No Bake Pumpkin Energy Balls
Craving a healthy snack? These No Bake Pumpkin Energy Balls are the perfect blend of sweet and nutritious. Packed with wholesome ingredients, they deliver energy and flavor in each bite. Make them today for an energizing treat!
Equipment
- Food Processor
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates about 8 ounces or 10-12 large dates
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats gluten free if needed
- ¼ cup toasted pecan halves
- ¼ cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup plus additional 1-3 teaspoons as desired
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed meal
- 2 ¼ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or swap: 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ⅛ teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon maple flavor or maple extract optional but delicious
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- If your dates are a bit dry or hard, start by soaking them in hot water for 10 minutes. This softens them up, making them easier to blend. Once soaked, drain the water and pat the dates dry with a paper towel.
- Transfer the softened dates to a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse them until they break down into small pieces and form a sticky ball. You want to see tiny bits of dates but not completely puréed.
- Next, add the oats, pecans, pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, chia seeds, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, and optional maple flavor into the food processor. Pulse everything together until the mixture is combined. The texture should be coarse but not completely smooth; you should still see some pieces of oats and nuts.
- Now, taste the mixture. This is where you can adjust the sweetness! If you prefer a sweeter bite, add an additional 1-3 teaspoons of maple syrup and pulse to mix.
- Transfer the mixture into a large bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This helps the mixture firm up, making rolling easier and the flavors meld beautifully.
- After refrigeration, take out the mixture and grab a spoon or cookie scoop. Scoop out portions of the mixture and roll them into balls, about 1 inch in diameter. This part is fun, so feel free to get your hands a little messy!
- Once rolled, place the energy balls on a plate or baking sheet. If you have any extra pecans or oats, you can roll some of the balls in them for an added crunch!
- Transfer the rolled balls to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, there’s no need to thaw; just eat them straight from the freezer or let them sit for a few minutes to warm up.
Notes
These Pumpkin Energy Balls can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 2 months. You can eat the balls immediately from the freezer, or let them warm up a bit if you prefer.