Pumpkin Energy Balls with Cranberries

#wprm-recipe-container-16719″ data-recipe=”16719″ style=”color: #333333;” class=”wprm-recipe-jump wprm-recipe-link wprm-jump-to-recipe-shortcode wprm-block-text-normal”>Jump to Recipe https://kellyjonesnutrition.com/wprm_print/recipe/16719″ style=”color: #333333;” class=”wprm-recipe-print wprm-recipe-link wprm-print-recipe-shortcode wprm-block-text-normal” data-recipe-id=”16719″ data-template=”” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>Print Recipe

Whether the weather has cooled down or not, if you landed on this recipe that means fall food is on the menu! Plus, when back to school season hits, you don’t have to have kids for your work and life schedule to feel a bit hectic, so convenient balanced snacks are a must.  When busy, it’s easy to ignore yourhttps://kellyjonesnutrition.com/honor-your-hunger-for-performance/”> body’s signals letting you know it needs some fuel for all the things you make it do everyday, physically and mentally. Having these easy cranberry pumpkin energy balls with you will ensure you’re ready for whatever the day throws at you.

Easy Food Prep

It’s a common misconception that eating well to fuel our busy lifestyles has to be time consuming, expensive and tasteless. This is not the case! While writing this post, I’m eating quinoa I prepped over the weekend, topped with a pre-made pesto, store bought hard boiled eggs, and mixed greens for lunch. Little prep required, delicious, and inexpensive.

I also snacked on a few of these pumpkin energy balls before my morning lift session so I had the physical and mental energy to power through. They kept me from feeling overly hungry once I had time to head home for a real breakfast ahead of the work day. 

Budget Friendly Pumpkin Energy Balls

All of these items are relatively inexpensive versus other energy ball recipes you’ll find. Dates are delicious, but can be pricey so it’s great to use dried cranberries. You can even sub in raisins if that’s what you have on hand. When it comes to the binder, sunflower seed butter isn’t as pricey as many nut butters, but if you don’t have allergies, PB could be an even less expensive option. Flax may seem pricey, but the quantity used is usually small enough that those bags last awhile – just be sure to keep ground flax in the fridge so the oils don’t oxidize and spoil!

If you want to save even more, check out the bulk section of your grocery store. You can buy just enough of items like pumpkin seeds so you don’t overspend only to have them spoil if you don’t eat them often. If you don’t have bulk accessible to you, freeze pumpkin seeds until you’re ready to use them again!

While the ingredients aren’t too pricey, another benefit is that you don’t need an expensive food processor to make these. Just a bowl, measuring utensils and a spoon or spatula!

Cranberry Pumpkin Energy Balls

These gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan bites are an on-the-go snack that everyone can enjoy! Try them pre-workout for an energy boost and a dose of fall flavors.

Course Snack

Cuisine American

• 1/4 cup honey sub pure maple if vegan
• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp sunflower seed butter
• 2 tbsp ground flax
• 1 1/2 cup quick cook oats
• 1/4 cup vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp dried cranberries

• Add pumpkin, seed butter, honey, and flax to a medium mixing bowl and stir well.

• In another bowl, mix the oats, protein powder, spices and salt.

• Incorporate the wet into the dry completely.

• Add the pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries, mix well, and store in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.

• Form the mixture into balls slightly smaller than golf ball size.

• Serve right away or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator, up to one week. Can be frozen up to 6 months.

*You may require up to 2 tbsp extra oats and 1 tbsp extra protein powder depending on your sunflower seed butter consistency and preferred texture.
**Recipe can be made with similar products that are not Sprouts brand

Keyword gluten free, pumpkin energy bites, vegan