You will love these No-Bake Pumpkin Protein Balls for a quick high-protein snack. This recipe takes about 10 minutes to whip together and is packed with pumpkin flavor and high protein (depending on which protein powder you add). And the best part is you don’t need a food processor or to turn on your oven.

Pumpkin is one of the healthiest foods you can eat and is packed with vitamin A to support healthy vision, boost your immune system, and is important for reproduction, growth, and development.

What holds these balls together is brown rice syrup, which is a great natural sweetener. However, if you have a gluten intolerance or don’t have access to brown rice syrup, you’ll want to use honey. Keep in mind honey is not as sticky as brown rice syrup so they may not hold together as well.

Pumpkin is the Real Superstar

I know, I know… it’s March. I disagree that Pumpkin is a fall-only food. Pumpkin is a healthy fruit that packs 7 grams of dietary fiber and exceptional amounts of vitamins A and K, copper, folate, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

I mentioned the benefits of vitamin A, but the list of health benefits pumpkin provides is long. Pumpkin supports your heart health, blood pressure, and bone health, and is anti-inflammatory.

A High-Protein Snack

Your body needs protein for various functions, including muscle development, immune system function, providing energy, and repairing tissues. Your body begins losing muscle mass at around 30 years old. A high-protein diet as you get older is beneficial for building muscle mass. Protein also keeps you full longer and reduces sugar cravings, supporting weight loss.

Protein is an essential nutrient, which means the only way you can get it is from the food you eat. The source is crucial to the amount of protein. I suggest everyone get protein from animal sources since their protein content is anywhere from 18 to 30 grams per serving. While beneficial, plant proteins do not provide that much and may lack amino acids. For this recipe, I used PEScience Select Whey Protein, which has 24 grams per serving, in these No Bake Pumpkin Protein Balls.

A quick note about whey protein: Whey and casein proteins come from cow’s dairy. Even if your protein powder is isolated whey protein, whey protein could be problematic and cause digestive issues if you have a dairy sensitivity.

It’s important to note that different people may require different amounts of protein depending on factors such as age, sex, weight, and activity level. Talk to a health coach or sports nutritionist to help determine your protein needs.

If you make these protein balls, let me know in the comments!