Pumpkin Seed and Hemp Energy Bites (No Protein Powder)

Seeds are the most underrated protein source in a no-bake bite. Pumpkin seeds run about 30g of protein per 100 grams and hemp hearts about 32g, which is how these land at 5g each with nothing but whole food in the bowl. Toasting the pepitas first is the difference between a nutty bite and a grassy one. Expect chewy and substantial rather than soft and doughy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup raw pepitas (green pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup hemp hearts (about 75g)
• 1/3 cup creamy almond butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions

1. Toast the pepitas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, shaking the pan often, until they puff and start to pop. Let them cool completely.
2. Pulse the oats and half the toasted pepitas in a food processor about 10 times, just until the oats break into a coarse meal and the seeds are chopped.
3. Add the hemp hearts, flaxseed, cinnamon, salt, and remaining whole pepitas, then pour in the almond butter, honey, and vanilla and pulse until the mixture clumps when squeezed.
4. Roll into 16 balls, about 1 1/2 tablespoons each, pressing firmly so the seeds hold together.
5. Chill 30 minutes on a lined plate to firm up, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Tips

• Squeeze a handful before you roll. If it does not hold its shape, add another tablespoon of almond butter rather than more honey, which only makes them sticky and sweet.
• Toasting the pepitas is the entire flavor of this recipe. Raw seeds taste flat and slightly grassy next to toasted ones and no amount of cinnamon fixes it.
• Hemp hearts are the highest-protein ingredient here at roughly 10g per 3 tablespoons. Swapping them for more oats costs you about 1.5g of protein per bite.

FAQ

Can I use quick oats?

Yes, and you can skip the pulsing since they are already cut small. The bites come out softer and less chewy.

Can I make these nut free?

Swap the almond butter for sunflower seed butter and they are. Everything else in the recipe is seeds, oats, and honey.

Why only 5g of protein per bite?

Because there is no powder in them. Seeds, oats, and nut butter top out around 15g of protein per 100 grams, so a 28 gram bite lands near 5g. Eat two.

Do these need to be refrigerated?

They keep 4 or 5 days at room temperature, but ground flax and hemp go rancid faster in a warm kitchen, so the fridge is the safer default.

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