These no-bake Pumpkin Protein Balls are so easy to make and have pumpkin pie vibes. Perfect if you're looking for an easy snack for pumpkin season ready in 10 minutes or less!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Star Review: "These were delicious! My whole family loved them. I will definitely be making these again!" -Mary
As a dietitian, I'm a fan of all things pumpkin. Not just because I love the taste and smell of pumpkin recipes (which I do!), but because pumpkin provides important nutrients including vitamins A and C, dietary fiber for gut health, and antioxidants. These Pumpkin Spice Protein Balls are like little bites of pumpkin pie - a great sweet treat to make when fall flavors are in the air and autumn leaves are falling.
This was inspired by my Protein Cookie Dough Balls. I wanted something similar for the cozy fall season, and I love a good no-bake recipe. This pumpkin version turned out so good with pumpkin pie spice and mini chocolate chips! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 😊
More Healthy Pumpkin Recipes
- Easy Pumpkin Pie Chia Seed Pudding
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Pancakes
- Creamy Pumpkin Chili
- Pumpkin Protein Shake
- Easy Banana Pumpkin Muffins
- Unexpectedly Creamy Pumpkin Hummus
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
These protein pumpkin balls are made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card at the bottom for measurements.
- Canned Pumpkin Puree - look for pure pumpkin puree and not canned pumpkin pie filling which contains added sugars and salt. Canned pumpkin adds so much moisture and nutrition! If you have some extra time, you can even make your own homemade pumpkin puree. Check out how to make it here.
- Almond Flour or Blitzed Oats - almond flour adds texture and flavor and serves as a natural binder. You can blitz some rolled oats in a food processor instead if you want! I've had it both ways and enjoy both.
- Vanilla Protein Powder - I use plant-based protein powder, but you could also use whey protein powder. Use your favorite protein powder based on taste because it will make or break these pumpkin balls. I have been liking Truvani protein powder. Chocolate-flavored protein powder works too.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice - pumpkin pie spice is combination of cozy pumpkin pie spices often including cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice.
- Cinnamon - I like to add a bit extra cinnamon in addition to what's in the pumpkin pie spice, but this is optional.
- Pure Maple Syrup - a small amount of maple syrup adds sweetness. You can substitute with honey, agave nectar, or your favorite natural sweetener or liquid sweetener of choice.
- Nut Butter - I prefer to use natural nut butter - either creamy peanut butter or creamy almond butter. Natural nut butter has a more runny consistency and mixes easier into a no-bake snack like this one. Cashew butter would work too. Or for a nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter.
- Milk of Choice - just a small amount of milk is needed. I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk. If you don't like almond milk, you can easily substitute it with any kind of plant-based milk or regular milk.
- Mini Chocolate Chips - try to find mini chocolate chips for this recipe so you get a little chocolate in every bite! If you can't find minis, you can totally use regular-sized. I like dark chocolate, but semi-sweet milk chocolate or white chocolate work too.
- Vanilla Extract- pure vanilla extract amps up the sweet flavor and ties everything together for these pumpkin spice protein balls.
- Sea Salt - optional to enhance the other flavors.
How to Make Pumpkin Protein Balls
Below are the instructions for how to make this recipe with some photos I hope are helpful! Check the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
- Step 1 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients including almond flour, protein powder, chocolate chips, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and sea salt.
- Step 2 - Add in the wet ingredients including the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, milk, nut butter, and vanilla extract. Mix well to combine until it forms a dough-like consistency.
- Step 3 - Shape about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time into a ball using your hands or a small cookie scoop. Place each ball on the parchment-lined baking sheet. There will be about 14 balls. Use a rubber spatula to get all of the dough off the sides of the bowl. Store in the freezer or fridge until ready to eat.
Hint: Wet your hands before shaping these pumpkin bites - it will help them be less sticky and easier to form into balls! I use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop.
Dietitian Tip
You probably know pumpkins are a nutrient-rich winter squash. But did you know that botanically they are a fruit? "Pumpkin” comes from a Greek word “pepon,” meaning “large melon.” The flesh of a pumpkin contains antioxidants and Vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. And pumpkin seeds contain plant protein and iron. Using pumpkin in recipes doesn't only add delicious flavor, it also provides nutrition!
Video of How to Make Pumpkin Protein Bites
Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Variations
One of the best things about these no-bake pumpkin protein balls is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas:
- Hearty - make these little bites more textured by adding pumpkin seeds, flax seeds or ground flaxseed.
- Apple Pumpkin Pie - add a teaspoon of apple pie spice and replace some of the pumpkin with apple sauce to add even more fall flavor.
- Monster Cookie Pumpkin Balls - use a combo of m&ms and chocolate chips and double up on the peanut butter to give these more of a monster cookie flavor.
- Peanut Butter Pumpkin Balls - amp up the peanut butter flavor by using 2-3 tablespoon of peanut butter and replacing chocolate chips with peanut butter chips.
See these Cookie Dough Balls if you want another option!
Storage
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
- Freezer - store in a freezer-friendly container in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
Expert Advice
- Wet your hands before shaping them into balls. This will help prevent them from sticking to your hands.
- Be sure to use your favorite vanilla protein powder. If you don't like the taste of the protein powder, you likely won't enjoy the taste of the pumpkin energy bites!
- Double up on these and freeze half of them to have a healthy snack on hand for busier weeks.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these pumpkin balls are a nutrient-rich option. They contain plant protein and heart-healthy fats from the nut butter that also support brain health and hormone health. Almond Flour provides fiber for gut health, manganese, phosphorus and antioxidants. These protein balls are gluten-free,, vegetarian, and can easily be made dairy-free by using dairy-free chocolate chips.
If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, there are many great-tasting vanilla protein powders on the market with minimal or no added sugars. Some brands of vegan protein powder that I like are Orgain or Truvani.
Yes, absolutely! To make them into bars, simply shape the dough into a square which can be easily done in a bread pan or on a baking sheet. Then, refrigerate it for about 20-30 minutes and cut it into bars.
Yes! You can substitute with oatmeal if you prefer a more textured protein ball. I would go with either old fashioned oats (also called rolled oats) or quick oats. I wouldn't suggest using steel-cut oats for this recipe.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this one? Try these:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
No Bake Pumpkin Protein Balls (Healthy Energy Bites)
Equipment
- 1 spatula or spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour (or oats blitzed in a food processor or blender into a flour)
- ⅓ cup vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
- pinch sea salt (optional)
- 1 tablespoon almond milk (or milk of choice, if needed to add moisture)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients including almond flour (or blitzed oats), protein powder, chocolate chips, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and sea salt.
- Add in the wet ingredients including the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, milk, nut butter, and vanilla extract. Mix well to combine until it forms a dough-like consistency.
- Shape about 2 tablespoons of dough at a time into a ball using your hands or a small cookie scoop. Place each ball on the parchment-lined baking sheet. There will be about 14 balls. Use a rubber spatula to get all of the dough off the sides of the bowl. Store in the freezer or fridge until ready to eat.
Video
Notes
- Wet your hands before shaping them into balls. This will help prevent them from sticking to your hands.
- Be sure to use your favorite vanilla protein powder. If you don't like the taste of the protein powder, you likely won't enjoy the taste of the pumpkin protein bites!
- Double up on these and freeze half of them to have a healthy snack on hand for busier weeks.
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
- Freezer - store in a freezer-friendly container in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition
Sources: Thinkery
Mary Gray
These were delicious! My whole family loved them. I will definitely be making these again!
Mallory
Awww thank you so much! I am so happy to hear that you and your family loved them! ❤️ Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review!