The Nutrition Adventure

Tags

chia seeds, cinnamon, coffee, heart health, nuts, oatmeal, peanut butter, pumpkin

These naturally-sweetened, heart-healthy, raw pumpkin bites are great as snacks or for dessert!

Hello friends. It’s time again for the monthly Recipe Redux post and we’re going nuts! For National Nut Day, that is 🙂

Any opportunity I get to share with others about the nutrition benefits of eating nuts, I take it. When people ask what healthy snacks they can eat during the day, I always include nuts as an option (assuming there’s no nut allergy, of course).

While some nuts have more heart-healthy fats than others, it’s more important to focus on enjoying a variety. All nuts are packed with protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats, which can help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Having protein and fiber rich foods for snacks helps keep you feeling fuller longer and helps control blood glucose levels.

To get a daily dose of the healthful benefits of nuts, try adding them to salads, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothie bowls, a meat or seafood dish, or a refueling snack like these Peanut Butter Pumpkin Pie Bites.

Let’s dive into the recipe!

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Chill it.

Form 1-inch balls using a tablespoon measure or similar tool.

Place on baking sheet and let ’em chill again.

Roll these guys around in chopped pecans and then….

Take a picture of yourself holding one in between your fingers. Or skip that and just enjoy it instead.

But if you do take a picture after making these, share it with me on Insta (@karmanmeyer). I’d be happier than a bird with a french fry to see it!

I added a bit of ground coffee to the recipe because we all need more coffee in our lives, amiright? There’s really nothing but goodness in these tiny little pb + pumpkin pie bites so I hope you thoroughly enjoy them and treat your friends to a few!

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Pie Bites

Servings: 9
Print

Ingredients
1 cup 100% pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)
3/4 cup quick oats
3 pitted dates
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon ground dark roast coffee
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 cup whole pecans

Directions
1. Combine all of the ingredients, except pecans, into a food processor or Vitamix blender and process until smooth.
2. Refrigerate mixture for 15 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. To roll mixture into balls, first lightly coat hands with cooking spray. Form 1-inch balls using a tablespoon measure to scoop mixture into hands. Place onto the lined baking sheet. Place baking sheet in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
4. In the meantime, process the pecans in the food processor or Vitamix until finely chopped. Pour into a bowl.
5. Remove the baking sheet from the refrigerator and roll one ball at a time into the chopped pecans until covered.
6. Keep stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To see all of the Recipe Redux posts this month, click on the blue button below.