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    You are at:Home»Dairy-Free Recipes»Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes»Molasses Protein Balls are My Favorite High Calcium Meal Replacement Snack

    Molasses Protein Balls are My Favorite High Calcium Meal Replacement Snack

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    By Alisa Fleming on April 26, 2022 Alisa's Favorite Dairy-Free Recipes, Breakfast, Dairy-Free Recipes, Dairy-Free Snack Recipes

    Breakfast is easy for me to make in the morning. Yet somehow, I’ve become addicted to what could be considered a meal replacement snack. These dairy-free molasses protein balls are something you can make ahead and grab on the go. You can have a few for a pick-me-up, or several if you don’t have time to stop for a meal. But they’re also delicious with my morning tea, offer balanced nutrition that’s easy on my stomach, and have a comforting deep flavor that’s not too sweet. And thanks to some not-so-secret ingredients, these little protein balls are naturally high in dairy-free calcium (no fortification!) along with other key vitamins and minerals.

    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls Review - Naturally Naturally High in Calcium! Great breakfast or snack on the go. Also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free optional.

    These Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls are Mighty Nutritious

    So how much calcium is really in these molasses protein balls? When made with almond butter, one serving contains a whopping 200 milligrams of natural dairy-free calcium. It also boasts 450 milligrams of potassium, 120 milligrams of magnesium, and 7.8 milligrams of vitamin E. That fulfills about 30% to 40% of the RDA for magnesium and over 50% of the RDA for vitamin E!

    I’ve included the macronutrients with the recipe, which are also rather impressive in my opinion. These dairy-free molasses protein balls have a great balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates for fulfillment and sustainable energy. We don’t have a category in our recipe template for added sugars, which are only about 5 grams per serving. As someone with a sweet tooth in the morning, I consider this very respectable! I’ve got suggestions and notes below on the ingredients I use to make this happen.

    Ingredient Tips for Alisa’s Molasses Protein Balls

    These are the specific brands I buy to make this recipe and to get the nutrient levels and flavor desired. I’ve linked up to where I purchase them for the lowest prices. In terms of taste, these dairy-free molasses protein balls have a deep, rich flavor that isn’t sharply sweet. You can add a little bit of another sweetener, but I usually just recommend using a sweeter protein powder (see below).

    Molasses

    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls Review - Naturally Naturally High in Calcium! Great breakfast or snack on the go. Also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free optional.I specifically buy Plantation Blackstrap Molasses (not the organic version) for two primary reasons. One, it’s the highest in calcium that I’ve found. Two, I love the taste. Some brands of blackstrap molasses taste a little bitter to me, but this one is smooth and deep. Their organic version contains much less calcium, so I stick with this less expensive version. Honestly, the affordable price is just a side benefit. It’s not the cheapest on the market, but it’s close. They usually have a great deal on it on Vitacost. Amazon has a fair deal on the small bottles and large bottle, but I often find it cheaper at my local Whole Foods (seriously!).

    Protein Powder

    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls Review - Naturally Naturally High in Calcium! Great breakfast or snack on the go. Also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free optional.I’ve been using Primal Kitchen Collagen Peptides, which I really like. I stick with the unsweetened, unflavored version. It’s seamless, pure, and versatile. But if you want the balls to be a little sweeter, I think their Vanilla Collagen or Peanut Butter Collagen mixes would be delicious. Those are both cut with coconut milk powder, and have a great texture. They’re lightly sweetened with monk fruit extract. I struggle with sugar-free sweeteners, which is why I stick with the plain, but these can perk up the sweetness! You can use Code: GODAIRYFREE on primalkitchen.com for 10% off your entire order.

    Nut Butter

    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls Review - Naturally Naturally High in Calcium! Great breakfast or snack on the go. Also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free optional.

    The type and brand you use will affect the “stickiness” of these molasses protein balls. If your dough is too sticky, put the bowl in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or so. It does thicken. Or, you can just add more protein powder. I’ve been testing different brands for almond butter, and the thicker more rustic ones work best for firmer balls. Due to price, I usually buy Good & Gather Almond Butter at Target, but it does make stickier molasses protein balls. For peanut butter, I really like Smucker’s All Natural Creamy Peanut Butter. It’s on the salty side, and makes quite thick dough.

    Quick Nut Butter Tip: I always buy the “stir” varieties of peanut and almond butter where the oil separates. To emulsify, my husband uses the dough hook attachment on our cheap hand mixer to blend the contents in just a minute. Just make sure to hold the jar tight – if the solids are hard packed at bottom, it can grab a little. We learned after one oily splatter! Once blended, we store it in the refrigerator and the contents don’t separate again.

    Coating

    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls Review - Naturally Naturally High in Calcium! Great breakfast or snack on the go. Also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free optional.I don’t usually roll these molasses protein balls in coating. I did it for these photos primarily because they are a rather unappealing shade of brown on their own. Just being honest! I love the taste, and don’t really notice the color, but when I went to take photos, I noticed the issue. So the coatings are completely optional, but they do add taste, nutrition, and can make handling and storing the balls easier if your dough is a little sticky. My favorite is the quick oats, but the almond flour adds more minerals and vitamin E, and the coconut adds a nice flavor and texture.
    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls Review - Naturally Naturally High in Calcium! Great breakfast or snack on the go. Also gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free optional.

    Special Diet Notes: Molasses Protein Balls

    By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, optionally peanut-free, soy-free, and paleo friendly.

    For nut-free molasses protein balls, substitute a nut-free spread, like SunButter or WowButter. These might affect the thickness and stickiness of the protein ball dough. See the notes in the post above for adjustment tips.

    For vegan and vegetarian molasses protein balls, use a vegan protein powder, like Naked Pea, Bob’s Almond Protean Powder (another little calcium boost!), or your favorite type.

    Dairy-Free Molasses Protein Balls
     
    Print
    Prep time
    5 mins
    Total time
    5 mins
     
    These tasty nutritional energy balls have the flavor of healthy molasses cookies. The spices are optional and can be added to taste. I often don't measure but just shake on however much I'm in the mood for. See the post above for ingredient options and more recipe notes.
    Author: Alisa Fleming
    Recipe type: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Serves: 24 balls (4 servings)
    Ingredients
    • ½ cup natural almond butter or peanut butter
    • ¼ cup collagen protein powder / peptides (see post above for vegan options)
    • 2½ tablespoons blackstrap molasses
    • Pinch salt (omit if using salted nut butter)
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
    • Pinch cloves (optional)
    • Optional for Rolling: almond flour / meal, quick oats, shredded coconut
    Instructions
    1. In a small bowl, stir together the almond butter, protein, molasses, and salt (if using).
    2. Add spices, to taste, if desired.
    3. Continue stirring for about 1 minute, until it thickens and pulls away from the sides, like a thick dough. You can refrigerate the dough to thicken more.
    4. Shape into 1-inch balls. Optionally roll in almond flour, oats, or coconut, if desired.
    5. Store the balls in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or the freezer for longer.
    Notes
    Single Batch (6 balls): Use 2 tablespoons almond or peanut butter, 1 tablespoon protein powder, and 2 teaspoon blackstrap molasses. Add a tiny pinch of salt if your nut butter is unsalted, and sprinkle in ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, to taste. I typically shake in the cinnamon, add a generous dash of ginger, and use just a pinch of cloves.

    Storage: I make a single batch fresh most of the time. Yes, I'm weird that way. But you can definitely store these in the refrigerator (for at least a week) or freezer (for a few months). They firm up quite a bit when chilled and have a nice texture, in my opinion.
    Nutrition Information
    Serving size: 6 balls Calories: 254 Fat: 17g Saturated fat: 1.5g Carbohydrates: 15.8g Sugar: 7.9g Sodium: 78mg Fiber: 4g Protein: 13.7g
    3.5.3229

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    Alisa Fleming
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    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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