Energy bites are one of my favorite things to have around because they’re awesome as a snack on a mountain top in Glacier National Park. Or they’re equally good in the car on the way from one appointment to another when I just don’t think I can make it until dinner time.
On one of my recent grocery trips, I noticed they were carrying a new season fall flavor called Pumpkin Pie, so of course I decided to try it. They definitely tasted just like pumpkin pie, and I knew I needed to come up with a homemade version right away!
I love using medjool dates for energy bites/bars because of their caramel like flavor and soft texture that just blends right into the background without an chewy bits.
Energy bites come together in just minutes with a food processor, and then you can form them into bars, or roll them into bites. From there I put a few in the fridge for snacks, and then I freeze the rest to be used over the next few weeks.
I actually just took a bag of these out of the freezer to take along with us to Glacier over the weekend. We’ll have a few with coffee while we watch the sunrise, and then pack a few more along on our hike, (we’re really hoping for some good weather to catch some photos tomorrow of the late fall colors).
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Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 32 energy bites 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecans
- 2 cups almonds
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 Teaspoons Vietnamese cinnamon
- pinch of ground cloves
- 1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 Teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 Teaspoon sea salt
- 10 medjool dates, pitted and cut into quarters
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup pumpkin purée
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Place the pecans, almonds, coconut, spices, and sea salt into a 12-cup food processor. Process until the mixture is fairly fine with some bigger pieces (1/4″).
- Then add the dates and process again until the dates completely blend into the nut mixture with only small pieces of date remaining.
- Finally add the vanilla, pumpkin purée, and maple syrup, and process until the mixture sticks in the machine and is the texture of soft cookie dough. If the pumpkin isn’t fully mixed in, finish mixing it by hand with a spatula and then portion the dough into bars, or roll it into bites. I like to roll mine into 1 ounce bites which makes about 32 pumpkin pie energy bites.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container and eat within 4-5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.
Notes
The nuts in this recipe should be raw and unsalted, not toasted.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
I started making energy bites for a mountain bike course I was attending with my sister… I’m hooked…. My sisters are hooked too. Occasionally I’ll want one before bed but they REALLY give me energy so I try to abstain. Great recipe. Thank you.
I’m so glad to hear you both are enjoying these! Also if you happen to get tired of this flavor, there’s quite a few more on the blog!
I really like this recipe. It is the perfect combination of pumpkin, spice, sweetness, and nuts! Highly recommend. I posted on FB… Keep making tasty things Kari.
Thank you, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them!
Hi Kari,
We did it again! Guess what I posted this morning? LOVE LOVE LOVE that photo of your Medjool date! Keeping my fingers crossed for good weather so you can catch those last beautiful photos this weekend.
I don’t know how we keep doing that, but your chocolate cherry energy bites definitely look like something I need to try ASAP!
Can you believe I’ve never made energy bites? These look irresistible, though, so that’s definitely going to change soon.
They’re so awesome to have around for healthy snacks, so I’m sure that once you start making them you won’t be able to stop!