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Feb 11, 2020 By Stacie Hassing

Paleo Almond Joy Protein Bites

Dairy-Free
Egg-Free
Gluten-free
Grain-Free
Paleo
Jump to Recipe

These paleo-friendly Almond Joy Protein Bites are like the candy you love – only better – when you want a sweet bite without the sugar crash.

This post was created in partnership with our friends at Primal Kitchen.

Rows of Almond Joy Protein Bites arranged side-by-side. Some are drizzled with melted chocolate and others are studded with mini chocolate chips.

Less sugar. More protein.

The perfect little protein bite to curb your craving for something just a little sweet and a great option for when you just need a little something to get you by until the next meal. These Almond Joy Protein Bites include both quality protein and healthy fats, two macronutrients that help with satiety (the feeling of fullness). With only 2 tablespoons of maple syrup for a touch of sweetness they come in at just 5 grams of sugar per bite and taste very similar to the popular candy bar we know of, but with much less sugar and more protein. They also make for a great lunchbox addition, afternoon snacks for kids’, pre-workout fuel or even a tasty food gift for new moms.

An overhead view of a black plate on a white surface that's filled with Almond Joy Protein Bites.

Just a few ingredients including coconut flakes, collagen, almond butter and dark chocolate come together to create these paleo-friendly Almond Joy Protein Bites.

I’m all about keeping it simple because I know that recipes with a long ingredient list and multiple steps can be overwhelming. You’ll be glad to hear that all you need to make these Almond Joy Protein Bites is a mixing bowl, a mixing utensil, your hands, eight simple ingredients and about 15 minutes of your time. When making these bites, you may need to add a little water for the dough to come together. This depends on the consistency of almond butter you use as that can vary from smooth and runny to pretty thick. I prefer using an almond butter that is more on the runny side.

 

This post may contain affiliate links that will not change your price but will share some commission.

Almond Joy Protein Bites are a sweet treat without the sugar crash. #ad @primalkitchenco #realfood Click To Tweet

Paleo Almond Joy Protein Bites are perfect for meal prep and freezer-friendly, too.

Almost every meal prep I complete includes some sort of energy bite, protein bite or granola bar. Both my husband and I like to have them on hand for an easy grab-and-go option. And because I’m exclusively breastfeeding, these bites also make for a great nursing snack and come with a much-needed boost of protein and healthy fats. Additionally, Almond Joy Protein Bites are freezer-friendly so I often double the recipe and stash some away in the freezer. You never can have too many healthy snack options on hand!

Almond Joy Protein Bites, made with Primal Kitchen Collagen Peptides, are stacked on a plate.

A nice boost of protein from our favorite Primal Kitchen Collagen Peptides.

It’s fun to find new ways to sneak collagen into my diet. Exactly why we are excited to be partnered with Primal Kitchen to bring to you a series of grab-and-go recipes that include a boost of protein from collagen. Why collagen? Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body, and Primal Kitchen’s collagen contains only high-quality bovine collagen peptides, with 10g of type 1 and 3 collagen to support hair, skin, and nails.

These Almond Joy Protein Bites are one of many ways you can enjoy the benefits of Primal Kitchen Collagen Peptides. Feel free to substitute any of your favorite Primal Kitchen Collagens – so many flavors.

Prefer Peanut Butter? 

For a peanut butter twist on this recipe, you can simply substitute natural peanut butter for the almond butter and the NEW Collagen Fuel Peanut Butter flavor for the Unflavored Collagen Peptides.

 

A close-up shot of a chocolate-drizzled, coconut-sprinkled Almond Joy Protein Bite.

Drizzle them with chocolate and sprinkle with unsweetened coconut flakes of you wish.

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Let's Get Cookin'

Paleo Almond Joy Protein Bites

  • Author: Stacie Hassing
  • Prep Time: 20 mins.
  • Total Time: 20 mins.
  • Yield: 16 bites 1x
  • Cuisine: Paleo, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free
A plate filled with Almond Joy Protein Bites with one bite cut in half to show texture.
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
  • ⅔ cup almond flour
  • ½ cup smooth or crunchy almond butter (or nut butter of choice)
  • 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 scoops of Primal Kitchen Unflavored Collagen Peptides (or collagen flavor of choice) 
  • ¼ cup chopped almonds
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips or roughly chopped chocolate bar (dairy-free, if needed) 
  • 1 tsp. water (more if needed)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients except for the water.
  2. Mix well with hands until the dough comes together. 
  3. Add water ½ tsp. at a time if needed in order for the dough to come together. This will depend on the consistency of the almond butter used. 
  4. Once the dough comes together, roll into 16 small balls. 
  5. Optional step – Drizzle each ball with a little melted chocolate and sprinkle with coconut flakes.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Bite
  • Calories: 136
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 45mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Carbohydrates: 8g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 7g

Pin it now and make it later!

Pin image for Almond Joy Protein Bites


This post was made possible by our friends at Primal Kitchen. Although we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are – as always – 100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating great recipes and content for you

 

Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter. 

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About Stacie Hassing

Stacie is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian from rural southern Minnesota where she, her husband and daughter reside with their two pups. She’s a co-founder of The Real Food RDs and content creator of simple and wholesome recipes. She loves all kinds of fitness and has a passion to inspire as many as she can live a healthier and happier life both in and out of the kitchen - the driving force behind the co-development of the The Real Food RDs brand.

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  1. Tina Singh says

    February 17, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    I am going to make these very soon but before that, is there a substitute for coconut flakes in this recipe? I am not very fond of the texture of coconut flakes and just can’t do with it. Also, what is the purpose of coconut flakes? Thank you so very much.

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      February 18, 2020 at 7:58 am

      Hi Tina! This recipe calls for quite a bit of coconut flakes so I would suggest a different recipe to try. Here is one that does not call for coconut: https://therealfoodrds.com/4-ingredient-almond-butter-bites/

      Reply
      • Tina Singh says

        February 19, 2020 at 4:41 pm

        I made the recipe as is, the original one…. AND… it’s is duh-uh-licious (very delicious I mean). I didn’t mind the coconut at all because I got the very fine shredded one. And the best thing of all is that my daughter who has sworn off anything homemade gobbled GOBBLED them up. I am so happy right now, I have tears in my eyes. I love you guys for sharing this recipe. It took me 15 mins including cleanup. This is going to be passed around all over my family. Thank you thank you thank you

        Gotta go, post it on my Insta!!!!

        Reply
        • Stacie Hassing says

          February 20, 2020 at 9:39 am

          YES! This is so great to hear. And thanks for sharing the photo with us on IG! 🙂

          Reply
        • Marilyn says

          February 29, 2020 at 7:50 pm

          Can I omit the collagen?
          Or is there a substitute?

          Reply
          • Jessica Beacom says

            March 1, 2020 at 12:11 pm

            You can omit the collagen or use your preferred protein powder in place of it.

  2. Sandra Edmonds says

    March 1, 2020 at 11:37 pm

    I just made these and they’re great. Added some dried cherries into the mix. What is the best way to store these?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      March 5, 2020 at 4:21 pm

      I love the addition of dried cherries! You can store them in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze them for longer storage.

      Reply
      • Lizzie says

        March 10, 2020 at 7:38 am

        Can you tell more about freezing? Going to a cabin/hiking trip at the end of the month and wondering if I could make them a couple weeks in advance…

        Also, thanks for the awesome promo code with Primal Kitchen! Love the PB collagen in smoothies. Thinking about using it with this recipe, too…

        Reply
        • Stacie Hassing says

          March 16, 2020 at 1:09 pm

          Absolutely! You can definitely freezer these. Just freeze them as you would a cookie! Perfect hiking food. And you’re so welcome 🙂

          Reply
  3. Cathy says

    March 25, 2020 at 11:28 am

    This looks great! Do you think it might work with unflavored egg white powder vs collagen? Trying to use what I have … TY

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      March 27, 2020 at 1:27 pm

      Hi Cathy,
      I think that would work just fine. You may or may not need to add extra water depending on the texture/consistency of the ‘dough’ after adding the egg white protein.

      Reply
  4. Nicole Quattro says

    March 29, 2020 at 6:02 am

    These are so good! I have made several batches over the past few weeks and am so glad I did. Was able to send a batch to my daughter who is a NY RN and in the throes of battling COVID19. She loves them too! Thank you 😊

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      April 2, 2020 at 11:34 am

      Awesome, Nicole! Love hearing this. Please tell your daughter…thank you! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Gabrielle says

    April 27, 2020 at 1:58 pm

    These look delicious! Just saw them on instagram.

    I have everything except the collagen. I do have beef gelatin, though. Do you think gelatin might work in place of the collagen, maybe bloomed?

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      April 28, 2020 at 6:14 am

      Hi Gabrielle,

      Gelatin should work, just sprinkle it in a little at a time as you mix to keep it from clumping.

      Reply
  6. Kim says

    May 17, 2020 at 10:11 am

    Can I use a protein powder instead of the collagen or can I omit all together? I would love to make these!

    Reply
    • Jessica Beacom says

      May 18, 2020 at 5:42 pm

      Hi Kim,

      You can use protein powder. You may need to add a tiny bit of water depending on the protein you use or you can leave out the protein/collagen all together.

      Reply
  7. Jai says

    June 17, 2020 at 8:21 am

    Is there a liquid sweetener you can use besides honey? Like sugar free?

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      June 23, 2020 at 6:32 pm

      You could use Allulose sweetener or a monk fruit sweetener if you’d like for a sugar-free option.

      Reply
  8. Lydia says

    July 20, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    I am so happy I found your site! Thank you for sharing such great recipes! I have tried a total of 4 and each one has worked out perfectly! These are delicious! Mine actually resemble your picture! I feel accomplished. I did leave out the collagen without any issues. Also a touch less almond butter because I normally have weird issues when baking with it (Maranatha Creamy Natural). The dough came together perfectly and I can definitely add the full amount in my next batch! Both my boys (3 & 7) enjoyed their sweet treat! Thanks again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      August 1, 2020 at 7:20 pm

      We’re happy you found us, too! Keep the blog comments and feedback coming. It’s so helpful! Glad to hear your boys enjoyed these bites, too!

      Reply
  9. Susan campbell says

    September 13, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    So wonderful-had to add water to make them into balls. Delicious!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Stacie Hassing says

      September 15, 2020 at 7:58 am

      Great to hear Susan! And yes, sometimes a little water is needed to get energy bites to stick together.

      Reply

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