Description
Sweet maple caramelizes this irresistible trail mix, blending crunchy nuts and seeds with subtle honey undertones. Hearty snacking becomes a delightful adventure when golden maple glaze coats each morsel, promising rich flavor in every handful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsps maple syrup
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup pecan halves
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- ½ cup dried cranberries or cherries
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (optional, add after baking)
Instructions
- Preparation: Calibrate the oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine Ingredients: Thoroughly blend almonds, pecans, seeds, and coconut in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring an even distribution of components.
- Create Coating: Whisk maple syrup, oil, cinnamon, and salt in a separate vessel until the mixture achieves a smooth, consistent texture.
- Merge and Coat: Drizzle the syrup mixture over the nut blend, gently stirring to guarantee uniform coverage of all ingredients.
- Roasting Process: Distribute the coated mixture across the prepared baking sheet in a uniform layer, allowing maximum heat exposure and crisp development.
- Baking Technique: Roast in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, pausing midway to rotate and promote even browning, until the mixture radiates a golden hue and releases an appetizing aromatic profile.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow the roasted trail mix to cool completely at room temperature, then gently fold in dried fruit and chocolate chips to introduce additional flavor complexity and textural contrast.
- Storage Protocol: Transfer the cooled trail mix to an airtight container, where it will maintain optimal freshness for up to two weeks when stored at ambient temperature.
Notes
- Stir the trail mix once during baking to ensure even roasting and prevent nuts from scorching, which can quickly turn the mix bitter.
- For extra crunch, let the trail mix cool completely on the baking sheet without stirring, allowing it to crisp up naturally.
- Swap ingredients freely – use gluten-free oats, replace nuts with seeds for nut allergies, or use sugar-free chocolate for low-sugar diets.
- Add delicate ingredients like chocolate chips and dried fruit after cooling to preserve their texture and prevent melting or over-drying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg