Maple pumpkin trail mix recipe is salty, spicy, and sweet and is the perfect healthy homemade snack recipe for road trips or after-school activities
Who doesn't love a good trail mix? Especially one loaded with all the good goodies fall brings?
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To kick off the season of Pumpkin Spice All The Things!, I am sharing this autumn-flavored maple pumpkin trail mix recipe that's so good you'll keep a put it in your pocketbook, display it on your counter beside your coffee maker, tuck it under your bedside table, and stash it in a small plastic baggy in between your boobs.
Ok, I'm kinda sort of a little bit kidding about that last one there, but only kinda sorta.
Is it healthy?
I confess! It's healthier than Target trail mix that's loaded with all sorts of oils, candies, chocolates, and other delicious goodies. Don't get me wrong, they're delicious and indulgent, but they won't fuel your body like this homemade pumpkin trail mix will!
Also, if you're looking for an indulgent treat, make these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes instead.
Ingredients
Roasted pumpkin seeds, pecan halves, sliced almonds, and sunflower seeds are coated in a maple Syrup and pumpkin spice glaze and then tossed with dried fruits like apricots, golden raisins, and cranberries. Add in a few sweet indulgences if you'd like such as cinnamon chips or white chocolate chips.
What are cinnamon chips?
Cinnamon chips are a baking morsel like chocolate chips or butterscotch chips, but they taste like cinnamon! They used to be readily available in stores, but are now easier to find online. Buy them! You won't regret it!
Maple Pumpkin Fall Harvest Trail Mix
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅔ cup pecan halves
- ⅓ cup pepitas or roasted pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup sunflower seeds
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- ⅓ cup dried cherries
- ⅓ cup dried apricots
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- ⅓ cup cinnamon chips
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Set aside.
- Add maple syrup to a large sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat until just beginning to boil.
- Stir in pumpkin pie spice, salt, and nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts have caramelized and the syrup has reduced. About 3-5 minutes.
- Spread mixture in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet and let cool completely. The candied nuts will harden as they cool.
- Once hardened, and the cherries, apricots, raisins and cinnamon chips to the pan, and stir until ingredients are evenly distributed, breaking the candied nuts into clusters as needed.
- Store in an air-tight container.
- Enjoy!
Sarah says
This is the most delicious looking granola I have ever seen! Loving all the fall flavors. PS - I too am guilty of hoarding things in my bra - when you don't have pockets sometimes it just has to happen haha
Marisa Franca @ All Our Waya says
Great recipe for me to make for the grandsons. Thank you.
Leslie @ Bessie Bakes says
What a snackalicious trail mix recipe! I get so tired of the same old mixes at the store, which is why I never buy them. I love that you added maple syrup, apricots, and cherries. Adding these lovely dried fruits definitely brings lot a more flavor to the trail mix party!
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
This looks so yummy! I wish I would have stumbled on this recipe a few days ago. The Pope visited my home town, Philly, and I had to work the weekend as a visiting nurse. Of course we were short staffed and the traffic was INSANE, so I wanted to make some "super visiting nurse trail mix" to power me through the day. What I came I came up with wasn't nearly is delicious looking as this. Pinning for later!
Steph @ Steph in Thyme says
Oh how I love all the mixed textures and dried fruit in this mix. Fall snacking perfection!
Amber says
Yay! Thanks, Steph! The apricots and the cherries mixed with the cinnamon chips are out of this world!
Katalina @ Peas & Peonies says
That is one perfect snack to have on hand, might just whip it up for our flight to Paris in a few days.
Amber says
Let me know if you do and if it travels well! Stay safe, and I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Ciao Florentina says
Now this right here could live in my purse all fall long. yes please ! Delicious !
Amber says
My thoughts exactly! I plan to have it all season long 🙂
Hillary @ 918 Plate says
This would be perfect on the morning vanilla yogurt!
Amber says
Or pumpkin yogurt! I know what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow!
Platter Talk says
This fall treat looks perfect for mid-September/early-October and beyond; thanks for sharing!
Amber says
The flavors are so September/October although I'm pretty sure I'll be eating it all year long 🙂
molly kumar says
Love fall recipes and this looks so simple n healthy.
Amber says
Aren't fall recipes the best?!? I live for them.
WhitBit's Indian Kitchen says
How fun is this?!?!? SO perfect for fall!
Amber says
Thanks so much! The fall flavors are insane. It makes you want to cozy up in leggings and fuzzy boots!
Heather says
Perfection!! Trail mix is one of my favorites and I love the fall spin of ingredients!! I cant wait to try this!
Amber says
Thanks, Heather! Trail mix is my go to as well. I love it!
Oana @AdoreFoods says
Loving all the mixed flavors, textures in this fall harvest trail mix. I have to make it!
Amber says
Let me know if you do and how you like it!
Nancy says
Thank you so much! My hostess gift for Thanksgiving Day!
Amber says
Ooh! What a perfect idea! Hope they love it!
Lisa Roszler says
I just found this recipe on Pinterest and I. AM. SOLD. Yay for a new trail mix!
And then I read some of your blog. Mercy! I hope 2016 has been a better year for you!
I understand brain issues-- I have "extra tissue" (in the form of a chiari malformation) which leaves no space in my head for the inflammation that comes when I accidentally ingest glutens. (Then come the brainstem migraines, the ataxia, vertigo, visual disturbances, heart racing episodes, etc ad nauseum.) So I have to be super careful of what I eat... and this trail mix looks to be a welcome snacking addition.
Or addiction, as it may well turn out to be from the mere looks of it.Thanks! 🙂
Amber says
Oh, my goodness, Lisa! I hope you feel better soon! On top of brain issues, I've got a few other things going on. I'm currently recovering from knee surgery (my 2nd surgery since December!). I'm a mess, and my husband and I always joke that I'm a 85 yr old 35 yr old b/c I have so many medical issues. Thanks for stopping by, and I let me know how you like the trail mix!
Lisa says
Made this last week and been using it on top of Greek yogurt and this morning woke up to 34 degrees so I topped my oatmeal with it. Very tasty and gets you in the mood for fall!????
Amber says
Isn't fall the best?!? So, so, so happy you love the trail mix, Lisa!
Chris says
Can't wait to try this. Going through chemo and need healthy snacks when nothing else appeals to me. How do I store it and how long do you think it will last once stored? I don't have a lot of days between treatments that I feel well, so was thinking of making a large batch.
Amber says
Hi, Chris! I'm so sorry you're going through chemo, and I'm sending healing and healthy vibes your way. You can store this in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a week. Thanks so much for commenting, and let me know how you like the trail mix!
Kiki says
This recipe sounds yummy and I am going to make it asap! May I ask what cinnamon chips are? Thanks for the recipe! Love love love fall!
Amber says
Hi, Kiki! Cinnamon chips are made by Hershey's and they're just like chocolate chips, but they're cinnamon flavored. You can usually find them in the baking aisle around the fall season.
Sandy L. says
Hi, I loved this mix. I made it for out of town guests in early October for my daughter's wedding. I could not find cinnamon chips then and instead used butterscotch chips. The mix was tasty. I'm planning to make it again today to take to an office party!
Laura says
Made this tonight and the flavors are SO yummy. But wow, the seeds and nuts came out very sticky. Did I not cook the syrup long enough? Still eating it - but can't bag for my night stand. 😉
Laura says
Made this tonight and the flavors are SO yummy. But wow, the seeds and nuts came out very sticky. Did I not cook the syrup long enough? Still eating it - but can't bag for my night stand. 😉
Amber says
Hi, Laura! I'm sooooooooooooooo sorry for the delayed response! I totally meant to respond earlier, and I sincerely apologize. If the nuts and seeds came out very sticky then, no, the syrup was not cooked long enough. You want to cook and stir the syrup and nuts until the syrup has greatly reduced, or honestly nearly evaporated. It should all pull together tightly and stick together very well. then, when you spread them on the sheet and let them cool, they'll harden quite a bit. I hope this helps, and let me know if you make it again!
Patti says
Mine turned out way too sticky too,but very yummy! I just popped the sheet pan in the oven for a couple of minutes and viola! No more sticky!! Great snack for pre Thanksgiving dinner!!
Kari says
Have you ever added oatmeal to the nuts?
Stephanie says
How long does this keep for and does it need to be stored in the refrigerator? I am hoping to make it as a party favor and store in mason jars. Thanks!
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Amber says
It will keep for about a week or so...if you don't eat it all before then 😉
Lisa says
What are cinnamon chips?
Amber says
They're like chocolate chips. Hershey's makes them and they can usually be found on the baking aisle. They usually sell out SUPER quickly so it may be easier to just get them on Amazon.