Chocolate Protein Mint Balls of Bliss!

With Christmas and the holidays just around the corner, I love sharing recipes that feel festive and indulgent, yet still support your blood sugar, energy, and mood. These Chocolate Protein Mint Balls are low in sugar, use a natural sweetener, and are based on healthy fats and plant protein to keep you feeling satisfied rather than spiking and crashing.^3,6

In my own home, I make these year-round with my kids as a fun, hands-on way to create treats that support their little bodies rather than overwhelm them. The combination of healthy fats from coconut, plant protein, and a non-nutritive sweetener like stevia means these balls have a lower glycaemic impact than most traditional Christmas sweets.^3,4,7

If you enjoy a more grown-up twist, you can also adapt this recipe with a splash of rum or Baileys for the adults only, keeping a kid-friendly batch separate. I often serve them with herbal tea or a decaf coffee after dinner so we get the pleasure of "dessert" without feeling wired or heavy afterwards.

Supporting Your Body During Festive Indulgence

Most of us will enjoy richer foods and a little more alcohol over the festive season, and that is perfectly human. The key is to support your liver, gut, and detox pathways so your body can process what you are giving it, rather than leaving you bloated, foggy, or exhausted.

If you haven't already, have a read of my blog on Top 7 Festive Season Health Hacks, where I walk through simple strategies to protect your energy, digestion and immune system while still enjoying yourself.

For extra support when you know there will be more drinks and rich foods, you should have our Rejuv Party Pack on hand to help your digestive system, liver and detoxification pathways keep up. I also often recommend (and personally use) our Liver Support Capsules at this time of year, as targeted liver nutrients can help your body process alcohol and festive treats more efficiently.

Chocolate Protein Mint Balls

Ingredients

Makes a small batch; you can easily double for gatherings.

• ½ cup virgin coconut oil
• ½ cup cocoa or cacao powder
• 2 scoops of Rejuv Chocolate Rice Protein to add extra protein and support satiety
• Five drops of food-grade peppermint extract
• ¼ cup finely chopped macadamia nuts or any nuts of your choice (omit if you have a nut allergy)
• Pinch of finely ground sea salt
• ½ teaspoon liquid stevia drops (or to taste)
• Optional: 1 tablespoon rum or Baileys for an adults-only version

Method

• Add the coconut oil to a small saucepan and melt gently over very low heat.
• Whisk in the cocoa or cacao powder until smooth, then add the Chocolate Rice Protein, peppermint extract, stevia, sea salt and chopped nuts, stirring continuously so the mixture does not burn.
• Taste and adjust the sweetness or peppermint to your liking, remembering flavours will intensify slightly once chilled.
• Prepare silicone moulds or a small tray lined with baking paper. You can sprinkle the bases with shredded coconut for a more festive, snow-dusted look.
• Spoon the mixture into the moulds, or roll into small balls and then roll in shredded coconut. You can also use fun holiday shapes such as hearts, stars, candy canes or Christmas trees.
• Freeze the Chocolate Protein Mint Balls until firm.
• Pop out of the silicone moulds or slice if set in a tray, and serve with tea, coffee or your favourite Christmas beverage.

Healthy treats are not about perfection; they are about giving your body more of what it needs and a little less of what leaves you feeling depleted.

Making This Recipe Work For You

For Blood Sugar Balance

Because this recipe relies on healthy fats, plant protein and stevia instead of refined sugar, it is more supportive of stable blood sugar than many traditional desserts.^3,6 Non-nutritive sweeteners like stevia have minimal impact on blood glucose for most people, which makes them a useful tool when you still want sweetness without the same glycaemic load.^4,7

If you are particularly sensitive to blood sugar swings, pair 1–2 balls with some extra protein (for example, a handful of nuts or a protein-rich snack) and enjoy them after, rather than before, a balanced meal.

For Kids and Families

In the clinic, many families struggle with the sheer volume of sugar their children are exposed to over the holidays. A recipe like this offers a fun, chocolatey option that feels special without relying on processed confectionery.

Get your children involved in rolling the balls or pressing them into moulds; the sensory experience often makes them more interested in trying whole-food treats. Keep any alcohol-containing versions clearly separate and labelled for adults only.

Allergy and Intolerance Tweaks

• Nuts: Omit the chopped nuts entirely or replace with seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower if tolerated.
• Dairy-free: This recipe is naturally dairy-free if you choose a dairy-free chocolate protein powder.
• Sweetness: If you do not tolerate stevia, you can use a minimal amount of another preferred sweetener, adjusting for your own health needs.

Bringing Mind–Body Awareness To Festive Treats

From a psychoneuroimmunology perspective, the way we relate to food can influence our stress response and immune function, not just our waistline.¹ When we eat with guilt or anxiety, we can activate the stress response, which in turn affects digestion, blood sugar and inflammatory pathways.²

Instead of judging yourself for enjoying treats, try to approach them with calm, mindful presence: sit down, breathe, savour the flavours and notice how your body feels. This kind of mindful eating can support your gut–brain axis, helping your nervous system feel safer and more settled around food.⁵

Remember, it is not one recipe that makes or breaks your health, but the overall rhythm of how you nourish, rest and care for yourself during the festive season and beyond. If these Chocolate Protein Mint Balls can become one more way to bring pleasure and nourishment together, then they have done their job beautifully.

References

1. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, McGuire L, Robles TF, Glaser R. Psychoneuroimmunology: Psychological influences on immune function and health. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2002;70(3):537–547. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2473865/
2. Walker FR, Pfau ML, Russo SJ. An introduction to immune-to-brain communication and its implications for understanding stress, behavior, and brain structure and function. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2024;20:297–323. https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-080621-045153
3. St Jude Wellness Center. Low Glycemic Desserts. St Jude Wellness Center; 2018. https://stjudewellnesscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/low-glycemic-desserts.pdf
4. Alizadeh Z, et al. Effects of stevia on glycemic and lipid profile of type 2 diabetic patients: A randomized controlled trial. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2014;4(4):341–347. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7103435/
5. Sarkar A, Harty S, Lehto SM, et al. The gut-brain axis and mental health: How diet shapes our mood. Nutrients. 2025;17(4):1234. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12366197/
6. Stojanovska L, et al. Effects of high plant protein and high soluble fiber beverages on satiety and appetite. Food Nutr Sci. 2018;9(6):703–716. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=85681
7. Ali A, et al. Effects of nonnutritive sweeteners on glycemic indices in healthy persons, with overweight or obesity, or diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes. 2023;72(Suppl 1):1793-PUB. https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/72/Supplement_1/1793-PUB/150650/1793-PUB-Effects-of-Nonnutritive-Sweeteners-on