Pumpkin pie flavor in bite-sized pumpkin energy balls with an outer granola crunch and fruit-sweetened chewy center. Gluten-free, vegan, easy to make!
My brain hasn’t yet figured out how to top Pumpkin Creme Brûlée in the pumpkin dessert department (although I think pumpkin + chocolate is on the horizon), so we’ll take things in a simpler snacking direction today.
There’s nothing more snack synonymous than no-bake date balls/bites/whatevers. But I didn’t want them to just be ordinary orbs. They needed a memorable mix-in. A textured topping. A special something.
And if you follow me on Instagram you know that I just made a fresh batch of homemade granola. How convenient. Granola gave that crust-like crunch that these mini-sized pumpkin pie pretenders needed.
Use your favorite granola I used the same crunchy quinoa granola from this Balsamic Strawberry Banana Crunch Bowl.
Chewy center. Crunchy coating. Fruit sweet.
Behind the snack bite-making scenes…
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Prep Time:
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PinIngredients
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 15 pitted medjool dates
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- Your favorite granola (I used this easy quinoa granola)
Instructions
- In a food processor, process the oats until fine and almost a flour texture.
- Add the dates, pumpkin puree, and spice.
- Process until it forms a ball.
- Roll into 10-12 balls.
- Refrigerate for about 2 hours until firm.
- Roll each ball in granola and press in firmly so it sticks.
- Snack away! And keep the leftovers in the fridge.
These look sooo yummy and autumn-y! I bet they’d be great as pre-workout fuel 😉
I love that idea! Nice, sweet, fall-spiced, carby-fuel 🙂
MAKING THESE. I love energy bites that are date and oat based!! Might even add some walnuts. 😉
Do it! Dates and oats two of my most beloved ingredients 🙂
Um……….you made pumpkin orbs rolled in granola goodness……..need I say more? Well…I still think you should toss in some chia seeds, but the granola will suffice for now 😉
I really want these….you know…combining my 2 obsessions of orbs and granola! You’re a trickster and I would not have guessed this was the crunchy coating 😉
xoxo
Oh yeah I forgot that I left you hanging on the crunch!!!! But I knew you’d approve 🙂 Well i’m still in suspense about the applesauce-usign recipe coming up at the end of this week…suspended in space without an applesauce clue 🙂 But excited! It’s funny because as much as i love and eat chia seeds daily, I don’t really bake (or no-bake) with them much. Saving them all for my hazardous puddings 😉 xoxo
Yummy! And yay for two pumpkin recipes in a row! Glad you’re getting your pumpkin groove on now with the rest of us ? Such a great snack idea, but not for the kids. Not that they wouldn’t like them I’m just greedy, haha!!
This look AMAZING!!!!! I love balls in my mouth – ha ha ah!
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Bahahahahahahaa 😀 That was just waiting to be said!!!
Oh and I will def be the one to say it!
Hey pumpkin bites heyyyy! Man these are easy. Plus scrumptious too! And I just have to say I love all this pumpkin that’s happening around here 😉
Thanks Meg! Glad you’re loving all the pumpkin, gotta work some apples in soon too! And I’m like secretly the laziest cook/baker ever so easy is my favorite thing a recipe can be 🙂
Oh gosh. These look so delicious!
Thanks Monique! If you are a fellow pumpkin lover then I have a feeling you will like them 🙂
These look so perfect Natalie! I love snack bites like these! I can’t get enough of pumpkin at the moment, so these snack bites sound heavenly!!!! Yum! So healthy and delicious, I love it. Can’t wait to see the chocolate-pumpkin creation you make too 😀
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Thanks Harriet, little no-bake balls are my favorite snack too! And now that I know it’s chocolate week next week the pumpkin chocolate recipe is definitely going to happen this weekend 🙂
These are so darn adorable and look soooo delicious Natalie! I love that you added granola to roll them in for that extra texture and crunch! YUM! And I totally think you should do pumpkin and chocolate together, they are a wonderful combo!! I’m in love with these little balls, haha!
Thank you Brandi, eating cute things just makes them taste better somehow 😀 I am definitely doing a pumpkin chocolate recipe, just trying to decide between a few ideas. But I don’t have class tomorrow so I’m going to get in the kitchen and do some experimenting! Those Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies with the wonderful crumbly topping you posted on FB a week or so ago proved to me that chocolate + pumpkin was a very good idea 🙂
These look absolutely amazing, Natalie! I wish I could just steal one from the screen. 😉 I’ll definitely need to try your recipe soon.. I just can’t get enough of pumpkin!
I know, it’s like how many cans of orange can we go through in one month!?! haha Pumpkin crazy! Thanks girl 🙂
I feel like grabbing the granola bites from the screen and eating it right now.. simply love it
Thank you Fareeha! I’ll give them a little nudge from my end and maybe it will work 😀 haha
These are so adorable Natalie! I love how short the ingredient list is too. I’m thinking pumpkin creme brulee for breakfast and these for an afternoon snack 🙂
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Oh I love the way you think Lucie!!!
I love how easy these pumpkin bites are! Your blog always inspires me to try more date-sweetened desserts =D I have a couple of dates in the kitchen pantry that need to be used up anyways 🙂 And the homemade granola looks gorgeous!!
Glad i can provide a little date inspiration! I love coconut sugar too, but whenever I can make the dates work I try to do so 🙂 Bliss balls or blending them into a smoothie or chia pudding, those are two of my favorite easy ways to use them up!
I LOVE how simple this recipe is. These little bites of fall look super scrumptious and just perfect for when you’re not in the mood for a whole cake or pie. Looks absolutely delicious. I’d coat mine with hemp seeds — my latest obsession for coating bliss balls. Or ground pumpkin seeds. Or better yet — pb2! Have you tried pumpkin and pb yet — so yummy!
Pumpkin and peanut butter!?!? No I’ve never thought of that! Why have I never thought of that!?! Sounds amazingly unexpected!!! Now my mind is racing with ideas to bring that yummy sounding combo into being in treat form! Thank you for sharing, I love bursts of inspiration like this <3
Can I replace the dates with a few tablespoons of maple syrup?
The dates are much stickier and make up much of the bulk of the recipe, so no I don’t think that will work. Sorry 🙁