Cranberry Protein Balls
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These cranberry protein balls come together with just 4 ingredients and make the perfect protein-packed snack!
These cranberry protein balls have become one of my go-to snacks during the cooler months (hello, cranberry season!) when I want something sweet, energizing, and homemade…without much effort. I toss together my base of almonds, dates, and cranberries in a food processor, and within minutes, I’m rolling bite-sized balls to refill my snack stash. They’re chewy, bright, and naturally balanced between sweet and tart.
I first made these when my partner and sister both did a 30-day paleo challenge and couldn’t enjoy my usual protein balls (the ones packed with oats- definitely not paleo-friendly). My culinary training came in handy here: I experimented with different nut and seed combinations until I found the perfect ratio that holds its shape, packs easily, and tastes like a cross between trail mix and a cookie bite.
Table of Contents
Why make my cranberry energy balls
- Ready in 10 minutes. And that includes prep time.
- 4 ingredients. Almonds, almond butter, dates, and dried cranberries.
- Healthy and nutritious. Almonds offer healthy fats and protein, dates have plenty of potassium, and cranberries are packed with antioxidants.
- Versatile. Enjoy them pre- or post-workout, or as a lunchbox snack.
Key Ingredients
I’m also including some substitutions here, too. Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
- Almonds. These will form the bulk of the protein balls. I prefer toasted almonds for their mild, buttery flavor, but you could use cashews or a mix of both instead.
- Almond butter. Smooth, drippy almond butter will help the bars stick together and add richness. I like to make my own, but the store-bought variety will also work. If the almond butter is too firm, microwave it for a few seconds to soften it up. If you don’t want to use almond butter, I’ve had success with both peanut butter and cashew butter.
- Dates. I highly recommend Medjool dates, which are WAY sweeter and caramelized than other dates. If you can’t find Medjools, you’ll want to soak the dates in warm water for 30 minutes before blending.
- Dried cranberries. I prefer using naturally sweetened cranberries- they blend more evenly and keep the flavor balanced.
How to make cranberry protein balls
Step 1- Blend almonds. In a high-speed blender or food processor, blend your almonds until a crumbly texture remains.
Step 2- Combine. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until the mixture is thick, glossy, and uniform. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed so no bits of nuts or fruit remain. If the batter is too crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to get things moving.
Step 3- Shape. Transfer the energy ball batter into a mixing bowl. Form 12 equal-sized balls and place them on a plate lined with parchment paper or in an airtight container. Refrigerate until firm.
My trick to rolling perfect energy balls
A neat little trick I like to use to roll these into uniform balls is to use wet or lightly oiled hands. None of the mixture sticks, and the bites all look identical. You can also use a 1-inch cookie scoop.
Recipe variations
- Add extra protein. When I need an even more satisfying snack, I’ll mix in some chia seeds, hemp seeds, or flax seeds to the batter. You can also add up to one full cup of unflavored protein powder to the mixture without affecting the texture. I prefer casein protein, but I’ve made it successfully with whey and brown rice protein too.
- Make them nut-free. Swap the almonds for rolled oats and the almond butter for tahini or sunflower seed butter.
- Freeze them. If you want to firm up the cranberry balls more quickly, let them chill in the freezer.
- Add mix-ins. My sister loves these with white chocolate chips or mini milk chocolate chips in the mixture. Of course, post-paleo diet.
- Add flavor. These bites are flavorful enough as is, but you could add one teaspoon of vanilla extract or two tablespoons of orange zest for a little extra flavor boost.
Frequently asked questions
I don’t recommend using fresh cranberries because they will bleed into the mixture, making it too sticky and wet.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 1 week. I like to store them between sheets of parchment paper so they don’t stick together. They also keep really well in the freezer. Freeze leftover energy balls in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Cranberry Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1 cup Medjool dates
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dried cranberries
Instructions
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, add your almonds and blend until a crumbly texture remains.
- Add your almond butter, dates, and cranberries, and blend well until fully combined. Be sure to regularly scrape down the sides to ensure the mixture is thoroughly combined. If the batter is too crumbly, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to get things moving.
- Transfer the energy ball batter into a mixing bowl. Using lightly wet or oiled hands, form 12 small balls, place them on a lined plate or sealable container, and store in the fridge or freezer until firm.
Notes
- Protein powder: Add up to one full cup of protein powder. When made with Optimum casein unflavored, each ball had 11 grams of protein.
- TO STORE. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 1 week. I like to store them in between sheets of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
- TO FREEZE. Freeze leftover energy balls in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let the balls thaw overnight in the fridge.
Nutrition
More energy ball recipes
Recipe originally published January 2020
Yeah I knew dates are like healthy sweetener, from Earth haha. But I didnt eat them for years I think. And I like it very much.
Love these. Make once a month for a quick bite to accompany my vegetable/fruit smoothies! Perfect mid-day pick me up!
Cheers, Bonnie!
This looks truly delicious, I also love a little tangy cranberry to offset sweet! Yum! I don’t tolerate dates, they are too high in fructose for me and I need something lower. What would work here? Thanks for all your hard work to provide alternatives for sensitive diets!!!!
Hi Deena! I’d recommend soaked raisins- They have been the closest to cranberries I could find 🙂