Pumpkin energy balls
If you too sometimes crave a sweet snack or dessert that contains no added sugar, you've come to the right place! These pumpkin energy balls are the perfect sweet snack to prepare in advance and enjoy at a convenient time.
These pumpkin energy balls are very quick and easy to make. If you are more in the "chocolatey" mood, I recommend you try my cocoa energy balls, delicious! I must say, along with my Cornflakes biscuits and the mini vegan snickers, are part of my favorite sweet and finger food recipes to save time without sacrificing taste!
Why you'll love this smoked tofu recipe
If this is your first time making energy balls, also known as protein balls, you may not know what to expect. However, that doesn't have to be a reason not to try them anyway. In the next section I'll explain why I like energy balls so much and why you should try them too!
VERSATILITY- Just do a quick search and you will realize that there are countless variations of these for energy balls. You can include your protein powder, any kind of oily nuts, or the pulp of any fruit to give it that flavor. We use pumpkin!SHAPE- It may sound like a trivial motivation, but the spherical shape of energy balls has several positive sides. In fact, thanks to their small shape they are perfect to take to work or college as a snack, as breakfast while on the train. Or even, like the ones you see in the photos I took them to the movies and shared them with my friends.STORAGE- Pumpkin energy balls taste best when served at a cold temperature. They should therefore be stored in the refrigerator in a glass or plastic container. The great thing, though, is that you can also freeze them and enjoy them almost frozen-they're just as good!SWEET, BUT WITHOUT SUGAR- That's right, to make these energy balls ala zucca I used dates and agave syrup to give sweetness. These are of course also sources of sugar but "traditional" or brown sugar is not used as in other desserts or snacks.
Here are all the ingredients you'll need
Dates- Left to soak for a few hours in warm-warm water or overnightOatmeal- If you prefer not to have large chunks of oats in your energy balls you can also blend them first to make them finer.Seed mix- Use the seeds you like best, there are no rules for this part, you can really let your imagination run wild. My seed mix included sunflower, pumpkin and cashew seeds.Peanut butter- Again, any nut butter will do. If you want to make your energy balls without peanut butter you can substitute it with almond butter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter, or even you can use Tahina (sesame seed cream).Agave syrup- It is used to make our protein balls sweet. Alternatively, you can also use maple syrup.Pumpkin pulp
Other ingredients I used but are optional :
How to obtain pumpkin pulp
You may be wondering how you can get pumpkin pulp. It's very simple, and I'll tell you how to do it right now.
- All you need to do is turn on the oven to 230°C on static function. Then take a whole or already cut pumpkin. Wash the pumpkin if necessary and if it is whole, also poke holes in the outside with the help of a fork.
- Place the pumpkin on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake the pumpkin for about 1 hour or until soft by poking a fork in it.
- Then let the pumpkin cool, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Using a spoon, then scoop out all the pulp, which can now be used in your recipe.
Preparation of pumpkin energy balls (step-by-step)
1. Mix all the ingredients with a blender
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until you get the desired consistency. Taste and adjust sugar if you feel it is necessary.
2. Form your own pumpkin energy balls
Helping yourself with two hands, form your energy balls to the size you prefer. If you wish, you can put hazelnuts inside as I did in my cocoa energy balls First form a flat ball and place the hazelnut on top. Then close the ends toward the center and form your balls. You can help yourself with gloves for this part if you wish.
3. Dip the protein balls into the ingredients for the outside
Put all the ingredients with which you will decorate your balls (I used coconut flakes, and pistachio granules) in a small dish and mash the balls until completely covered.
Storage tips
Your energy balls can be stored in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage you can also opt to freeze them and enjoy them when you feel like it most. You'll be able to keep them in the freezer for 3-4 months!
Now that you have all the information to prepare this recipe, all you have to do is get to work. Have fun in the kitchen!
Pumpkin energy balls
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp pumpkin pulp
- 1 handful dates - Left to soak for a few hours in warm-warm water or overnight
- 5 Tbsp oat flakes
- 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter
- 2 Tbsp seeds mix (sunflower, pumpkin, cashew-any mix will do)
- 1 Tbsp Agave syrup
For the exterior
- 1 Tbsp grated or flaked coconut
- 1/2 Tbsp pistachio granules
Instructions
- Soak your dates in warm-thirsty water for a few hours or even better overnight.
- Put all the ingredients in your blender and chop all the ingredients for a few minutes
- Taste the dough for your energy balls and adjust for sweetness or add a pinch of salt for some contrast.
- Take some dough from the mixer, and start forming your energy balls by helping yourself with two hands.
- Make circular motions with your hands as you would to form meatballs. You can also use plastic gloves for this step.
- In a plate put all the ingredients for the outside and run your energy ball through it until well coated.
- Place your energy balls in a container and let them sit in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- They are now ready to enjoy
I so hope you enjoyed the recipe! See you soon
