1-First Step: Gather and Measure Everything Before you start, measure out the peanut butter, butter or oil, protein powder, sweetener, almond flour, hemp seeds if using, salt, vanilla, and chocolate chips if you want them. Having everything ready makes the process fast and keeps you from overmixing later.

2-Second Step: Mix the Wet Ingredients In a medium bowl, stir together the 2/3 cup peanut butter with the 2 tablespoons butter or oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. If you are using unsalted peanut butter, add the 1/8 teaspoon salt now. Mix until smooth and glossy. A fork or sturdy spoon works well, but a spatula can help scrape down the sides.

3-Third Step: Add the Dry Ingredients Stir in the 3/4 cup protein powder, 1/3 cup sweetener, and 1/4 cup almond flour. If you are using hemp seeds, add the 2 tablespoons now too. Mix until the dough starts to come together. It should look thick and soft, similar to cookie dough. If you want a chocolate chip version, fold in the 1/4 cup chocolate chips at this stage so they stay evenly distributed.

4-Fourth Step: Check the Texture This is the point where you can adjust the dough. If it seems too sticky, add a spoonful of almond flour. If it seems too crumbly, add a small spoonful of peanut butter or a little more butter or oil. Different protein powders absorb moisture differently, so this quick check matters.

5-Fifth Step: Chill the Mixture Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 15 to 20 minutes. This helps the mixture firm up and makes rolling much easier. If you are in a hurry, a short freezer chill can also work, but watch it closely so the dough does not get too hard.

6-Sixth Step: Roll into Balls Scoop out the chilled mixture and roll it into bite-sized balls using your hands or a small cookie scoop. You should get about 10 to 12 balls depending on how large you make them. If the dough sticks to your hands, lightly dampen your palms or chill the mixture a few minutes longer.

7-Seventh Step: Set and Serve Place the finished protein balls on a parchment-lined tray. You can eat them right away, but they taste even better after another short chill in the fridge. That extra time helps the flavors settle and gives you a firmer bite, which is especially nice for meal prep.