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This recipe for spiced pumpkin seed bites is a super fun and tasty way to spice up your snacks – and they’re especially great for seed cycling to help regulate your hormones. Pumpkin seeds are one of my favorite ways to get a little extra boost of protein – they’re super affordable and taste amazing roasted. And pairing them with warm spices takes it to another level. 

Last weekend I hosted a super fun women’s health event and we spent some time talking about seed cycling as a way to help balance your hormones. This week I’m sharing the recipes for the seed cycling snacks we got to sample over the weekend, and these spiced flax + pumpkin seed bites are to die for! 

What is Seed Cycling?

This is not the best place to do a deep dive, but I’ll give a quick summary: seed cycling is the protocol of consuming 1 Tablespoon of each pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds during your follicular phase (period to last day before ovulation), and 1 Tablespoon of each sesame seeds and sunflower seeds during your luteal phase (ovulation to last day before period) to help balance hormones. Although it is recommended for nearly all hormonal issues, it is especially helpful for those who are without periods (amenorrhea), without ovulation (anovulatory cycles), or with short luteal phases (Source).

We know enough to know we don’t know everything – and we don’t know all of the exact mechanisms of action, but research and clinical evidence show us that these seed lignans do have a very specific effect on the actions of sex steroids. Seed cycling is a great tool to have in your hormone balancing toolkit. You can learn more about seed cycling here! Whether you’re on hormonal birth control, having painful periods, trying to conceive, or simply interested in having easier cycles, I recommend giving it a try for 3 months. 

This is the first post in a 2-post series about seed cycling. You can check back to read the second post here: Unsweetened Tahini & Sunflower Seed Fudge (Seed Cycling)

Even if you’re not seed cycling, these spiced pumpkin seed bites are DELICIOUS. They’re pretty easy to toss together, and there’s no baking required. You can add collagen for extra protein, or maca for “calming energy,” which so many of us need. I would also recommend these for kiddos who need extra fat, fiber, and protein, but can’t have nuts. 

The recipe is really straightforward: grind the seeds into a coarse flour. 

Add wet ingredients and stir well.

Roll into balls. 

And enjoy! Personally, I think they’re a pretty balanced snack option, but you can also have them for breakfast. They’re fast, easy, and delicious. If I’m being honest, I think these were the most popular seed cycling recipes of the lot, so start here!

Paleo: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes

Spiced Flax & Pumpkin Seed Bites (Seed Cycling)

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• Author: Caitlin
• Prep Time: 12 mins
• Total Time: 12 mins
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

These delicious little spiced bites are a great way to increase your seed intake for seed cycling, or to boost your daily magnesium!

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup flaxseeds (or 3/4 cup ground)
• 3 Tablespoons coconut sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 pinch of ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2–4 Tablespoons water (as needed – for mixing)

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Instructions

1. If starting with whole flaxseeds, I recommend grinding them first and setting aside.
2. Add pumpkin seeds to food processor and blend until a somewhat coarse flour forms (you don’t want it TOO powdery). Combine with the remaining dry ingredients: ground flaxseeds, coconut sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and see salt.
3. Stir in the coconut oil and the vanilla. You will have a slightly dry dough, so add water as needed until you have a firm dough that sticks together.
4. Divide into approximately 16 or 32 balls (depending on size preference). For looks: press a pumpkin seed into the top of each bite! Store in the fridge or freezer.

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Notes

For seed cycling, divide into either 32 portions and consume two each day of your follicular phase, or into 16 large portions and consume one each day!

• Category: Snack, Dessert

Nutrition Label is for 16 Servings