3 Healthy Thanksgiving Pie-Inspired Energy Balls

Thanksgiving: the one day a year Americans collectively take up eating as a sport. I know I speak for many when I say pie is the food I most look forward to on Thanksgiving. The glistening sugar-coated apples, the flakey, buttery crust that melts in your mouth, the creamy pumpkin filling that sends your eyes to the back of their sockets in sensory overload. Pie is holy. But, Thanksgiving is said and gone, that last slice of leftover pie has disappeared, and pie lovers are left with their mouths watering and wanting more. Fear not, I have a solution! Healthy Thanksgiving Pie Energy Balls!

Healthy, nutritious, energy-packed date bliss balls inspired by your favorite fall pies: pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie. Easy, no-bake, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, and… absolutely delicious. The base recipe for the balls are just dates and nuts, making them completely customizable; the flavor combinations are endless! These energy balls make it possible to never wake from your Turkey Day induced coma. 

Each recipe yields about 10-16 balls

First are my personal favorite: 

(and also perfect for those PSL fans out there)

Pumpkin Pie Balls

• Prep Time:40 mins
• Cook Time:0
• Total Time:40 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 cup medjool dates - 8 ounces or 10-12 large
• 1 cup rolled oats - gluten-free if desired
• 1/4 cup raw pecans
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice OR combine 2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla or maple extract
• Pinch salt
• Optional Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup - I think the dates make them plenty sweet
• 1-2 tablespoons flax or chia seeds

• Step 1

  In a bowl, soak your dates in hot water for 5 minutes until the skins start to loosen and the water turns a brownish color. If dates were previously refrigerated, this may take a couple extra minutes. Remove the dates from the bowl, saving the remaining sweet date water for later. Then, remove the pits, (no one likes a busted food processor or a chipped tooth).

  

• Step 2

  Add the dates to a food processor or blender and pulse until dates are homogenous and have a gooey consistency.

  

• Step 3

  Next, add the remaining ingredients: oats, pecans, pumpkin puree, spices, vanilla extract, and salt. Pulse and blend until ingredients are combined and evenly distributed throughout the sticky, dough-like mixture. If your mixture gets stuck to the sides, you can add a couple tablespoons of the sweet date water to help the ingredients incorporate.

  

• Step 4

  Transfer mixture to bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes (or freeze for 10-15 minutes).

  

• Step 5

  Remove from fridge. Line a baking tray with parchment or wax paper to place the balls on. Using a small scooper or spoon, scoop the mixture into your hands and roll into balls (the mixture shouldn’t stick to your hands after refrigeration, if it does pop back in the fridge for 5-10 minutes). Repeat this process until mixture is gone.

  

• Step 6

  Place tray back in the fridge or freezer for another 5-10 minutes (so that they keep their shape). Remove from fridge and serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (or in the freezer for months).

  

Recipe adapted from these Pumpkin Energy Balls. 

Next, the Apple Pie balls (which are also paleo).

Apple Pie Balls

• Prep Time:30 mins
• Cook Time:0
• Total Time:30 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup medjool dates - 4oz or 5-6 large
• 1/2 cup dried apples - not freeze-dried
• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• Pinch salt
• Optional Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon liquid sweetener choice
• 1 tablespoon flax or chia seeds

• Step 1

  In a bowl, soak your dates in hot water for 5 minutes until the skins start to loosen. If dates were previously refrigerated, this may take a couple extra minutes. Remove the dates from the bowl, saving the remaining sweet date water for later. Then, remove the pits.

  

• Step 2

  Add the dates and dried apples to a food processor or blender and pulse until dates and apples have formed a homogenous, chunky consistency. Remove this date apple mixture from blender and set aside in a bowl.

  

• Step 3

  Combine the nuts, spices, vanilla, and optional sweetener in the food processor and pulse until they reach a crumb-like consistency.

  

• Step 4

  Add the date apple mixture back into the processor with the other ingredients and pulse until combined. If it gets stuck, add in the date water (saved from earlier) a spoonful at a time to loosen the mixture, then continue pulsing.

  

• Step 5

  Transfer mixture to bowl, cover, and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes (or freeze for 10-15 minutes).

  

• Step 6

  Remove from fridge. Line a baking tray with parchment or wax paper to place the balls on. Using a small scooper or spoon, scoop the mixture into your hands and roll into balls (the mixture shouldn’t stick to your hands after refrigeration, if it does pop back in the fridge for 5-10 minutes). Repeat this process until mixture is gone.

  

• Step 7

  Serve, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks (or store in freezer for months).

  

Recipe adapted from these Apple Pie Energy Bites. 

Last but not least:

Pecan Pie Balls

• Prep Time:40 mins
• Cook Time:0
• Total Time:40 mins
• Servings:12
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 cup dates - 8 ounces or 10-12 large dates
• 3/4 cup raw pecans
• 1/4 cup rolled oats - gluten free if desired
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract or maple extract
• Pinch salt
• Optional Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup again I think the dates make them plenty sweet
• Paleo optional: replace oats with equal part nuts - ie. use 1 cup pecans instead ¾ cup pecans and ¼ cup rolled oats

• Step 1

  Same deal with the dates, soak your dates in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes until the skins start to loosen. If dates were previously refrigerated, this may take a couple extra minutes. Remove the dates from the bowl, saving the remaining sweet date water for later. Then, remove the pits.

  

• Step 2

  Add the dates to a food processor or blender and pulse until dates are homogenous and have a gooey consistency.

  

• Step 3

  Add the remaining ingredients into processor. Pulse until combined. If it gets stuck, add in water or the date water a spoonful at a time and continue pulsing.

  

• Step 4

  Transfer mixture to bowl, (or keep in blender body, removing the blade), cover and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes.

  

• Step 5

  Remove from fridge. Line a baking tray with parchment or wax paper to place the balls on. Using a small scooper or spoon, scoop the mixture into your hands and roll into balls (the mixture shouldn’t stick to your hands after refrigeration, if it does pop back in the fridge for 5-10 minutes). Repeat this process until mixture is gone.

  

• Step 6

  Place tray back in the fridge or freezer for another 5-10 minutes (so that they keep their shape). Remove from fridge and serve, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (or in the freezer for months).

  

Recipe adapted from these Pecan Pie Energy Bites. 

Amazeballs.