Pumpkin Oatmeal Energy Balls
Time to celebrate fall with everything pumpkin!
I've posted a similar recipe for these without the pumpkin (oatmeal chocolate energy balls), but these are a fun variety to change it up for fall. I really love these because not only do they make a wonderful dessert, but they're the PERFECT pre- and post- exercise snack. To be honest I’m also not a big breakfast person, so I love having something like this around that I can nibble on in the morning that provides some protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
Yield: 20
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Fast, easy, healthy, no bake!
Estimated nutrition information per ball from My Fitness Pal
(Values will vary slightly depending on whether you use chia seeds or flaxseeds, and whether you use ground or whole flaxseeds, but it’s not enough to matter)
Ingredients
1 ½ cups thick, dry oats
½ cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup honey
¼ - ½ cup mini chocolate chips (for me, less is more)
¼ cup ground flaxseed, whole chia seeds, or a mix (*if you’re dairy free, I would recommend using chia because they are high in calcium)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or slightly more to taste)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
Roll dough into balls about 1 inch in diameter.
Place onto cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Freeze for 1 hour until set.
Store in the refrigerator up to 1 week and enjoy!
Notes
If you’re gluten free (like me), make sure to use certified gluten free oats. I use Bob’s Red Mill extra thick rolled oats.
If you want the recipe to be vegan, make sure to use vegan chocolate chips. Enjoy Life is my go to because they are also soy-free.