Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

These no-bake Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites taste like a bite of pumpkin pie, but they're made with creamy pumpkin, almond butter, oats, pepitas, and raisins, so they're a snack you can actually feel good about. One bowl, 15 minutes of hands-on time, and you've got a batch of vegan energy balls ready for the whole week. Yum!

The Pumpkin Spice Bandwagon

Yes, I am jumping on the pumpkin spice bandwagon. I know it's cliché - but give me a break here.

I couldn't resist doing a pumpkin recipe (it is fall after all) and if you do a sweet pumpkin recipe, you have to add pumpkin pie spice, right?

This kind of reminds me of the time I accidentally wore the school colors on spirit day when I was in high school and I had to spend the whole day explaining to everyone that no, I didn't have school spirit, and that the navy blue t-shirt I was wearing was just a coincidence.

"Hey, do we have a quiz today in biology?"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO WEAR THIS SHIRT TODAY! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! I HATE THIS SCHOOL!"

That was the worst day.

Now that we have that out of the way - let's get on with the cooking.

Making Pumpkin Energy Bites

Sometimes I throw things together just to eat, not really intending to blog about it - this is one of those recipes.

I bought an adorable little pie pumpkin and made puree with it for another recipe and had just a little bit left.

So I added a little almond butter and maple syrup, folded in oats and raisins and pepitas, put in a little sprinkle-sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, and rolled the mixture into balls.

Spontaneous! But they were so good, I decided they were definitely worthy of sharing.

In addition to being delicious, these pumpkin bites will also give you tons of energy. You'll have the strength of a bull, the reflexes of a cat, and the mental acuity of one of those really smart chimpanzees.

Eat these Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites and you will crush your enemies and run a 5K afterwards.

Or not. (Probably not.)

Energy bites aren't exactly Red Bull. But they're healthy and get you over that mid-afternoon hump better than a bag of M&Ms or potato chips.

Every ingredient in these energy bites is good for you - maple syrup is rich in manganese and zinc, pumpkin is full of fiber and Vitamin A, pepitas are high in magnesium, etc. And then there's the pumpkin spice too, which is full of deliciousness. And they're 100% vegan too!

So at the very least - these little pumpkin balls are a guilt-free indulgence.

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

• Pumpkin puree. Canned pumpkin works perfectly, or use homemade pumpkin puree. Just make sure it's plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which is already sweetened and spiced.
• Almond butter. A smooth, drippy almond butter like Barney Butter mixes in most easily. Peanut butter, cashew butter, or any nut butter you like will work too.
• Maple syrup. It sweetens the energy balls and helps bind everything together. Agave works as a 1:1 swap.
• Pumpkin pie spice. A store-bought blend like Simply Organic Pumpkin Spice is easiest. No blend? Use ½ teaspoon cinnamon plus a pinch each of ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Rolled oats. Old-fashioned oats give these energy bites their chewy, cookie-like texture. Quick oats make a softer, denser bite. Use certified gluten-free oats if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
• Pepitas, raisins, and chia seeds. Pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds) add crunch, raisins add little pops of sweetness, and chia seeds soak up extra moisture so the balls hold their shape.

Helpful Tips

Don't skip the chill. Straight out of the bowl, the mixture is soft and sticky. Two hours in the fridge gives the oats and chia seeds time to absorb some of the moisture, and the mixture firms up enough to roll into neat energy balls.

Use a cookie scoop. A 1 ½-tablespoon cookie scoop makes every energy bite the same size, which means they look nicer and you'll get right around 25 from a batch. Scoop, then give each one a quick roll between your palms.

Pulse the oats for a smoother bite. If you like your energy balls less chunky, pulse the oats in a food processor 4 to 5 times before stirring them in. Partly broken-down oats pack together more tightly and are easier to roll, which is handy if you're making these for kids.

Adjust the texture as needed. Pumpkin puree varies in thickness, so if your mixture is still too wet after chilling, stir in another tablespoon or two of oats. If it's crumbly and won't hold together, add a spoonful more almond butter.

Dampen your hands. Lightly wet hands keep the mixture from sticking to your palms as you roll. Rinse and repeat every few balls.

Variations

• Nut-free. Swap the almond butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini. Both keep these energy bites school-safe, and the pepitas and chia are already nut-free.
• Chocolate chip. Replace the raisins with ⅓ cup mini dairy-free chocolate chips for a treat that tastes like a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie. Dark chocolate chips work too.
• Protein powder. Stir in 2 to 4 tablespoons of vanilla or unflavored plant-based protein powder with the oats. Protein powder is drying, so add a splash of plant milk or an extra spoonful of maple syrup if the mixture won't hold together.
• Coconut-rolled. Roll the finished energy balls in unsweetened shredded coconut. It keeps them from sticking together in the container and makes them look extra pretty on a snack plate.
• Pumpkin spice latte. Stir 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder into the pumpkin mixture for a coffee-shop twist with a little extra kick.

This recipe is pretty flexible and allows for lots of swaps and customizations. Here are a few more that readers have asked me about the most:

If you don't have maple syrup on hand, you can use agave syrup or honey as a sweetener instead. Obviously, these won't be vegan anymore if you add honey.

I've also had readers successfully leave out the maple syrup entirely for a sugar-free version. Or you can plus up the sweetness, by rolling the pumpkin bites in a little cinnamon-sugar coating!

You can leave out the raisins if you're not a fan, or replace them with dried cranberries, dark chocolate chips, or a handful of your favorite nuts. Pecans would be a nice addition.

Peanut butter (or any nut butter of your choice) can be used in place of the almond butter.

The pepitas add a nice crunch - but you can get the same effect with sunflower seeds too.

Serving Ideas

These energy bites are made for grabbing on the go. Tuck two or three into a lunch box, a gym bag, or a hiking pack, or keep a container at your desk for that mid-afternoon slump. They're also a smart pre-workout snack, since the oats and maple syrup give you quick energy without weighing you down.

For breakfast on busy mornings, pair a couple of pumpkin energy balls with a pumpkin spice smoothie or a slice of one-bowl pumpkin bread for an all-out pumpkin morning. They also make a sweet addition to a fall snack board alongside apple slices, a bowl of fall snack mix, and a mug of hot cider.

Storing & Freezing

These pumpkin energy bites store well in the fridge. Keep them in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. Because they're made with pumpkin puree, they're softer than a typical oat energy ball, so keep them chilled rather than at room temperature, and separate layers with parchment paper so they don't stick together.

To freeze, arrange the rolled balls on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until firm, about an hour, then move them to a freezer bag or container for up to 3 months. There's no reheating needed: just defrost and eat! Let them sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes, or thaw overnight in the fridge. A frozen energy bite tossed into a lunch box in the morning will be thawed by snack time.

More Pumpkin Treats and Snacks

If you love these pumpkin energy bites, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes:

• 22 Best Pumpkin Desserts
• Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
• Vegan Pumpkin Cookies
• Chocolate and Peanut Balls
• Vegan Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
• 16 Healthy Homemade Vegetarian Snack Recipes

📖 Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites (vegan)

from Oh My Veggies

These no-bake pumpkin spice energy bites stir pumpkin puree, almond butter, maple syrup, oats, pepitas, raisins, and chia seeds into a cozy fall snack. Chill the mixture, roll it into energy balls, and grab one whenever you need a boost.

Print Pin Save Saved!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 25 energy bites

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Food processor optional, for a smoother texture
• Cookie scoop 1 ½ tablespoon

Ingredients 

US Customary - Metric

• ½ cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup almond butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 ⅓ cup rolled oats
• ⅓ cup pepitas
• ⅓ cup raisins
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, stir together the pumpkin puree, almond butter, maple syrup, and pumpkin pie spice until smooth.
• Fold in the rolled oats, pepitas, raisins, and chia seeds until everything is evenly coated. (For a smoother texture, pulse the oats in a food processor 4 to 5 times first.) Cover the bowl and refrigerate for about 2 hours, until the mixture is chilled and firm enough to hold its shape.
• Use a 1 ½-tablespoon cookie scoop (or a heaping tablespoon) to portion the mixture, then roll each portion into a ball between your palms. Lightly damp hands help if the mixture sticks.
• Serve right away, or store the energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To freeze, set them on a lined tray until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months and thaw for 10 to 15 minutes before eating.

Notes

Prep time doesn't include the 2-hour chill time. For smoother, more tightly packed energy balls, pulse the oats in a food processor 4 to 5 times before stirring them in. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition (estimated per serving)

Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gFat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 764IUCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: energy bites, pumpkin energy balls, pumpkin energy bites, Spiced energy bites, Vegan Pumpkin Spice Energy Bites

Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!