Healthy No-Bake Pumpkin Protein Bites
These No Bake Pumpkin Protein Bites are the perfect healthy snack for fall! Made with oats, nut butter, and real pumpkin puree, these little bites are loaded with healthy fats and a great addition of protein from the vanilla protein powder. It’s pumpkin season and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious yet healthy snack?
If you are looking for another no-bake treat be sure to check out these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies too.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll This Recipe
- A great snack to enjoy on the go. That means that it’s perfect for meal prep.
- The old-fashioned oats give a great texture while the pumpkin adds a delicious flavor.
- These pumpkin spice energy bites are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without added sugar.
- It’s an excellent option for those who are vegan or vegetarian as it has no eggs and can be made with plant-based protein powder.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make this healthy sweet treat. One plus of this recipe is that you may already have these ingredients on hand which means you can avoid a trip to the grocery store.
- old-fashioned oats
- vanilla whey protein powder – You can also use plain protein powder. I use a low-carb protein powder. You can also use plant-based protein as well.
- pumpkin pie spice
- honey – this adds sweetness and helps hold the ingredients together.
- nut butter – I use natural peanut butter without added sugar.
- pumpkin puree – Make sure you use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
How to Make These No-Bake Pumpkin Protein Bites
This recipe is so easy to make, it comes together in just a few simple steps. Here is a quick overview of the steps that you will need to take to make this recipe. You can find the full recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients
In a large mixing bowl mix the oats, protein powder, and pumpkin pie spice and then set aside.
Step 2: Melt the nut butter
In a separate bowl, add honey and nut butter and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir until the nut butter and honey is smooth. Stir in the pumpkin puree and let the mix cool slightly.
Step 3: Add the ingredients together
Add honey and peanut butter mixture to the oats mixture and mix put in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
Step 4: Shape into balls and store
Form the pumpkin protein mix into 1-inch balls. Put in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
Substitutions and Additions
The options for additions to these little snacks are endless. Here are a few of my favorite ways to change up this simple recipe.
- For a chocolate touch add 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips before you shape them.
- You could also add in your favorite nuts and seeds such as sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds.
- If you don’t have honey on hand you can use pure maple syrup instead. It will work just the same. In addition, agave nectar or agave syrup are also good substitutes for honey.
How To Store
Store these pumpkin protein bites in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can also freeze them for up to three months so if you make a double batch you don’t have to worry about it going bad.
Sandra’s Pro Tips
Here are a few tips that can help you ensure that these no-bake pumpkin protein balls turn out perfectly for you.
- I recommend using creamy nut butter such as creamy peanut butter or creamy almond butter in this oatmeal balls recipe.
- Make sure that you allow the nut butter and honey a little time to cool off before you mix them with the oatmeal just a couple of minutes should be enough time.
- If the mixture is too sticky, add more protein power a tablespoon at a time.
- If you are stacking these in your container place a layer of parchment paper in between the stacks so that they don’t stick to one another.
- Make sure that you use pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. The pumpkin pie filling will not stay well in these pumpkin balls.
FAQS
Do you have questions about this pumpkin protein bites recipe? Here are the answers to this healthy treat’s most commonly asked questions.
Yes, protein balls can be a great snack for you if they are made with healthy ingredients such as natural nut butter, oats, and protein powder. They are also low in sugar and offer a good balance of carbs and protein to keep you feeling satisfied.
Yes, however, the old-fashioned oats really give these bites the best texture.
Yes, you can use any nut or seed butter that you prefer. Natural peanut butter is the most common choice but almond butter would also work great in this recipe.
Other Delicious Pumpkin Recipes You May Enjoy
No Bake Pumpkin Protein Bites
Equipment
- Large bowl
- medium bowl – microwave safe
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats uncooked (I used gluten-free)
- 1 1/2 servings of vanilla whey protein powder this equates to three scoops of the brand I use
- 1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/3 cup honey plus 1 tablespoon
- 1/3 cup nut butter I used peanut
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
Instructions
- Mix together oats, protein powder, pumpkin pie spice and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, add honey and nut butter and microwave for 30 seconds. Mix in the pumpkin to the honey and nut butter mixture and let cool slightly.
- Add honey and peanut butter mixture to the oats mixture and mix well forming one dough ball. Put in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes.
- Form into 1 inch balls. Put in airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.
This recipe was first posted in November 2013. New photos and additional information was added in August 2023.
Do these have to be stored in the fridge? I was thinking about making these for my husband who is deployed to Afghanistan.
He Stephanie, Since these are made with real pumpkin puree it does need to be refrigerated. You can try leaving it out and increasing the pumpkin spice and that would be ok to ship, but I would give it a taste test first. Care packages are the best! I hope this works out.
Hi! I was wondering if you could make these with quick cook steel cut oats? That’s all I have on hand.
Abigail, I haven’t tried using that oat, but I believe it’ll be fine. Maybe a little chewy. Still tasty!
Yum! I made these today with apple almond butter as the nut butter — it added another tasty layer of fall treats to the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Ohh, that sounds yummy! I’m glad this came together nicely for you, Colleen! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
I love pumpkin! These protein bites look like a delicious snack that my kids would really enjoy.
They are tasty and portable, so good for munching on whenever the mood hits 🙂
Sounds an easy, healty, and yet tasty snack…
i want some on my luchbox tomorrow, superb!
Thanks for the comment Dedy 🙂 These make GREAT snacks!!
Great healthy option for snacking! Wow you have been a busy girl with all of the events. Take Care, BAM
Hi Bam! It’s going to be a busy month for sure! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Do you need to use the protein whey powder? What are your thoughts of making without?
Hi Barbara. I do use the protein whey powder. You can make them without it.