Sunflower Seed Protein Balls

These are the perfect allergy friendly protein balls for post workout, school lunches or a snack on the go. What makes them so perfect? Is it the 10 grams of protein per serving? Or maybe its because they are top 8 allergen free? Or could it be both of those, plus the fact that they taste delicious and are super simple to make- Bingo!

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When I say that these are super simple to make, I mean it! Throw all of your ingredients in a food processor, mix and form the balls- that’s it. A couple of comments on the ingredients. First, the star of this recipe is clearly the sunflower butter. Not all sunflower butter’s are created equally- check the labels!- and make sure that you get one without added sugar or oil. Just like nutbutters, sunbutter doesn’t need anything added. I like the organic SunButter brand: there are no added ingredients, it’s organic and made in a peanut and tree-nut free facility! Just as important are the chocolate chips, and ensuring that they are allergy friendly. EnjoyLife or Pascha brand semi-sweet will work well for this recipe. Lastly, when I say maple syrup, I mean pure maple syrup, like the one from Maple Grove Farms, not Log Cabin (FYI, that’s corn syrup!).

I added in Chia seeds and flax meal for a bit of extra protein, but both can be omitted if you prefer (some people really don’t like flax, apparently. You can mix and match a lot of the ingredients to fit your taste and your allergies. Below are some suggestions

Recipe Ideas:

1. Coconut: if not an allergy concern for you, shredded coconut would be delicious
2. Fruit: I almost added dates to this, that would add a softer consistency and be a good addition to the flavor profile. I would reduce the sunflower butter and maple syrup just slightly. Raisins or dried cranberries might work too
3. More Protein: allergy friendly protein powder- cut the oat flour to compensate for the additional ingredient, or add protein powder in lieu of cocoa powder
4. Omegas: Get those omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with the hulled hemp seeds

How have you changed the recipe? Drop a note in the comments, we’d love to hear it

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Yield: 15-20 balls (5 servings assumed in protein calculations)

Prep time: 5 minutes

Rest time: 1 hour

Sunflower Seed Protein Balls Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/3 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup allergy friendly semi-sweet chocolate chips, like Pascha
• 1/2 cup sunbutter
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup gluten free oat flour
• 1 tbsp flax meal

Sunflower Seed Protein Balls Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a medium food processor and blend to combine.
2. Transfer batter to a bowl, cover and rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour
3. Remove from bowl and form into small balls and enjoy!