Healthy Honey Nut Clusters

Name: Healthy Seed and Nut Clusters
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: ½ cup almonds; ⅓ cup cashews; ¾ cup shredded coconut ((unsweetened)); ¼ cup pumpkin seeds; ¼ cup sunflower seeds; 2 tablespoons sesame seeds; 2 tablespoons chia seeds; ¼ cup honey; 1 tablespoon water ((if needed)); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 egg whites; ½ teaspoon cardamom; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ((optional)); 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips ((or more, optional))

Published: May 1, 2020 Updated: Dec 12, 2021 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 16 Comments

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These Healthy Honey Nut Clusters are not only super easy to prepare but are also addictingly delicious! A mixture of nuts, seeds, and spices, is combined with honey to make these nutrition-dense morsels! If you would like them even sweeter, simply add chocolate.

Why This Recipe Works

So, as the quarantine continues, I find myself trying to use up ingredients in the pantry like I'm sure many of you are. A while back I had purchased some Coconut Clusters from Costco and they were amazing! So amazing that I thought, hey I can probably make something similar...

I rummaged through my pantry and found more ingredients than I really needed: almonds, cashews, shelled pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, sesame seeds, and chia seeds. All I needed now was something to bind them together.

Egg whites seemed like a good idea, but I also wanted something to add sweetness, like honey. Although my honey had crystalized, I added a few tablespoons of water to it and heated it over low heat. The honey's glorious, smooth texture magically reappeared. I also tried this recipe with homemade date syrup, equally delicious!

Of course, if you know me at all, you know that I had to add some spices as well. It should come as no surprise that I chose cardamom, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper, but don't worry, it was only a pinch of cayenne. The cayenne is totally optional!

Since the Healthy Honey Nut Clusters aren't as sweet as Scott would like (he has a fierce sweet tooth) I decided to sprinkle some of them with mini chocolate chips. And wouldn't you know it, those were the ones he preferred. 😉

How to Make This Recipe

Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.

Step 1: Mix the nuts, shredded coconut, and seeds in a bowl, then set aside.

seeds and nuts, and shredded coconut in a spotted bowl

Step 2: In a small saucepan, mix honey and water (if needed to smooth out the honey) and vanilla. Heat until smooth. Add cardamom, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne (if using).

Step 3: Whisk egg whites in with the nuts and seeds. Add honey mixture and mix thoroughly to combine.

Step 4: Using approximately one tablespoon portions, add mounds of the mixture onto two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats. Gently flatten the mounds with a spatula.

Optional Steps

Another option is to bake the mixture into a thin layer and break it into individual pieces once baked (see Seed Cracker recipe).

If you are using the mini chocolate chips, add some on top of the mounds.

unbaked nut clusters with mini chocolate chips on top of them

Baking Instructions

Step 5: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or longer if you prefer a crispier texture.

removing seed and nut cluster from a cooling rack

Step 6: Smear the melted chocolate chips over the nut clusters or leave intact.

Recipe FAQ's and Expert Tips

What are Nut Clusters?

These tasty clusters are made with a combination of nuts (and sometimes seeds) that are mixed with a sweetener, such as honey, to bind them together. The mixture is then baked in individual portions, or clusters, until crispy.

What nuts are found in nut clusters?

The type of nuts used really depends on the preference of the person preparing them. Although this recipe uses almonds, and cashews, you can just as easily include walnuts, peanuts, pecans, or pistachios.

If you use larger nuts, however, it's a good idea to chop them up first so that the clusters hold together better.

What sweeteners can be used in this recipe?

Besides honey, you can use other syrupy sweeteners to bind the nut and seed mixture together. Some of these sweeteners include maple syrup, date molasses, or agave nectar.

This Healthy Honey Clusters recipe is very flexible. You can mix and match ingredients. If you don't have sunflower seeds for example, just leave them out, or add some extra pumpkin seeds instead.
Although I used shredded unsweetened coconut, you can also use sweetened coconut, or flaked coconut (which I would have actually preferred).
The chocolate chips are optional. However, if you do want the nut clusters to be sweeter you can try adding white or dark chocolate chips, either in the mix or sprinkle them on top.
Storing the nut clusters in plastic bags or Tupperware will give them a soft texture while leaving them in the open air will crisp them up.

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Healthy Honey Nut Clusters

Why This Recipe Works