Maple cinnamon seed trail mix
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds toasted with maple and cinnamon, then tossed with raisins and tart cranberries, a vegan trail mix with no nuts in it at all.
- 35 min total
- 10 min hands-on
- Anyone can make this
- Serves 8
- About $0.85 a serving
- 260 calories
- Good the next day
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
Dolly says: Make the full amount. Whatever’s left keeps for tomorrow.
Ingredients
For 8 servings.
- 1 cup pepitas
- 1 cup sunflower seeds, shelled
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup dried cranberries
From your pantry
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
Each serving has about 260 calories, 9 g protein, 22 g carbs and 17 g fat, and costs about $0.85 at typical US grocery prices. Both are estimates from what the recipe uses.
Steps
Tap an underlined word for a quick explanation.
the oven to 325°F and line a with .
Preheat. Preheating means turning the oven on before you start, so it’s fully hot when the food goes in. Food that starts in a cold oven cooks unevenly and doesn’t brown the same.
How you’ll know: The oven beeps or its light clicks off, usually 10 to 15 minutes after you turn it on.
Sheet pan. A sheet pan is a flat metal baking tray with a low rim all the way around. The rim catches juices, and the wide surface lets food spread out and brown.
How you’ll know: Everything fits in one layer with a little space between the pieces.
Parchment paper. Parchment paper is a nonstick, oven-safe paper for lining pans. Food lifts right off and cleanup is easy, but don’t swap in wax paper or put parchment under the broiler.
How you’ll know: It lies flat in the pan, and the food slides off when you lift it.
the pepitas, sunflower seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl until every seed is glossy.
Stir. Stirring means moving food around with a spoon or spatula so it cooks evenly and doesn’t stick. Unless the recipe says constantly, every so often is plenty, and it gives food time to brown.
How you’ll know: When you drag the spoon across the bottom, nothing is sticking or scorching.
Spread the seeds on the pan in a thin, even layer.
10 to 12 minutes, once halfway, until the seeds smell toasty and the pepitas start to pop.
Bake. Baking means cooking in the oven with dry heat all around the food. It cooks evenly from every side, so you can mostly leave it alone.
How you’ll know: It’s golden on top and passes the recipe’s check, like a clean toothpick or the right temperature.
Stir. Stirring means moving food around with a spoon or spatula so it cooks evenly and doesn’t stick. Unless the recipe says constantly, every so often is plenty, and it gives food time to brown.
How you’ll know: When you drag the spoon across the bottom, nothing is sticking or scorching.
Timer: 11 min
Dolly’s tip: Seeds go from toasted to burnt fast. Pull them when they’re a shade darker and smell nutty.Let them cool completely on the pan, about 15 minutes, where they up into little clusters.
Crispy. Crispy means the outside is dry, firm and crunchy. It comes from high heat, a little oil and room in the pan, because crowded food steams and goes soft.
How you’ll know: It sounds crunchy when you tap or bite it, and it doesn’t flop when you lift it.
Timer: 15 min
Break up the clusters and them with the raisins and cranberries.
Toss. Tossing means gently lifting and turning food so everything gets coated, like pasta in sauce or vegetables in oil. It coats every piece evenly without mashing anything.
How you’ll know: Every piece looks glossy or evenly coated, with no dry spots hiding underneath.
Keep it in a sealed jar at for up to 2 weeks.
Room temperature. It means letting something sit out until it’s no longer fridge-cold, about 30 to 60 minutes for butter or eggs. It helps things blend smoothly, but never leave raw meat out over 2 hours.
How you’ll know: It feels cool, not cold, and butter dents easily when you press it.
Dolly’s tip: If it’s going somewhere nut-free, check the dried fruit bags for a “may contain nuts” line.
Plan this in Dollop, and get the grocery list
Dollop plans snacks along with the week’s dinners, puts what you need on the same grocery list, and walks you through each step.
