Cranberry Pumpkin Energy Balls

I know some of you are still wishing it was summer {okay, I sort of am, too}, but the weather this past week has cooled down, so fall food is on the menu! There’s so much running around after Labor Day as we acclimate back to our regular schedules that it’s easy to ignore our body’s signals letting us know it needs some fuel for all the things you make it do everyday. Having these easy cranberry pumpkin energy balls with you will ensure you’re ready for whatever the day throws at you.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market, with whom I will be showcasing this recipe. Ingredients may be purchased at any store to make on your own, and all opinions are mine!
Prepping to Fuel Busy Lifestyles
It’s a common misconception that eating well to fuel our busy lifestyles has to be time consuming, expensive and tasteless. This is not the case! I’m currently eating quinoa that I prepped on Sunday topped with a pre-made pesto, hard boiled eggs, and mixed greens for lunch. Little prep required, delicious, and inexpensive.
I also snacked on 3 of these pumpkin energy balls between two of the classes I taught earlier to carry me from my simple breakfast (oats w/ frozen blueberries, a banana, and nut butter) to lunch. The energy balls require only a bowl and mixing spoon to make, and that breakfast could have been made in the microwave (I opted for the pot this morning).
Make em’ on a Budget
All of these items are relatively inexpensive to begin with (and you can get them at any grocery store), but when you shop for them at Sprouts, they’re even cheaper! A couple of years ago, I covered 10 Reasons You’ll Fall in Love with Sprouts. Two main reasons were Sprout’s bulk section and their private label products.
Some of you may be confused about bulk and how it’s better. Well, first, no matter where you buy bulk, you only buy what you need! Only need 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds, just buy half of a cup of pumpkin seeds. Don’t go through flax seed very quickly so it always spoils? Just get a 1/4 cup! Past that, it’s cheaper to purchase bulk items since they haven’t been individually packaged. If you’re reading and don’t have a Sprouts near you, Whole Foods and Wegmans are two other stores that usually have extensive bulk sections.
When it comes to the private label, they don’t just sell fun foods like the PB&J bites, but also whole foods like fresh lettuces, frozen spinach, fresh and dried herbs, and of course, canned pumpkin. They’re providing them at fabulous prices, too (just like their produce, which is about 25% cheaper than competitors!).
Pumpkin Energy Balls Recipe (Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan)

Cranberry Pumpkin Energy Balls
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Sprouts raw honey
- 1/2 cup Sprouts pureed pumpkin
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp Sprouts sunflower seed butter (or other natural sunflower butter)
- 2 tbsp Sprouts bulk flax seed, ground
- 1 1/2 cup Sprouts bulk quick cook oats
- 1/4 cup Sprouts vegan vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 tsp Sprouts salt
- 1 tbsp Sprouts pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup Sprouts bulk raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp Sprouts bulk dried cranberries
Instructions
- Add pumpkin, seed butter, honey, and flax to a medium mixing bowl and stir well.
- In another bowl, mix the oats, protein powder, spices and salt.
- Incorporate the wet into the dry completely.
- Add the pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries, mix well, and store in the refrigerator at least 30 minutes.
- Form the mixture into balls slightly smaller than golf ball size.
- Serve right away or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator, up to one week. Can be frozen up to 6 months.
These look so good! I am so excited you are working with Sprouts! I go to their double ad Weds every week out here!
I can’t wait to go here too!!
A perfect snack for fall!
Excited to make these for my granddaughter. Is there an age for adding protein powder? She is 2 1/2.
Thank you!
Donna
Just be mindful of the brands and it’s ingredients! I like sprouts brand, now foods, Manitoba harvest, and garden of life. I might leave out the pumpkin seeds and use of the dried cranberries will depend on how well she chews! Enjoy
Could you substitute nut butter for the seed butter? (almond for example)
Absolutely! I just did it with a mix of almond and peanut butters last week.