1-First step: melt the peanut butter mixture Start by grabbing a large microwave-safe bowl. Add the 2/3 cup peanut butter and 2 tablespoons butter or oil, then warm it in the microwave just until the mixture is stirrable. The goal is not to make it hot, only soft enough that the rest of the ingredients blend in smoothly. If your peanut butter is very thick or refrigerated, this step may take a little longer, so heat in short bursts and stir between each one.

2-Second step: mix in the dry ingredients Add the 3/4 cup protein powder, 1/3 cup sweetener, 1/4 cup almond flour, 2 tablespoons hemp seeds if using, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. If your peanut butter is unsalted, add the 1/8 teaspoon salt too. Stir well until the mixture starts to come together into a thick dough.

3-Third step: adjust the texture if needed Once everything is combined, check the texture. If the dough feels stiff or hard to mix, add a small splash more oil, a teaspoon at a time, until it becomes smooth and workable. If the mixture looks sticky or goopy, sprinkle in a little more almond flour and stir again.

4-Fourth step: stir in chocolate chips If you want a more dessert-like bite, fold in the 1/4 cup chocolate chips now. You can also leave them out if you want a simpler peanut butter flavor. Stir gently so the chips stay evenly distributed without breaking apart.

5-Fifth step: roll into 20 balls Scoop the dough and roll it into about 20 balls, each about 1 inch in diameter. If you want uniform size, use a small cookie scoop, but your hands work just fine. Press each portion firmly so the balls hold together well.

6-Final step: chill until firm Place the balls on a plate, tray, or parchment-lined container and refrigerate them until firm. This usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes, though the exact time can vary depending on how warm your dough was when you rolled it. Once chilled, they are ready to eat.