1-Gather and mix the wet ingredients: Start by adding the cashew butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and maple syrup to a medium bowl. Mix well until everything looks smooth and fully blended. This step matters because the wet ingredients need to combine first so the dough forms more evenly later. If your cashew butter is thick, stir a little longer to loosen it up.

2-Add the dry ingredients: Next, add the protein powder, oat flour, and pinch of salt. Stir until the mixture starts to thicken and clump together. At first, it may look dry, but keep mixing. The oat flour helps soak up the moisture while the protein powder gives the dough its soft, scoopable texture. If you are using a plant-based protein powder, you may need a touch more liquid because some brands absorb more than whey.

3-Fold in the sprinkles: Once the dough forms, gently fold in the 3 tablespoons of sprinkles. Try not to overmix at this point or the colors may bleed too much. The sprinkles should stay bright and visible so the finished Birthday Cake Batter Protein Balls look cheerful and festive.

4-Adjust the texture if needed: If the mixture feels crumbly, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of milk, one teaspoon at a time, until it sticks together when pressed. If it feels too wet, add a little more oat flour. This recipe is very forgiving, so small tweaks are normal. A good dough should hold its shape when you squeeze it in your hand without crumbling apart.

5-Roll into balls: Scoop the dough and roll it into balls about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide, using about 1 tablespoon of dough per ball. You should get about 12 to 15 balls from the batch. If you want a more polished look, roll each ball in extra sprinkles after shaping. This adds a fun finish and makes them look like tiny birthday cake truffles.

6-Serve or chill: You can eat the Birthday Cake Batter Protein Balls right away, but they taste even better after a short chill in the fridge. The cold helps the flavor settle and gives the texture a firmer bite. They are great for lunchboxes, afternoon snacks, or a quick sweet bite after dinner.