These salted caramel pumpkin spice bites are no-bake, paleo, and completely AIP compliant! They also make a well balanced snack as they include both healthy fat and collagen protein!
It’s that time of year again, when everyone goes crazy over pumpkin! You didn’t think I’d let fall go by without getting in on the pumpkin craze, did you?
I’m a huge fan of autumn. Crisp cool air, colourful leaves, a warm tea and a pumpkin treat in hand, what’s not to love?
If you’ve been following me for awhile you know I’m also a huge fan of treat recipes that are simultaneously healing like these Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice Bites!
Why I Love This Recipe
Easy to make
Throw ingredients in a blender, blend and roll into balls. No baking required!
Well balanced snack
Includes healthy fat from the coconut oil, protein from the collagen, and resistant starch from the tigernut flour. All ingredients that will prevent blood sugar spikes!
Coconut fibre free
Coconut is a great substitute but it can also cause digestive upset in some sensitive folks. I know for myself I can only handle so much coconut fiber. So I’m loving that the only coconut product this recipe contains is coconut oil, which is usually well tolerated even in those who don’t tolerate the fiber.
Great for kids
These pumpkin spice bites are great as school snacks since they are completely nut free. Note: my kids preferred them without the flaked sea salt.
On the go snack
Make ahead, store in fridge and grab when you need a quick snack!

Yield: 12 servings
Salted Caramel Pumpkin Spice Bites (AIP/Paleo)
5 minutes
5 minutes
10 minutes
These salted caramel pumpkin spice bites are no-bake, paleo, and completely AIP compliant! They also make a well balanced snack as they include both healthy fat and collagen protein!
Ingredients
- 6 medjool dates, pits removed
-
1/2 cup tigernut flour
-
1/2 cup collagen
-
1/2 cup coconut oil
-
2 tbsp pumpkin purée
-
1 tsp cinnamon
-
1/2 tsp ginger
-
1/2 tsp mace
- sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender or food processor. I used the vitamix.
- Process until texture is sandy.
- Scoop by the tablespoon and form into balls. *If its too sticky to handle, pace in fridge for 20-30 minutes.
- Place balls on a parchment lined dish.
- Place flaked sea salt on top of balls.
- Refrigerate until firm. Approx 45-60 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Store in refrigerator in glass container.

These look awesome! I love the flavor mace gives.
Thanks Gretchen! While developing the recipe, I first left the mace out, but it was just missing something. I heart the flavour as well 🙂
Can I use something else besides tiger it flour?
I’ve only made the recipe with tigernut flour. However, I’m thinking coconut flour or banana flour may be a good substitute. You may have to adjust the amount slightly or add a bit more oil. Let me know how it turns out if you try!
I am wondering about cassava flour but I don’t have much experience with it. I am looking up AIP recipes like crazy because my huband is going to do it for a while to see what might be giving him so many gut issues.
hmm I wouldn’t use cassava flour in this recipe since I don’t think it would be good to eat raw. Good luck to your hubby on the transition to AIP. He’s so lucky to have a supportive partner 🙂
Thank you for letting me know! I’m so new to all the flours, its overwhelming!
I think I will try some ground nuts as a substitute for the tigernut flour.
Of course, it should work great!
I am allergic to coconut. Do you think I can replace that with anything?
hmm I’ve only tried it with coconut oil. You could try avocado oil but my concern would be that it wouldn’t firm up as much as it does with the coconut oil, would still be tasty though. Maybe lard?
You could probably try tallow or lard.
Worth a try!
Approximately how many collagen balls does this recipe yield?
12 🙂 Thanks for asking, I will update the recipe to add!
If I use great lakes collagen, would it be the red casn or green Can? There are 2 varieties.
Green can! You want to use collagen not gelatin in this recipe. 🙂 I talk a little bit about the differences in this post: http://lichenpaleolovingaip.com/plantain-collagen-protein-pancakes-aippaleorefined-sugar-free/ if you’re interested.
Would Cassava Flour be an O.K. substitute for the Tiger Flour? Thanks!
Hi Carrie,
I have only tried tigernut flour in this recipe. I don’t think cassava would be a great substitute though. I would try coconut flour or banana flour instead.
Should dates be soaked in hot water, I never use them so just want to make sure
Not for this recipe! 🙂
these were DISGUSTING. They had a STRONG strong strong gelatin flavor, i used great laKES RED CAN… THEY r super dry and i just cant get over the gelatin flavor.. What a disappointment.
Oh Megan, the recipe calls for collagen NOT gelatin. If using Great lakes, the GREEN can is collagen. I would never use gelatin in a no bake recipe. Gelatin is meant to use in warm liquids, in baking as gelatin eggs, or to make gummy/jello recipes (my fave is this one: http://lichenpaleolovingaip.com/strawberry-lemonade-gummies-aippaleorefined-sugar-free/) I hope you’re able to make these with collagen and if so, please let me know what you think then 🙂
after i made this comment i saw that you mentioned green can. sigh 🙁 when i looked at the can it said collagen on the label so i thought i was in the clear. Bummer. If i can get my hands on some collagen i’ll definitely try again 🙂
I understand it can be confusing. I wrote a little about the difference of collagen and gelatin and I list the brands I trust in this post: http://lichenpaleolovingaip.com/plantain-collagen-protein-pancakes-aippaleorefined-sugar-free/ I use collagen often as you can probably tell with the all the collagen recipes I post! 🙂
Not a big fan of pumpkin spice – alternatives to use? Do you need the pumpkin for a particular reason?
You can omit the pumpkin, if you find it too dry, I would add a bit more coconut oil. As for changing the spices, totally up to you 🙂
Can I substitude the medjool sates with something else?
I have only tried this recipe with Dates… perhaps prunes, raisins, or dried apricots? Let me know if you give it a try!
Thanks, this is wonderful!!! Here are my substitutions of what I already had at home: roasted butternut squash, coconut flour, deglet noor dates, a little honey, some raw cocoa powder and vanilla — amazing flavor!
Unfortunately, my Ninja seems to have croaked in the middle of mixing this (( I finished with a simple hand-held mixer.
Oh no poor ninja! But glad you enjoyed them 🙂
Sooooo delicious! Thank you for this recipe Rebecca! Your website and recipes are a boon as I navigate life with autoimmune conditions (including LS). I haven’t commented til now, and it’s well past time that I let you know how much I appreciate what you’re doing.
Awe Amy, thank you so much! You made my day 🙂
Any thoughts about how these would freeze? I am not sure if the pumpkin would go weird after freezing.
I haven’t tried it but I think they would freeze fine. I would allow to defrost in the fridge or at room temp.
Thanks so much for this recipe. These went down a treat. I think mine were a bit oily but now I have a feel for the mixture I will definitely try again.
Oh so glad to hear you enjoyed them! 🙂
Hi Rebecca! I absolutely love this treat! I have them as part of my autoimmune protocal to add fat into my day.
I’m curious, would you happen to have a nutritional break down for this yummy goodness? I try to keep track of my macros and that info would be super helpful.
Thanks!!
Hi Maddie,
I plugged the recipe into the Carb Manager app, and it says each bite contains 9g Net carbs (12g total carbs), 10g fat, 4g protein. Hope this helps!
These are delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
oh so glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for commenting <3
These were so good!!! They taste like little pumpkin pies, and I absolutely love them!
Woohoo! SO happy you enjoyed them! 🙂
Have been doing AIP for about three weeks now and I can’t tell you enough how much better I feel and I LOVE your recipes! I was craving something sweet tonight and happened to have all the ingredients! These are AMAZING!!!! I topped mine with a tiny bit of unsweetened shredded coconut in addition to the flaky sea salt and they are just delicious! I was afraid that the “sugar/sweetness” would trigger food cravings (struggle with that a tiny bit) but I think the addition of the collagen and coconut oil offset any desire to binge because they are so satiating. Thanks again and I can’t wait to explore more of your recipes. I’ve dabbled with paleo for a long time but never felt all that great. AIP has been a life changer and I’m excited to start slowly reintroducing to see what works and what doesn’t.
Woohoo! So happy these were the perfect snack for you! I haven’t made them in awhile but I love your idea of the shredded coconut topping, I just may have to give it a go 🙂 Also YAY for feeling better with AIP, that’s amazing!
I can’t wait to try these and your other recipes too! My AIP journey has just started, glad I found you!
Oh yay I hope you enjoy the recipes! Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
Love these! I was looking for a way to use up some pumpkin when I didn’t need the entire can in another recipe. These are delicious!