No Bake Pumpkin Energy Bites
These no bake pumpkin energy bites are a healthy snack option for both kids and adults made with oatmeal, almond butter, mini chocolate chips, and pumpkin pie spices. They are a delicious fall treat idea that kids can make for the whole family to enjoy.
My kids love energy bites of all flavors. I love that they are fairly portable and a much better snack option than most “kid” snacks because they are much heartier than typical snacks.
We’ve taken them with us on trips to Disneyland, hiking, or just an afternoon at the park with friends. They are always a hit with whoever we are with.
My kiddos always love making them with me, especially my preschooler. This is a simple recipe that they can easily help with and I like to make it a special treat by pairing it with my kids favorite mint chocolate smoothie.
Note: I’ve included lots of substitutions so you can use whatever equipment or ingredients you have at home. Happy eating!
Table of contents
Ingredients
- rolled oats
- pumpkin spice
- sweetened coconut flakes
- flaxseed
- chia seed
- honey
- pumpkin
- almond butter
- mini chocolate chips
These particular ingredients work best for either producing a chunky energy bite (my preference) or for use in a food processor for a smoother bite (great for little kids or those sensitive to textures).
Possible substitutions:
If you don’t have a food processor but still want that smoother textured energy bite, swap ingredients for finer ground ones. For example:
- swap quick oats for rolled oats
- swap 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed for the whole flax seeds
- Skip the chia seeds
You can also easily substitute what you have on hand for the ingredients above. Here are some of the swaps you can make:
- for the pumpkin spice: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, and a pinch of ground cloves
- for the honey: maple syrup
- for the almond butter: peanut butter or sunflower butter also can work although they will alter the taste slightly
How to make this:
- In a food processor, add rolled oats, pumpkin spice, salt, coconut flakes, flax seed, and chia seeds and pulse until well blended and oats are cut up.
- Add in honey, vanilla, pumpkin, and almond butter and combine on low speed until it becomes well blended and forms a ball of dough. At this stage, you can add more oats if you want a dryer and slightly chunky consistency.
- Remove dough from the food processor and transfer it to a medium bowl. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the dough into balls. Each bite is equal to about 1.5- 2 Tablespoons.
Make this in a stand mixer
Since I love the chunkier textured bites, this is my preferred method and it’s even simpler.
- Add all ingredients to a stand mixer.
- Mix on low speed until well combined.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the dough into balls. Each bite is equal to about 1.5- 2 Tablespoons.
See! Super easy!
Top Tips
Store the pumpkin energy bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
If you are planning on taking these on an outing of any kind, they store best in a container and not in a ziploc bag.
I find it easiest to use a cookie scoop to get even sized portions. My favorite size is a medium 1.5 Tablespoon scoop for adults and older kids. For younger kids to preschool age I prefer to use a small .5 Tablespoon scoop.
Top Tips for cooking with kids
Kids of all ages can help make this. Older kids can most likely make these on their own but little kids will still love to help adding all the ingredients to the bowl.
To make the forming of the balls as smooth as possible, I prefer to do the scooping and have the kids do the rolling of the scoops into the balls.
See here for more tips on cooking with kids!
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Other recipes you may like
- 10 Minute Mini No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes
- Peanut Butter and Banana Croissants
- Apple Peanut Butter Crackers
RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups Rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes
- 3 tablespoons flaxseed
- ¼ cup chia seed
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup canned pumpkin
- ¼ almond butter
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a food processor, add rolled oats, pumpkin spice, salt, coconut flakes, flax seed, and chia seeds and pulse until well blended and oats are cut up.
- Add in honey, vanilla, pumpkin, and almond butter and combine on low speed until it becomes well blended and forms a ball of dough. At this stage, you can add more oats if you want a dryer and slightly chunky consistency.
- Remove dough from the food processor and transfer it to a medium bowl. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the dough into balls. Each bite is equal to about 1.5- 2 Tablespoons.
Make this in a stand mixer
- Add all ingredients to a stand mixer.
- Mix on low speed until well combined.
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form the dough into balls. Each bite is equal to about 1.5- 2 Tablespoons.
Notes
- swap quick oats for rolled oats
- swap 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground flaxseed or whole wheat flour for the whole flax seeds
- Skip the chia seeds
- for the pumpkin spice: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, and a pinch of ground cloves
- for the honey: maple syrup
- for the almond butter: peanut butter or sunflower butter also can work although they will alter the taste slightly