Coco Pops protein balls: an easy high-protein recipe

Coco Pops in a protein ball sounds like a cheat code, and honestly it sort of is. These no-bake balls taste like the chocolate milk at the bottom of the cereal bowl, and each one carries about 8g of protein. Ten minutes, one bowl, no oven.

The short answer

• Makes: 10 balls, about 8g protein each
• Time: 10 minutes plus 20 minutes chilling
• Key ingredients: Macro Mike Coco Pops protein, Macro Mike powdered peanut butter, rolled oats, honey and milk

Ingredients

Everything here is a supermarket staple apart from the two Macro Mike powders.

• 80g Macro Mike Coco Pops protein (2 serves)
• 48g Macro Mike powdered peanut butter, Chocolate Hazelnut (4 serves)
• 60g rolled oats
• 60g honey (about 3 tablespoons)
• 60 to 80ml milk of your choice
• Optional: a handful of crushed Coco Pops cereal for rolling

The Coco Pops protein is a plant blend of almond and faba bean protein made in partnership with Kellogg's. It is chocolatey rather than overly sweet, which is why it works so well in a ball that already has honey in it.

Method

1. Blitz the oats in a blender or food processor for 10 seconds so they are part flour, part flakes. Skip this if you like a chunkier ball.
2. Tip the oats into a bowl with the Coco Pops protein and powdered peanut butter. Stir until evenly mixed.
3. Add the honey and 60ml of milk. Mix with a spoon, then your hands.
4. Check the texture. It should feel like firm cookie dough that holds when squeezed. Too dry? Add milk a teaspoon at a time. Too wet? Add a spoonful of oats.
5. Roll into 10 even balls, roughly a heaped tablespoon each.
6. Roll them in crushed Coco Pops cereal if you want a crunchy coat.
7. Chill for at least 20 minutes to firm up.

The one mistake to avoid: dumping all the milk in at once. Plant protein soaks up liquid slowly, so a mix that looks dry at first often comes good after a minute of mixing.

Macros per ball

Here is the working, so you can see where the 8g comes from. The protein powder and powdered peanut butter numbers come straight off the labels. The oats, honey and milk are approximate, as they vary by brand.

Split across 10 balls, that is roughly 8g protein and 85 to 90 calories each. If you make 12 smaller balls, call it about 6.5g protein each. The label figures: Coco Pops protein has 23g protein and 144.4 calories per 40g serve, and the powdered PB has 6.3g protein and 44.1 calories per 12g serve.

Swaps

Powdered PB: any flavour works. Salted caramel or cookie dough both play nicely with chocolate. No powdered PB at all? Use 2 tablespoons of regular peanut butter and less milk, but expect a bit less protein and a few more calories per ball.

Oats: quick oats blend smoother. If you need gluten free, use oats labelled gluten free. The Coco Pops protein itself is gluten free.

Dairy free: the Coco Pops protein and powdered PB are both plant based, so swap to almond or oat milk and you are there. Use maple syrup instead of honey if you want it fully vegan.

Different protein: a plant protein powder gives the best dough. Whey tends to go tacky, so add more oats if you switch.

Storage

Keep the balls in an airtight container in the fridge, where they should last about 5 days. They also freeze well for up to a month. Pull one out 10 minutes before you want it and it softens up nicely.

They travel fine in a lunchbox for a few hours, but they soften in a hot car, so keep them cool if you can.

Where NZ Supps fits

We stock the full Macro Mike protein range, including the Coco Pops protein and every powdered PB flavour. If you like this one, the Kellogg's protein range has a few other cereal flavours worth a look.

Want more ideas? Our protein oats recipes make a solid breakfast, and our guide to cooking with protein powder covers what works in baking and what does not.

FAQ

How much protein is in each Coco Pops protein ball? Made as written, the batch has roughly 80g of protein, which works out to about 8g per ball across 10 balls. The protein powder and powdered peanut butter figures come from the labels; the oats and milk are approximate.

Can I make these protein balls without powdered peanut butter? Yes. Use 2 tablespoons of regular peanut butter and cut the milk back a little, since it adds moisture. Protein per ball drops a little and calories go up, but they still hold together well.

Are Coco Pops protein balls dairy free? They can be. The Macro Mike Coco Pops protein is dairy free and plant based, so use a plant milk and the whole recipe is dairy free. Swap the honey for maple syrup if you also want it vegan.

How long do protein balls last in the fridge? In an airtight container they should keep for about 5 days in the fridge. For longer storage, freeze them for up to a month and thaw for 10 minutes before eating.

Can I use a different protein powder? You can, but plant protein works best here because it gives a thicker, doughier mix. Whey tends to go sticky, so if you swap to whey, add more oats and less liquid until the mix rolls cleanly.