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Easy No-Bake Peanut Butter Banana Protein Bites

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Soft, naturally sweet, and filling no-bake protein bites made with ripe banana, peanut butter, oats, and protein powder. A kid-approved snack that comes together in minutes with no oven required.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup rolled oats (use certified gluten-free if needed)
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (natural, no-stir works great; just give it a good stir before measuring)
  • 1 large ripe banana, mashed (the spotter the better for natural sweetness)
  • 1/4 cup vanilla or unflavored protein powder (I prefer a whey or plant-based blend; avoid collagen here since it doesn’t bind well)
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (adjust based on sweetness preference and banana ripeness)
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (optional but highly recommended)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt (skip if your peanut butter is already salted)

Instructions

  1. Mash the banana. Put your ripe banana in a large mixing bowl and mash it well with a fork. You want it smooth with no large chunks. A few tiny lumps are fine, but try to get it mostly uniform. This should take about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the wet ingredients. Add the peanut butter, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract to the mashed banana. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. The mixture should look creamy and uniform. If your peanut butter was cold, this might take a little extra elbow grease. Just keep stirring.
  3. Mix in the dry ingredients. Add the rolled oats, protein powder, and salt. Stir until everything is evenly distributed. The mixture will start to look like a thick, sticky dough. If it seems too dry, add a teaspoon of water or milk. If it seems too wet, add another tablespoon of oats. You’re looking for a consistency that holds together when you squeeze it in your hand.
  4. Fold in the chocolate chips. Gently stir them in until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough. Try not to overmix at this point, you just want the chips spread out.
  5. Chill the mixture. This step is optional but highly recommended. Pop the bowl in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes. This makes the dough easier to handle and less sticky. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step, but your hands will get messier.
  6. Roll into balls. Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, portion out the dough and roll it between your palms to form balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place each ball on the parchment-lined baking sheet as you go. You should get about 18-20 bites, depending on how big you make them.
  7. Final chill. Place the baking sheet in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the bites firm up. This helps them hold their shape. If you can wait an hour, even better.

Notes

For best results, use a very ripe banana (brown-spotted) for natural sweetness. If dough is too sticky, wet hands slightly with cold water before rolling. If dough is too dry, add a splash of milk or water. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: no-bake protein bites, peanut butter banana bites, healthy snacks, energy balls, kid-friendly snacks, gluten-free snacks, high-protein snacks

Find it online: https://platebelle.com/easy-no-bake-peanut-butter-banana-protein-bites-recipe/