# Dessert-Inspired Protein Snacks Day Out Peanut Butter Crunch Protein Balls are Satisfyingly Nutty By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-03-03 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/day-out-peanut-butter-crunch References: [snackandbakery](https://www.snackandbakery.com/articles/115311-day-out-snacks-introduces-lto-peanut-butter-crunch-flavor) & [getdayout](https://getdayout.com/)  Day Out Peanut Butter Crunch Protein Balls are the latest plant-based, clean ingredient snack being launched by the brand to offer consumers a dessert-inspired snacking experience. The product comes as the brand's first crunchy textured option that is achieved with organic pea protein crisps in the recipe to balance out smooth and crispy aspects. The product is inspired by peanut butter candy treats, but offers nine-grams of plant-based protein and three-grams of fiber in each three-piece serving. The snack also packs a superfood blend of ingredients that are soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free and non-GMO. Founder and CEO Becky Dheri spoke on the Day Out Peanut Butter Crunch Protein Balls saying, "Peanut butter is consistently the number one flavor preference across protein and snack categories...We wanted it to feel like you’re enjoying your favorite peanut butter candy–rich, nutty, and sweet with a satisfying crunch–without any of the guilt." Image Credit: Day Out Snacks ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.8/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 70% | Freshness: 67% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Dessert-inspired Protein Snacks:** Blending indulgent candy-like flavors with measurable protein content creates a new category that can disrupt traditional snack-perception by substituting treat moments with functional alternatives. - **Crunchy Plant-protein Textures:** Textural innovation using pea protein crisps introduces snack experiences that rival dairy-based crunch, enabling plant-based products to capture consumers seeking mouthfeel parity with conventional treats. - **Clean-label Indulgence:** Growth in demand for snacks that are non-GMO, soy-free, dairy-free and made from recognizable ingredients positions cleaner formulations to replace indulgent options that rely on artificial additives. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Packaged Snacks:** Manufacturers in this space may shift formulations toward dessert-forward, protein-rich SKUs to win share from both traditional confectionery and health-centric snack lines. - **Functional Foods:** Producers of functional foods can expand into indulgent formats that combine macronutrient benefits with sensory profiles typically reserved for sweets, broadening appeal among mainstream consumers. - **Plant-based Ingredient Suppliers:** Suppliers that develop textured plant proteins and clean-label crunch inclusions stand to redefine ingredient sourcing for brands seeking to mimic candy textures without animal-derived inputs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Seasonal Spherical Protein Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portable-protein-balls.md) - [Functional Coffeehouse Protein Bites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scotts-protein-balls-flavors.md) - [Protein-Forward Energy Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-protein-ball-co-ballsy-by-nature.md) - [Convenient Nutritional Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scotts-protein.md) - [Filling-Packed Protein Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-protein-ball-co-stuffed.md) - [Peanut Brownie Protein Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peanut-butter-brownie-protein-bar.md) - [Human-Grade Protein Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/its-the-dogs.md) - [Savory Protein-Rich Nut Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/protein-nut-crunch.md) - [Crispy Nut-Packed Protein Bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pip-nut-protein-bars.md)