These pumpkin spice balls make a perfect snack before a workout or a quick energy boost between meals. Delicious and packed with a balanced mix of fat, carbs, and protein.

Pumpkin Spice

It’s not until the weather turns cooler and pops of orange start appearing on porches and doorsteps that many of us start craving pumpkin. One could wonder: is it the pumpkin itself, the delicious spices that go with it, the crisp fall weather, or a combination of all three? For me, it’s likely all three.

While you won’t find me jumping on diet trends (or any diet, for that matter), I admit I have a weakness for food trends. And why not, it’s fun, it gets you to try new foods–often healthy ones, and broadens your kitchen skills. That is how I find myself testing several batches of pumpkin spice balls. (Can you believe that I didn’t even like dates until I started making energy balls?)

Energy Balls

These balls are similar to my chocolate energy bites and coconut cashew bliss balls because they all rely on Medjool dates for sweetness and sticky staying power. They are so easy to make–just throw all the ingredients into your food processor and pulse! Plus, many of these raw, no-bake recipes are forgiving. For example, you could reduce the almond meal or oats and replace part of it with flax or hemp seeds. The key is maintaining the right ratio of dry to sticky/wet ingredients. So play around with the recipe and have fun! Try using roasted pecans to make it really taste like pumpkin pie…or sunflower and pumpkin seeds instead of almonds to keep it nut-free.

You can make them big or small, but I like to keep them small so I can pop one or two in my mouth, depending on what I need.

Oh, and just for fun, I tried rolling one in mini chocolate chips; no sooner had I taken a photo than my 10-year-old had swooped in and snatched it! I think my kids have a super sensor when it comes to chocolate! (So, um, yes, adding chocolate was definitely a hit, but also shifts this already sweet snack into the dessert category).

Pumpkin Spice Balls

Vegan, gluten-free, packed with healthy fat, and naturally sweet, these pumpkin spice balls are like Mother Nature’s Halloween candy! (OK, maybe not quite candy, but pretty tasty!)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Servings: 16

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup pitted Medjool dates about 10
• 1/2 cup oats certified gluten-free if needed
• 1/2 cup almond meal/flour or use whole almonds and grind
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds you can also use regular, chopped almonds
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips optional

Equipment

• 1 food processor

Method

 

1. Combine dates through salt in a food processor. Pulse until mixture starts forming a ball.
2. Add slivered almonds and pulse some more, until chopped and combined to your liking. (If you want a smoother ball, add almonds at the same time as the rest of the ingredients).
3. Tip mixture onto a clean workspace and form into about 16 balls. Roll in mini chocolate chips if desired. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze.