A healthy snack option that I’ve been enjoying for the last several years is what’s come to be known as “energy bites”. Of course it’s up for debate if they will really increase your energy, but they’re tasty and healthy so that’s good enough for me!

I have a few versions of energy bites that I like to make but during the fall months I love to make this pumpkin spice version, a simple twist on my basic recipe that adds the yummy flavors of pumpkin and cinnamon which blend so nicely with the peanut butter and honey that’s already in the recipe. In fact this pumpkin spice version has become the new favorite way to make energy bites at my house.

How I Make My Pumpkin Spice Snack Balls

Whenever I make an energy bites recipe (which we also sometimes call snack balls), I always begin by mixing together my dry ingredients in a small bowl first. The main dry ingredients in this recipe are 1-1/2 cups of quick oats and 1/3 cup of ground flax seed. Then to make this a pumpkin spice version, I also add in a 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, a 1/4 teaspoon of allspice, and a pinch of salt. I like to put 2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips in this mixture too (I’ve been using the Enjoy Life non-dairy brand).

For all my energy bites recipes I use the “wet” ingredients of a 1/2 cup of peanut butter, 1/3 cup of honey, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. For this pumpkin spice version I also add in 1/3 cup of canned pumpkin. (*Note: do not use pumpkin pie filling, but instead be sure to use canned pumpkin that is 100% pumpkin with no other spices added.)

Stir the wet ingredients together in a separate mixing bowl until they are well mixed together.

Next, I add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until all the dry ingredients are moistened and mixed in well. Once it’s stirred together, I often put the mixture in the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes so that it’s a little easier to work with in the next step.

And that next step is to roll the mixture into little balls that are about a 1″ size. You should be able to get about 25 healthy pumpkin spice energy balls from this recipe.

Your finished pumpkin spice energy balls can then be stored in a covered container. They can be kept at room temperature but I’ve found that they will last a little longer if they are refrigerated, especially in warmer weather.

What About The Leftover Canned Pumpkin?

I really love how the canned pumpkin adds a little extra flavor to these homemade energy bites. BUT – you only need 1/3 cup for this recipe which means you have a whole lot of leftover pumpkin puree in your can! What’s a frugal person going to do about that?

I’ve found that the canned pumpkin freezes just fine. In fact you can freeze it in 1/3 cup portions so that you can thaw just the right amount that next time you want to make some energy balls.

Another time I just kind of winged it and used some of the leftover pumpkin to make a half size version of the pumpkin pie recipe on the back of the can. And I still had some pumpkin left over in the can for the freezer!

A Healthy Snack Option

If you need a quick little snack and you’re trying not to grab a cookie, try one of these energy bites instead. The honey in the mixture can help satisfy a sweet tooth craving, and the oats and flax keep this a gluten free alternative too. I like to eat them any time of the day, and I like that they’re just a small snack too. They’re always just right to satisfy my snack cravings!