- Place the snowmen in the freezer and freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Place your white chocolate in a small microwaveable bowl. Melt on high at 15-20 second intervals, stirring between. (Be sure to watch the chocolate closely, as white chocolate has a tendency to burn faster than dark chocolate.)
- Dip the frozen snowmen into the melted white chocolate, then place them back on your lined baking sheet***
- Add the carrot noses before the white chocolate has had a chance to set. If it has already hardened, then use the white chocolate like glue for the nose. Place a drop of white chocolate on the dried mango and quickly place it on the snowman.
- Melt the dark chocolate for the eyes and buttons, then scoop it into a small ziplock baggie. Cut a small hole in one end and pipe the chocolate onto the snowman.
- Store these protein snowmen in an airtight container or baggie in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
*I recommend an animal based protein powder or collagen for this recipe. I used Equip cinnamon roll beef protein isolate.
**For strict paleo, use melted coconut butter or a homemade paleo white chocolate instead of regular white chocolate chips.
***I find the snowman easy to dip using a fork. Drop your snowman into the melted chocolate and rotate it with a fork, completely coating the snowman. Using the fork, scoop the snowman out and let any excess chocolate drip off, back into the bowl. Place the snowman on the parchment lined baking sheet to set.
Katie
Hope you all love these protein snowmen as much as we do! Enjoy!