No Bake Pumpkin Energy Bites
1 cup hulled sunflower seeds (can use any nut or seed of choice)
1 cup dates, pitted (about 7 oz)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Place the sunflower seeds in the bowl of a large food processor fitted with an "S" blade and process them into a fine flour. Add in the dates, coconut, pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt and process until a sticky dough is formed. At this point, you can taste the batter and see if you'd like to make any adjustments- add more nuts for a drier texture, more dates for sweetness, or more spice to taste.
Use a once-inch cookie scooper to drop the dough onto a backing sheet that has been lined with parchment paper, making roughly 24 balls. Place them in the freezer to set until firm, about 2 hours. Serve chilled for best texture. (They will soften at room temperature but they're still tasty!) When stored in an airtight container in the freezer, these bites should keep well for 6 months!