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!
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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
Equipment
- Food processor optional, for a smoother texture
- Cookie scoop 1 ½ tablespoon
Ingredients
- 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.
Caitlin says
these look delicious! i love when the most simple, throw together recipes become the best ones. especially since long, complicated recipes are just too much for me these days 😉
Kiersten says
I am not fond of long, complicated recipes. 🙂
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
i love how you are on the pumpkin bangwagon already 🙂 these energy bites are delicious looking minus the raisins for me 🙂
Kiersten says
Ha! I saw people pinning this and saying they would take out the raisins. I guess raisins aren't very popular? 🙂
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
These sound unbelievable!! I SO cannot wait to try these. Bring on the pumpkin! 🙂
dishing up the dirt says
I'm jumping on the pumpkin spice wagon as well. These look festive and easy!
Kiersten says
You really can't avoid the pumpkin spice bandwagon, can you? And that's okay! 🙂
Elisabeth says
I am a french reader of your blog and I do not understand what is the pepitas ?
Could you help me on it please ?
This look very good !
thanks
Kiersten says
Pepitas pumpkin seeds with the shells removed. If you can't find them in France, you can use sunflower seeds. 🙂
Elisabeth says
Thanks !
Vickie says
sound yummy, but any nutritional info?? (calories?)
Kiersten says
I don't calculate the nutritional info for my recipes. Here's an online calculator you can use: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php
McKel Hill, MS, RD, LDN | Nutrition Stripped says
OH GOODNESS, we think alike. Wait for my post tomorrow haha! These look great 🙂
Kiersten says
Great minds. 🙂 I can't wait to see your post!
Julia says
Looking spirited when you have no intention to is totally the pits! 😉 Your balls look amazing! I have all the ingredients I need, now I'm ready to roll them up! Hope you had a fun weekend!
Kiersten says
Woo hoo, get rolling! 🙂 My weekend was good (although too short!)--I hope yours was great too!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Years ago I made something sort of like this on my blog. Like 2009. I don't even want to give you the link b/c of the photography. Lol I love that you were able to work with pumpkin puree and get it to congeal/stick/hold together in a no-bake ball. It can be so gloppy but you nailed these. Pinned!
Kiersten says
Ha ha! I'm always horrified to share my old photos too. When they pop up on Pinterest, I cringe.
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
These look delicious!!! I'm about to whip up some of my family's favorite energy bites ... but I just might need to make a secret batch of these. I don't want to have to share!!! 🙂
I'm loving all things pumpkin, as well! Like, can't get enough. I feel like every year my love of fall grows and grows. It seriously has the best food. Yes, fall food is the best. It's settled!!
Kiersten says
Fall is second best for me. Summer wins because: CORN!!! 😀
Jennifer says
My favorite thing about fall is pumpkin, I will be trying this recipe out for sure, it sounds wonderful!!
Kiersten says
I hope you like it! 🙂
Joy // For the Love of Leaves says
Bahaha! You sound like me in high school!
I saw the picture of these bites on Bloglovin, didn't even see what they were, just thought, "those look good, I need to know what they are!"
Kiersten says
Oh good, I'm glad I'm not the only one who was like that. 🙂 Because a lot of people loooooved high school. I am not one of them!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
These look so amazing!! I love pumpkin-y things and I'm so glad it's back in season. These look like the perfect snack to whip up 🙂
Corissa says
Can't wait to make these. I would like to try it with brown rice syrup instead of maple and use golden raisins instead of dark. My new fall breakfast for the drive into work!!! Thank you.
Kiersten says
That should work too! 🙂 I hope you like them!
Alexis @ Hummusapien says
I just stocked up on pumpkin puree so I'll be making these ASAP! I adore little energy bites, and considering my current pumpkin obsession, these are serious perfection. Pinned!
Kiersten says
Thanks for the pin! 🙂
Brenda Williams says
These look and sound so good. Great idea!
JulieD says
These look great, Kiersten!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
I am SO making these!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I have lots of pumpkin to use this fall and just might make these!
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
Love these! Now that I'm starting to break open the cans of pumpkin I"ll need lots of ways of using up random amounts of puree. I can only ever get the huge cans of pumpkin here so I always have so much of it, and I always need snacks to get me through the afternoon slump too so these are perfect!
Kiersten says
Yeah, I hate when a recipe calls for an odd amount of puree! I usually use the leftovers in smoothies or oatmeal, but now I can use it for these too. 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Perfect little treats! I love to add pumpkin puree in my protein bars too.
Anna (Hidden Ponies) says
I love when recipes surprise me like that! And if only Red Bull energy could come in this delicious little form 🙂
Kiersten says
I tried energy drinks for a week and every day, I would get massively sick. It took me that whole week to figure out it was the energy drinks. I am so weak!
Christina Green says
YUM! Can't wait to try these!
Maria Tadic says
These look so good! I bet these would do great in the freezer all season long!
Kiersten says
I've got a bunch in my freezer right now! 🙂
Ash-foodfashionparty says
Love this bites, I make bites like these quite often but never thought of incorporating pumpkin in it, a great idea.