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These snickerdoodle protein balls are the perfect no bake snack that tastes exactly like snickerdoodle cookies! With 10 grams of protein in each, they’re the best wholesome, healthy treat.
My family loves it when I bake my famous Snickerdoodle cookies since I usually reserve them for the holidays. But sometimes, I really just want the Snickerdoodle flavor, but without the sugar rush or lengthy baking process. That’s why I came up with these easy snickerdoodle balls.
If you’re unfamiliar with Snickerdoodles, they’re basically sugar cookies coated in cinnamon sugar. Just like our snickerdoodle cake, it’s the cinnamon that really sets them apart from other dessert-inspired snacks.
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
- Cinnamon goodness. If you’re a lover of all things cinnamon, you’ll love these protein balls! They’re warm, sweet, and perfectly spiced.
- Easy to make ahead. We always have protein balls in my kitchen since they’re easy to make in advance, and they last for a long time in the fridge.
- Ready in minutes. All you do is make the batter, shape the balls, then toss them in cinnamon sugar, and let them firm up in the fridge. It’s that easy!
- No protein powder. Even if you’re not a big fan of protein powder, or you’re fresh out, you can still enjoy these protein-packed energy balls.
We love having these snickerdoodle bites during the holidays since they’re way more nutritious than traditional desserts but still offer that same festive flavor, just like these pumpkin balls and eggnog bites.
Ingredients needed
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make these delectable treats.
- Almond flour. I prefer using blanched almond flour for no-bake treats, but you could also use regular almond meal if you’re in a pinch.
- Coconut flour. I always recommend using coconut flour in no-bake desserts since it absorbs moisture best and offers fiber and protein.
- Cinnamon. A must for any Snickerdoodle!
- Granulated sweetener. I used white sugar, but brown sugar or a sugar alternative will also work.
- Almond butter. Preferably smooth and creamy almond butter with no added sugar. While I prefer the flavor of almond butter, you could use any nut or seed butter.
- Maple syrup. To complement the cinnamon and bind the ingredients together.
- Milk. I used unsweetened almond milk, but any milk will work.
- More cinnamon and sweetener. For coating the protein balls.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to make snickerdoodle protein balls
Step 1- Combine the dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flours, sweetener, and cinnamon.
Step 2- Add wet ingredients. In a microwave-safe bowl or stovetop, melt the almond butter with maple syrup. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well to combine. If the batter is crumbly, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until a thick, shapeable batter is formed.
Step 3- Shape into balls. Use your hands to shape the dough into equal-sized balls and set them aside.
Step 4- Coat in cinnamon sugar. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sweetener. Gently roll each ball in the cinnamon mixture and refrigerate for 10 minutes or until firm.
Recipe tips and variations
- Lightly wet your hands. So the balls are easier to roll out.
- Make them nut-free. If you have a nut allergy, swap out the almond flour for oat flour and the almond butter for tahini or sunflower seed butter.
- Swap out the maple syrup. I tested honey and agave, and they both work great. You could even use keto-friendly honey.
- Use a cookie scoop. To get even-sized balls with half the effort.
- Taste as you go. This no-bake recipe is 100% safe to eat straight out of the bowl, so taste the batter before you shape the balls and add more sweetener or cinnamon if needed.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover snickerdoodle energy balls are best kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
To freeze: Place the energy bites in a freezer-safe bag and freeze them for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, let them thaw overnight in the fridge.
Frequently asked questions
If the batter is too crumbly and you’re not able to shape the balls, add a little milk (or water) until the batter softens and you can roll out the balls.
More no-bake snacks to try
- Cookie dough bites– No-bake cookie dough that’s safe and delicious to eat raw.
- Peanut butter protein balls– Made with only 4 ingredients and zero added sugar.
- Apricot delight– Full of vibrant apricot flavor, these are the perfect midday snack you can enjoy year-round.
- Larabars– Everyone’s favorite healthy snack, made with wholesome ingredients and 10 flavor options.
- Banana protein bars– Healthy, delicious protein bars that taste just like banana bread.
Snickerdoodle Protein Balls
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup almond butter can use any nut or seed butter of choice
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, sweetener, cinnamon, and mix very well.
- In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, melt your almond butter with your sticky sweetener until combined. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix very well. If the batter is crumbly, add milk one tablespoon at a time until a thick, formable batter is present. Using your hands, form into small balls and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and sweetener and mix well. Gently roll each ball in it and refrigerate for 10 minutes, or until firm.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe originally published December 2018 but updated to include new information for your benefit.
Hey! Do you have a protein bar recipe that doesn’t use a nut butter? 😀
You can use tahini instead of any of the nut butters 🙂
Hi there, just wondering if the fibre has been deducted from the carbs? Just want to confirm if these are 3grams carbs net or total? Thank you 🙂
Hi! Nope, it isn’t net carbs so subtract the fiber 🙂
Hello! Is there something else I can use in place of protein powder?
Just leave it out 🙂
I love this recipe. My very picky son loves them, too! Thank you!
Someone should do that make a nice caramel ball base out of dates, protein powder n stuff put some chopped roasted peanuts mixed in and then just roll in chocolate powder, yum. Kinda surprised noone has ! Any chance I might see that soon ?
That sounds delicious, yum!
Do you have calories for this?
For sure! If you go to myfitnesspal, it will give you all the details. Enjoy!
Any chance I can just throw all the ingredients into a Vitamix and voila? Anyone tried that? That is my kind of no bake…
Absolutely! 🙂
I cant do the maple syrup or honey, what can I use instead?
Hi Karen, you could use brown rice syrup 🙂
Love love love this recipe! I was just looking for something simple and healthyish, and instead I found myself effectively eating cookie dough. Thank you!!
🙂 You are so welcome- I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Anna!
I’ll be honest. I was skeptical of how these would turn out, texture-wise. Your photos make them look amazing, buuuut… could I achieve that? (spoiler: yes) I’ve been meaning to make these for weeks and finally got around to it on Monday. I was worried for a while there, as I added tablespoon upon tablespoon of almond milk (ended up adding 4, as I used the protein powder). But then magic happened. And I had these amazing cookie balls. Now I’ve made balls several times before, and they generally last about a week. These didn’t stand a chance. lol They were gone in half a week. I did overdo the coating, as I hoped rolling them twice would use up the cinnamon sugar mix, but I ended up just having to give up and throw the remains in a jar for the next time I need such a concoction. 😀 Man, you make some ridiculously delicious stuff. I look forward to making more. Thank you so much for doing what you do! 🙂
Jessica! 🙂 This is such a kind comment- Glad it worked out well!
That’s the thing with the protein powder/coconut flour brands out there- they all produce such a different texture!
Dear Arman, these almost look like donut holes! Your snickerdoodle bites sound fantastic…also love an easy snack and your no-bake bites are the best. I think we have all been there as far as seeing our recipes copied. I guess as food bloggers it comes with the territory. A while back there was a site that was taking recipes from a whole bunch of bloggers, and you have no idea the hassle it was to try and get them taken down. So many complain reports needed to be filed, and I’m not even sure to this day if was ever taken down. Not a fun thing and certainly not acceptable. It’s a sensitive subject, but good thing you made these snickerdoodles to calm us all down afterwards. Take care my friend, Catherine
Well these look fabulous and snickerdoodles are the best. On the other hand, I’ve definitely seen copycat recipes when specifically looking for something and been like “wait, I literally just read the same thing”. Not cool. One perk of not really posting any recipes on my blog, not that that is any reason not to, I just am horrrrrrrrrible at coming up with things I just throw stuff together. I’ll leave the recipes for pros like yourself! 🙂
Right???? I open a blog and I’m like…heyyyyyy that looks familiar!
thanks for your kind words, Sarah!
Just saw this post from Amanda’s link up, not sure how I missed it! I guess I have such a weird combination of allergies it would be really tough for my recipes to be copied (lots of bloggers are gluten free, but everyone else is obsessed with ALL THE NUT BUTTERS I CAN’T EAT) and I also don’t have photos nearly as attractive as yours over here. Still annoying though – it’s a bit plagiaristic if that’s a word 😉
I don’t think photos are that much of an issue, it’s more so when others copy your recipe writing style or rip off your recipe and add one minor addition to it without crediting you or the original source. Frustrating, unethical and really off-putting. I think plagiaristic should be a word 😀 Make a legal word for it!
I love anything cinnamon so I say bring on the snickerdoodle bites.
Also, I intend to make these next week, add some apple and call them my own. 🙂
Blatant rip offs are just wrong.
You know my thoughts on this. There are similar recipes and then there are w.t.f that’s my -exact- recipe and my -exact- styling. I’d say let’s pelt the copycats with no-bake bites, but that would be a waste of delicious bites.
AMEN. 😀
Yum! I love snickerdoodles. I would definitely try the paleo version. Off to share.
Thanks so much, Linda! guess what is baking in my oven……Apple Coffee Cake! We’re going to let it sit overnight so it’s ready for coffee tomorrow morning! 😀
Ugh to the copycats! You’re completely right: giving credit where appropriate and being inspired is one thing, but readers can tell when the copying is blatant!
These looks delicious. If you opened up a no-bale bakery, I’d be your biggest customer.
YESSSSS. You can be my window cleaner.
Soapbox rant justified… this happened to me and I hardly ever post recipes! They used my pictures and everything!
I haven’t got a clue what snickerdoodles are or what they taste like but from the ingredients I think awesome… 🙂
That is insane- I hope you said something, Jen!
I use Pinterest a lot, and have seen what you are talking about. Anyway, I love these Snickerdoodle bites!
don’t get me started about Pinterest lol!
I am so sorry that your recipes were ripped off! It’s such a bummer to see others not coming up with their own ideas. However, it’s very difficult to be creative. You do find similarities in every recipe, but at least they use their own photos and have different ingredients, measurements and tags. What’s NOT acceptable is making a recipe 99% similar to someone else’s!
Right? Thanks so much, Cassie!
I see this ALL the time on Insta especially. While the recipes themselves don’t always have to be super original, I believe it’s absolutely imperative for bloggers to carve out their own look, feel and voice. I mean, what’s the point of trying to share a message and help someone if it’s not yours? Le sigh… I guess it’s a sign that you have huge influence so keep on doin yo thang
Exactly! it’s so frustrating when you come up with unique recipes or ideas and people see it do well and boom.. copycat copycat copycat.
I’m releasing a Smooth-E-book. #original
Oh my gosh, these look amazing!
Thanks Shannon!
I’ve seen people change my link to their own on my pins through Pinterest. It felt infuriating. Anywho, good recipe! Looks delicious!
These look so great, and I can’t believe they are paleo!
Salma
Right? Thanks so much, Salma!
What in the world… I would be LIVID! We all work so hard to be creative and make our blogs beautiful, provide quality content and such… that’s frustrating. I’ve never noticed it myself but I think if I did, I would say something LOL
Right? It’s so frustrating and I think if I see these bloggers do it again, I will indeed say something.
So you listen to Britney while creating your recipes? It’d only be fair to give her some credit for the inspiration 😉 .
Honestly, though, it’s seriously gotten bad in terms of recipe stealing. Within the past weeks only I’ve seen a handful of bloggers posting others’ recipes. One I didn’t understand as she credited the original creator, even linked to her blog but still posted the exact same recipe with perfectly styled pictures … That didn’t make any sense.
Right? It’s so frustrating!
YUM! Snickerdoodle Bites! I need these in my life.
These are soo good!
i do see sometimes happening between famous bloggers (also its a sign you are influencing many people, go Arman!). I havent seen that with my recipes but i know where you are coming from. As someone in a creative field, you are constantly inspired by something around you but that doesnt make it right to copy others hard work and claim it to be yours. i think its always great to share others work and give them the due respect they deserve. i’d want people to credit me for my work and i will reciprocate the same way.
on a different note, i love these bites/bites esp since its no bake.
Thanks Dixya- You’ll love these, they are so good!
Haha I think some of my recipes are too strange for people to copy! But I’ll definitely be on the look out for copycats of yours and Amanda’s recipes. It’s something I hadn’t really noticed before, but like you said NOTHING is really original any more so it’s hard to catch. Anyways, these look great! I love how you have a basic bite formula that can be made into so many different delicious varieties!
I think it also comes down to people copying your style, your writing words and photography style- Its just frustrating to see. Actually, my bite recipes are all different 🙂 I don’t use a base for any of them. 🙂
Yeah that makes sense! And I didn’t mean to imply your bite recipes are all the same! I just meant it’s cool that you got an idea for a fun type of treat and now have so many different versions of it! 🙂
I know just what you mean about copycatting – ugh. But as SpaBettie said, it’s all about karma. And believe you me, it’s much better to do right by people than invite the bad karma that comes from the opposite. Maybe you can give your sister a job – going after all the bad boys and girls on the Internet. After all, she’s fearsome, right:)? Or your mother – she’ll set them straight, stealing from her boy. I’m kidding about a serious subject, but one that is much less important than snickerdoodles, which are delicious in baked and no-bake form when made by you 🙂
Hahahaha I’ll send the women in my family after them all! Thanks Laura!
When I see a copy cat recipe I’m just like *awkward* and wonder if the author of the original recipe will say anything. Even when bloggers copy topics and basically say the same thing, but don’t reference the 1st blogger I feel a bit uncomfortable.
But at the same time, nothing is new… and where did the 1st blogger find their inspiration?
I do think the 1st blogger has the right to say something, but I imagine most don’t.
Right? I’m so tempted to, if I see these bloggers do it again, you bet I will.
Copy cat blogging is the worst!!! It infuriates me! I have no issue if you want to share my recipe but PLEASE for the love link back and give some credit! It’s all about karma! 🙂
Right? Thanks so much, Andie!
I think this is a really tough one. I mean on the one hand, as you say, nothing’s ever really new. You can get inspired by something you’ve read weeks later without realizing it or you pick up phrases or expressions others often use without the intention to copy someone. It certainly happens to me. And talking about copying recipes is extra hard. A banana bread is a banana bread and there’s only so much to change about it. Yet there’s the question if you really have to post another banana bread recipe when you didn’t really come up with anything fresh and new about it.
On the other hand what you describe here is clearly crossing the line. It’s irritating, wrong and in the end just plain sad for the copyist. I haven’t noticed something like this myself but I don’t read many blogs lately.
Now on to the snickerdoodles. I have always loved the name but I have never tried one before. The recipe looks delicious. You make me fat!
RIGHT? Cornelius Fudge would NOT approve!
Cornelius Fudge should send a Howler!
Wow, I would be pissed if someone copied my recipes! Not that I make recipes, but you know what I mean. Do you approach the people who stole your work?
It’s hard to do it because they usually lie and act oblivious. Oh well, they can have fun making themselves look like copycats!
Yikes- stealing recipes is definitely not cool… karma will kick them in the butt for sure! Meanwhile… everyone else will be making these!
🙂 Thanks Jess!
I can definitely say I have never seen a Camel Pie recipe out there. 😀 (sorry, had to!).
I can’t even anymore – this has been happening to my recipes for YEARS, and all I can do is know that … karma. Karma Happens. it does.
on the flip side, when I am adapting a recipe, I often don’t even POST a recipe, I’ll just talk about what I did differently and LINK TO THE ORIGINAL. and I always attribute inspiration. because, I don’t want that bad juju connected to MY blog, you know? *shudder* you get what you give, or something like that. life’s too short – if you are going to DO something, why not make it your own??!?! how is copying and cheating even FUN?
snickerdoodles. *snicker* I love them!
Right? It’s so disappointing and frustrating. I get so annoyed and disheartened.
Next week I’m posting an amazing, original recipe for whipped sriracha.
Oh man, you totally know my feelings about lazy bloggers who just copy other people’s work! There is a certain Klassy Kow out there who makes her entire living off of copying other people. That’s just lazy and shameful, and I’m surprised she can look at herself in the mirror at night. But enough of that soapbox…I’m off to make some Healthy No-Bake Snickerdoodle Balls today! 🙂
Don’t get me started. I swear I got ragey the other day….
I have to weigh in here because I love “ragey” as a word. Can I copycat that from you?
Sure. 🙂 Im changing my blog name to A man goes west. 😉
i made snickerdoodle bites in August. So fun! But i think it’s because the name. Ya, i dont’ know who came up with this but i like it. And these! YUM!
p.s. i know you just wanted to copy me, right? Kidding —> LIKE SO KIDDING. Mine were different. haha, just being cornbread cotter.
I totally copied you! haha but I need to find this recipe of yours!
Thank you!
Luckily, no one has tried to copy me (that I know of) because apparently my content isn’t worth copying? There’s your sign! While I appreciate that there are only so many different ways to do the same thing, I agree with you–find A WAY to make it your own, and cite that you are taking inspiration from the other person. If anything, it improves your SEO so BOOM BETCHES.
I love snickerdoodles and gingerbread. That is my contribution to the food side of this discussion.
Hahahaha your contribution is always warranted and welcome 😀
OMG I text Amanda all of the time about copycatted recipes that I see! A few lately, makes me angry. I pretty much stopped reading one blogger in particular who I feel does it often. Yes, of course, like you said, nothing is overly new and we will end up repeating similar ingredients but some bloggers are seriously copying…I caught one blogger who copied my post word for word as their own and I freaked on them in a polite, business like way and that took care of that 🙂
WHAT! Good for you you, Meredith- That is just wrong!
I wonder if I’ve seen copycats and not even realized it wasn’t your recipe! You definitely have a signature style that would be pretty ballsy and stupid to rip off – that said I guess it’s another sign you’ve made it big!
Thanks Michele- It’s so annoying when you see bloggers copy your style, your wording and even style photos like you do.