Cranberry Orange Protein Bites
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Cranberry orange protein balls are a no-bake, two-bite snack you can feel good devouring. They’re packed with naturally-sweet dried cranberries, real orange juice and orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, chia seeds, and hearty old-fashioned oats. I love them for a semi-sweet treat after lunch or mid-afternoon!
I don’t always have a great plan for mid-afternoon snack attacks, but I do know that having something moderately sweet close and convenient can dramatically increase the odds of making a choice I love when that snack attack inevitably rolls around.
These bites fall right in that category, and channel some flavor vibes from a certain coffee shop’s famous cranberry bliss bars, besides!
Like my other protein bite recipes, these are a little less sweet than my honey-laced chocolate cashew apricot bars. So just keep that in mind!
Why You’ll Love These Cranberry Orange Protein Balls
- Quick and easy to make—mix, roll, refrigerate
- Lightly sweet and spiced with warm cinnamon and ginger
- Real orange zest and orange juice for the best flavor
- Old-fashioned oats and your favorite nut butter hold it all together
- An estimated 5 grams of protein per bite—exact amounts will vary based on your choice of ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Old-fashioned rolled oats. For best results, do not substitute instant, steel-cut, or another type of oats.
- Nut butter. I use almond butter owing to my daughter’s peanut allergy; any nut butter will work. If using a natural butter prone to separating, do your best to stir and reincorporate the oil before measuring it into this recipe.
- Vanilla protein powder. Your favorite brand. I typically use two scoops, because that is the normal serving size of my standard, but it should be roughly one serving or 50-60 grams.
- Dried cranberries. Chopping the fruit into extra-small pieces really helps these bites stick together.
- Maple syrup. Honey or agave nectar are good substitutes.
- Orange zest and orange juice.
- Chia seeds. Substitute with flax seeds, hemp hearts, etc., if desired.
- Vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and kosher or flaked sea salt.
Pro Tip
Use a cookie scoop for portioning. This is just so much easier than two spoons, ensures the bites are an even size, and helps to compact the mixture even before you start pressing it together with your hands.
More Quick Healthy-ish Snacks
- Chocolate Cashew Apricot Bars
- Blueberry Chia Protein Bites
- Chocolate Strawberry Protein Bites
- Garlic Rosemary White Bean Dip (with pita, crackers, or veggies)
- Watermelon Raspberry Mint Wedges (dreamy in summer)
Cranberry Orange Protein Bites
A no-bake, two-bite snack you can feel good devouring. They're packed with naturally-sweet dried cranberries, real orange juice and orange zest, cinnamon, ginger, chia seeds, and hearty old-fashioned oats. I love them for a semi-sweet treat after lunch or mid-afternoon!
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almond or other nut butter
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder should be 50-60 grams
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries chopped
- 1/4 cup maple syrup see note
- 1-2 Tablespoons orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ginger, and kosher or flaked sea salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, starting with just 1 Tablespoon of orange juice.1 and 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup almond or other nut butter, 2 scoops vanilla protein powder, 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1-2 Tablespoons orange juice, 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ginger, and kosher or flaked sea salt
- Stir very well to combine—it will seem too thick at first and can be difficult to mix, but use your muscles and it will come together. Use your hands towards the end to press in the last few bits and knead the mixture a bit. Add more orange juice if needed for extra moisture.
- Once everything is evenly mixed, use a small cookie scoop to portion the dough into balls. Use your hands to press them tightly and roll them smooth. If you find that the balls are still not holding together, add a few more drops of orange juice to the mixture, stir well, and try rolling again.
- Store tightly covered in the refrigerator. These have the best texture within 3-4 days. Enjoy!
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Notes
- Oats. For best results, use old-fashioned oats, AKA rolled oats, and do not substitute instant, steel-cut, or another type.
- Nut Butter. If using a natural butter prone to separating, do your best to stir and reincorporate the oil before measuring it into this recipe.
- Protein Powder. I typically use two scoops, because that is the normal serving size of my standard, but this can vary — you want to aim for one serving or 50-60 grams of powder.
- Dried Fruit. Substitute dried cherries or another dried fruit freely, just chop into small pieces.
- Sweetener. Honey or agave nectar are good substitutes if you prefer them to maple syrup.
- Helpful Tool: Use a cookie scoop for portioning. This is just so much easier than two spoons, ensures the bites are an even size, and helps to compact the mixture even before you start pressing it together with your hands.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 117 kcal, Carbohydrates: 13 g, Protein: 5 g, Fat: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g, Trans Fat: 0.001 g, Cholesterol: 8 mg, Sodium: 11 mg, Potassium: 120 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 6 g, Vitamin A: 3 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 61 mg, Iron: 1 mg
These are so addictively good!