Happy New Year everyone!! I hope you had a fantastic holiday. For many of you the new year brings about new life goals. Whether your goals involve eating healthier or fitness this clean eating trail mix will certainly help keep you on track.
One of my goals for 2017 is to start tracking macros which will help me with me personal fitness goal. What is tracking Macros you say? Well tracking Macros means tracking the number of grams of protein, carbohydrates, and fats you consume on a particular day.
If you are like me I am a sucker for sweets. Cakes, Chocolate, cookies you name it and I like to indulge every once in a while. A great Macro snack to satisfy those cravings would be full of healthy fats, protein and fiber. You’re are probably thinking well Maple syrup is a high sugar source and you would be correct however, Pure Maple Syrup provides the sweet taste of sugar without affecting your glycemic index like refined white sugar plus contains some important antioxidants and minerals like zinc and manganese.
This trail mix is the perfect combination of sweet from the maple syrup to healthy fats, fiber and protein from the nuts. Making for a delicious juxtaposition of flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth without completely sabotaging your clean eating goals.
Here’s to a fantastic 2017!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/2 Cup Dried apricots
- 1/3 Cup Pure Maple syrup
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp Cloves
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/3 Cup Sliced Almonds
- 3/4 Cup Pecan Halves
- 1/3 Cup Pepitas
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium sized saucepan add the pecan halves, peptias and sliced almonds and the pure maple syrup.
Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts have started to caramelize and the syrup has reduced, about 6-8 minutes.
Add the cranberries, apricots, and raisins, and stir to mix evenly.
Spread mixture out into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet and allow to cool completely. I placed mine in the fridge to help harden.
Once hardened, break the mixture into clusters as needed.
Trail mix will still be a bit sticky so I like to store mine in the fridge on either a ziplock bag or glass storage dish.
- 1/2 Cup Cranberries, dried
- 1/2 Cup Dried apricots
- 1/3 Cup Maple syrup, pure
- 1 tsp Cinnamon, ground
- 1/8 tsp Cloves, ground
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg, ground
- 1/8 tsp Sea salt
- 1/3 Cup Sliced Almonds
- 3/4 Cup Pecan Halves
- 1/3 Cup Pepitas
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium sized saucepan add the pecan halves, peptias and sliced almonds and the pure maple syrup.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts have started to caramelize and the syrup has reduced, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the cranberries, apricots, and raisins, and stir to mix evenly.
- Spread mixture out into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet and allow to cool completely. I placed mine in the fridge to help harden.
- Once hardened, break the mixture into clusters as needed.
- Trail mix will still be a bit sticky so I like to store mine in the fridge on either a ziplock bag or glass storage dish.
I’m not counting macros, but this still looks good to me! I love a crunchy snack – and this is a little more exciting than the handful of nuts I usually eat in the afternoon!
Thanks Liz! I also like the fact that it is versatile. If you don’t like an ingredient substitute for a different nut or dried fruit!
These look like a tasty snack! I love maple syrup coated nuts – so delicious!
Thanks Sasha! They are super tasty, I have to limit myself otherwise I could eat a whole bowl!
So pretty, too!
Thank you Mikaela!