Quick & healthy no-bake pumpkin oatmeal energy balls that taste like cookies but are good for you! These energy bites are going to be your go-to healthy snack all season.
I have loads of energy balls you can try. Check out Extra Protein Oatmeal Bites, 8 No-Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls and Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites.
No-Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Energy Balls
Oatmeal balls are one of my all time favorite snacks and we make them all the time. I always have a container of some variation of these on hand for quick snacks, easy additions to lunch boxes, and for on-the-go car snacking. Once you start making these you'll never stop because they are healthy, easy, quick to put together, and store very well.
The bones of this recipe is oats, pumpkin, a nut butter, and honey - everything else you can add to your liking. I love to throw in chia seeds because they help the oat balls stick together well and have some great fats in them. I also add things like coconut flakes or nuts (pecans are delicious) in place of the chocolate chips sometimes. You can really tailor these to suit your taste. I love that they have pumpkin in them too. Hooray for more veggies in life. The pumpkin makes the color of the oatmeal bites so bright and pretty, too.
You can't go wrong with healthy fats, whole grains, and good carbs packaged in easy-to-grab little bites of fall time heaven. Make these ASAP!
I don't have chia seeds. What can I add instead?
Chances are, you have everything on hand to make these. Always a win. Don't have chia seeds on hand? Leave them out or sub them for something else like hemp seed hearts, chopped nuts, or some coconut flakes (and you can go up to a ½ cup of those things if you like).
Should I use quick oats or old-fashioned oats to make energy balls?
You can use old-fashioned or quick oats or a combo of the two, depending on the texture you are going for. Quick oats will yield a softer energy bite and the old-fashioned oats will make them chewier. I used half and half and was really pleased with how they turned out.
How do I get the oat balls to stick better together?
If you find your oat balls aren't sticking together well when rolled, let them chill in the fridge for 20 minutes and try again. If they are too sticky, try adding a few more tablespoons of oats.
No Bake Pumpkin Oatmeal Energy Balls
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
Description
Quick & healthy no-bake pumpkin oatmeal energy balls that taste like cookies but are good for you! These energy bites are going to be your go-to healthy snack all season.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ to 2 cups dry, uncooked oatmeal
- ½ cup all-natural peanut butter or other nut or sun butter
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup quality honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup mini dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a medium bowl,a add 1 and ½ cups oats, peanut butter, pumpkin, chia seeds, honey, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir to combine well. You want the mixture to be soft but not too sticky. If you pick up a generous spoonful, you should be able to roll it into a ball and only make a minimal mess (it should stick together when rolled but still feel tacky on your hands). Depending on the type of oats you used (old-fashioned or quick oats), you made need to add up to a half cup more oats and stir until you reach the desired consistency. Again, it's ok if it's a little sticky because the oats will absorb some of the moisture after a little time passes, but unworkable sticky isn't the goal.
- When the mixture is workable, add the chocolate chips and stir to combine. Scoop a large spoonful into your hand and roll into balls. Repeat with remaining dough. Keep these in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for much longer.
Notes
- Chances are, you have everything on hand to make these. Always a win. Don't have chia seeds on hand? Leave them out or sub them for something else like hemp seed hearts, chopped nuts, or some coconut flakes (and you can go up to a ½ cup of those things if you like).
- You can use old-fashioned or quick oats or a combo of the two, depending on the texture you are going for. Quick oats will yield a softer energy bite and the old-fashioned oats will make them chewier. I used half and half and was really pleased with how they turned out.
- They are no-bake and store super well. They have been great in lunch boxes, for after-school snacks, as a pre-workout snack at 5 am before weight lifting, and at bedtime when I'm ready for the kids to be in bed but they are suddenly starving. I love having little healthy snacks on hand. These are the perfect boxes to keep these in the fridge, just FYI.
- If you find your oat balls aren't sticking together well when rolled, let them chill in the fridge for 20 minutes and try again. If they are too sticky, try adding a few more tablespoons of oats.
- Looking for other variations of the oatmeal energy bite? I have a huge post with 8 (yes 8!) different combos right here for you.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: energy bites recipe, energy balls recipe, no bake energy bites, no bake energy balls, oatmeal balls, no bake cooking recipes, healthy snack idea, easy snack idea, healthy pumpkin recipe, oatmeal energy balls
This recipe is adapted from and inspired by Clean Eats Crush.
Looking for more energy balls? Look no further:
- 9 Energy Bites Recipes Everyone Needs
- Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Muesli Bites
- No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Energy Balls
- Healthy Cherry Energy Balls (Homemade Cherry Pie Larabars)
- Extra Protein Oatmeal Bites
Having these pumpkin oatmeal energy bites hanging out in your fridge or freezer is going to make you super happy, and I can't wait to hear how much you like them. I can't wait for you to try them and enjoy the convenience of having them on hand at your house. These are a great thing to make on a meal prep or food prep day and then enjoy all week long.
Have a great day and enjoy from my kitchen to yours.
Laura
So easy and taste great! I used a muffin tray and liners instead of rolling into balls and topped with a little extra honey!
★★★★★
Kim
These are delicious! I used almond butter and I added some flaxseed meal and some chopped craisins
★★★★★
Jennifer
Delicious! I added ground flaxseed, coconut and a bit of hemp hearts. I didn’t add the chocolate chips because I’m on a reduced sugar diet, and they were still amazing. I will try reducing the honey next time to lower my sugar intake further. Going to be making these often!
Emma
Came out great! I doubled the recipe so I could freeze about half. I didn’t have mini morsels so I rough chopped regular-sized semisweet morsels and I also added chopped up pecans. It’s just my husband and I, but I don’t think these will last long! Next time I might add some ground flaxseed and swap out peanut butter (all I had on hand) for a healthier alternative.
★★★★★
Sherry
Easy and super delicious!
★★★★★
AS
Love these! My kids don't like oatmeal but they loved these! I pressed them into a pan and cut them like granola bars. Awesome recipe.
★★★★★
Sarah
What would be a good honey substitute? I just ran out of honey and only have maple syrup and karo!
Melissa
Both of those would work! If you're using maple, it's a bit thinner so you might need to mix in a few more oats to get it to stick together better.
Constance
Can you freeze these?
Melissa
Yes! They freeze great!
Toni
These were great!!i added dried cranberries,walnuts.
I think they are pretty hard to mess up,just make sure consistency is such that they stick together!!
Finally a way to use up pumpkin purée,I put extra in too and it was yummy!!
★★★★★
Melissa
Ohhhh cranberries sound so good! Thank you for sharing your tips, it's so appreciated.
Heather Morgan
These are fantastic! I've been looking for a snack for my husband (who is a newly diagnosed diabetic and works in construction and travels) and I (who work remotely from home) to have on hand that is relatively lower carb, sweet and savory, fast, and sticks with ya. These do the trick! These are SO easy. And they don't taste like grit and dirt! I mixed them up in about 20 min. I also left out the chia seeds (we are traveling and I couldn't find them), but substituted chopped pecans, which worked out great. So tasty and satisfying. We will be on another long road trip soon and will definitely keep these on hand in the car. Do you have the nutrition information for the recipe without chocolate chips?
★★★★★
Melissa
Woohoo! Long live all the easy snacks that travel well and work well with your healthy needs. I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave a comment, I love hearing from you!
Jamee Burch
To keep hands clean I use a melon ball scooper. It’s think that is what it is called. Works perfectly. Flat on the bottom and round on the top. Perfect for storing! I love having these on hand for a healthy snack.
Melissa
Wonderful idea!