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. Also try my seed crackers!
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. 😉
Jump to:
🧐 Why This Recipe Works
- It's quick, easy, and delicious!
- Homemade honey nut clusters make a wonderful, healthy snack!
- You can freeze some for later.
🍯 How to Make Honey Nut Clusters
Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.
Step 1: Mix the nuts, shredded coconut, and seeds in a bowl, then set aside.
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.
Baking Instructions
Step 5: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or longer if you prefer a crispier texture.
Step 6: Smear the melted chocolate chips over the nut clusters or leave intact.
If you're looking for other tasty snacks, be sure to check out this delicious sweet and salty popcorn recipe from Elisa at WhatTheFab.com!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
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.
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.
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.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- 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.
🍽 Related Recipes
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Seed and Nut Clusters
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)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.
- Mix the nuts, shredded coconut, and seeds in a bowl, then set aside.
- 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).
- Whisk egg whites in with the nuts and seeds. Add honey mixture and mix thoroughly to combine.
- 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.
- You can also bake the mixture into a thin layer and break into individual pieces once baked (see Seed Cracker recipe).
- If you are using the mini chocolate chips, add some on top of the mounds. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or longer if you prefer a crispier texture.
- Smear the melted chocolate chips over the nut clusters or leave as is.
Notes
- This seed and nut 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.
- In the place of Honey, you can use maple syrup, date molasses, or agave nectar.
- 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.
Shawndra says
Does the nutrition information breakdown include the chocolate chips in the recipe?
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Shawdra,
The nutrition info does include the mini chocolate chips. Thanks for the review!
Sarah says
Thank you so much for this! I used the recipe to make little chia, hemp, and flax seed clusters for our homemade trail mix! I piped tubes on to a try and then cut them into smaller pieces after baking. Perfection!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Sarah, You're welcome and I love your spin on the recipe!
val bird says
Top of the class - absolutely delicious . . .
Kathy Fisher says
What a great recipe. This is now my #1 healthy snack. I will never eat one of those health bars again - they taste like dirt. These are fabulous and healthy. And, the tiny chocolate chips on top make it perfect.
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kathy! I'm glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Rachel says
Hi,
Why is there egg whites in it amd do i need to add them in
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Rahel,
I actually add the egg whites for a few reasons. One of the main reasons is to up the protein content. The egg whites also up bind the ingredients together and add some shine.I imagine you can leave them out, but I haven't done that yet. Let me know it goes!
Annette says
I forgot to put the rating. No doubt a 5 star for me.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you so much for coming back and leaving a star rating, you're the best!
Annette says
These are ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!! I usually wake up and eat 1/2 a granola bar and coffee. I’m switching to these instead. I love the variety of ways they can be made. I’m trying the Date Molasses next.
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Annette,
I'm very happy that you like them and really appreciate that you took the time to review the recipe, enjoy!
Kim says
Does this need to be refrigerated after making because of the egg in it?
Thanks!
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Kim,
Since they're getting baked, it's not necessary to refrigerate them. Mine usually don't last that long, but if you're planning to eat them at a slower pace, you could always refrigerate them.
Connie Poland says
Love these and they are healthy. The flavor is great
Great for a take along snack.
HildaSterner says
Hi Connie
Thank you so much for the review. I'm so glad you liked them. It was nice hanging out with you!
Connie Poland says
You and Scott also. We had a lovely time with fantastic food!