Description
These Vanilla Pumpkin Seed Clusters are a delightful and crunchy snack, perfectly sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar, and infused with pure vanilla extract. Roasted to golden perfection, these clusters make an excellent healthy treat or a crunchy topping for your breakfast bowls.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- ½ cup (about 64g) raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
- 2 tsp (10 ml) maple syrup
- 2 tsp (8 g) coconut sugar
- 1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract
- A small splash of boiled water (to thin syrup)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) to create an ideal roasting environment that crisps the pumpkin seed clusters without burning them.
- Prepare Syrup Mixture: In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix the maple syrup, coconut sugar, and vanilla extract until they form a thick paste. Gradually add a small splash of boiled water to thin it into a runny syrup to help coat the pumpkin seeds evenly.
- Coat Pumpkin Seeds: Add the raw pumpkin seeds to the syrup mixture and stir well to ensure every seed is evenly coated, which is essential for the clusters to stick together during baking.
- Form Clusters: Using a teaspoon, drop heaping spoonfuls of the coated seeds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Space the mounds apart so they do not merge while baking, preserving individual cluster shapes.
- Bake Clusters: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Watch carefully toward the end to catch the seeds turning a light golden brown without burning. Adjust time as needed, since oven temperatures may vary.
- Shape Clusters: Remove from oven and allow clusters to cool slightly. While still warm, press them firmly to help hold their shape as they cool and dry completely.
- Serve: Once fully cooled, enjoy these clusters as a standalone healthy snack or sprinkle them over cereal or yogurt for a crunchy flavor boost.
Notes
- Ensure the syrup is thin enough to coat the seeds evenly but not too runny to prevent spreading on the baking sheet.
- Do not overcrowd the baking sheet to maintain cluster shape and promote even baking.
- Store cooled clusters in an airtight container to keep them fresh and crunchy.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Adjust baking time slightly based on your oven’s heat distribution for best results.
