Need an afternoon pick-me-up – and craving some fall flavors? Try these pumpkin energy balls! Packed with lots of nutritious seeds, nuts, oats, and of course – pumpkin – these are a tasty treat that comes in the perfect portion.
I don’t know about you guys, but as soon as the end of August hits I’m all about the pumpkin stuff! Call me basic but I can’t wait for some slightly cool temperatures to rock a flannel shirt and drink a homemade pumpkin Frappuccino. And of course, make these energy balls. 😉
How to make pumpkin energy balls
My favorite thing about energy balls is that no matter what kind you’re making – they’re crazy easy to throw together. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
- Rolled oats
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Flax seed
- Chia seeds
- Pecans (or walnuts)
- White chocolate chips
- Pumpkin puree
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Honey
Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, you just mix them up and then use your hands to roll the mixture into small snack-size balls. So simple!
As a heads up, the better the quality of honey you purchase, the better these will taste. I have a friend that lives down the road who started producing her own honey this year, and oh my goodness – it tastes ah-mazing in any recipe that I use it in!
Why I love these for active folks
Whether you’re training for a road race, triathlon, OCR event, or hitting up the gym frequently – it’s key to fuel your body.
These pumpkin energy balls combine the carbohydrates you need to stock those muscles with energy, along with satiating fats to help satisfy that training “hanger.” They make a perfect mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack to tide you over until your next meal.
As a heads up, they do have a little added sugar – but I’m OK with that. I like to minimize the amount of added sugar in recipes, and normally I use dates or raisins in energy balls. But there’s something about the lovely sweet honey flavor that pairs well with the pumpkin.
Plus, there’s only 1/4 cup of honey and 1/3 cup of white chocolate chips throughout the entire recipe – that’s not much once it’s divided into 16 small servings.
And one more quick note – each energy ball is just 105 calories, making them a great portion-controlled option. For those of you who crave a sweet snack after dinner, these can be a nice way of satisfying the sweet tooth.
Modifications to this recipe
Don’t have all the ingredients? Need to make some changes for dietary reasons? Here are a few ideas for modifications:
- Don’t have pecans – Substitute with another nut, like walnuts or almonds.
- Don’t have pumpkin pie spice – Use ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp ginger, and ¼ tsp nutmeg as a substitute.
- Nut free – Leave out the pecans and instead add in extra seeds of your choice.
- Dairy free – Use dairy free white chocolate chips (I know Nestle just came out with a new line of these!).
- Gluten free – Look for certified gluten free oats (Though oats don’t naturally contain gluten, because of growing practices they are often cross contaminated. Because of this, it’s important for people with celiac disease to search for certified gluten free oats.)
- Vegan – Use vegan white chocolate chips and use agave instead of honey.
Looking for more energy ball recipes?
If you want more energy balls to mix into your routine, be sure to try one of these other great options:
- Lemon energy balls – These are made with just a few simple ingredients and I love the bright citrusy flavor.
- Apple peanut butter energy balls – Is there any snack combo more classic than an apple and peanut butter? This takes that favorite flavor combo and uses it in an energy ball.
- Chocolate cherry energy balls – When cherries are in season throughout the summer, this is definitely on the top of my list!
- Hungarian cookie energy balls – This recipe was inspired by cookies my great grandmother used to make. I’ve taken the key elements, like golden raisins and walnuts, and made it into an energy ball.
I hope you enjoy these pumpkin energy balls as much as we do! If you get a chance to try them, be sure to leave a comment or recipe rating below.
Need an afternoon snack – and craving some fall flavors? Try these pumpkin energy balls!
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup raw shelled sunflower seeds (or additional pumpkin seeds)
- 2 tbsp flax seed (ground or whole)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 cup honey
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir together well.
- Use your hands to roll the mixture into 16 small energy balls. Place in an airtight container in the fridge and store for up to 4 days.
Nutrition facts (approximate per energy ball):
105 calories, 5.5 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 23 mg sodium, 12 g carbohydrate, 1.5 g fiber, 7 g sugar, 2.5 g protein
Share: Are you ready for the influx of pumpkin treats – or are you clinging to the end of summer?! If you tried these pumpkin energy balls, what did you think?
Chrissy Carroll
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