The Best Gingerbread Snack Mix Recipe

We are officially entering the most magical month of the year, which is so much fun, but it can also be incredibly busy! I’m constantly looking for ways I can make things easier, life hacks even, and that includes recipes. Between my kids school work, after school activities and my meetings, things can get crazy. I have been searching for a quick and easy recipe I can whip up for snack time in the afternoons. We are in the busiest month of the year and I’ve been needing something yummy and festive that I can prep or make in record timing.

Snacks

When it comes to snacks I make for my kids, health is important. Of course, it’s not always easy to have a super healthy snack every single day. When life gets busy, easy is sometimes the most necessary route. But what if easy and healthy can go hand in hand this holiday season? As a busy mom of 3, I can promise you this recipe takes only 20 minutes of your time. It is packed with some great ingredients that I can fully stand behind.

Healthy Recipe

Of course, I tested this out myself before having my kids try it and I was obsessed! I have their approval and this is something that they have started asking for almost daily– which is no problem because it is such a quick snack to put together. Think trail mix, but holiday style! It’s a gingerbread snack mix with Quaker Life Cereal that will give you the energy you need in the afternoons for a quick pick me up and totally satisfy your taste buds! There’s something about warm gingerbread spices that make me so excited for the holiday season.

This is a healthier recipe so we will be skipping ingredients like dark brown sugar, a butter mixture and melted chocolate to swap out for this festive holiday snack mix. You’ll be shocked at the ease of use of these ingredients you most likely already have in your cabinet. While I love puppy chow and homemade chocolate chip cookies as much as the next person, this will be your new favorite holiday snack! It’s also easy entertaining make-ahead apps for holiday gatherings with items easily found in the snacks aisle of your grocery store.

Recommendations

We’re pausing on the gingersnap cookies for afternoon snacks and getting a prepared baking sheet ready with a large mixing spoon for this spice mixture and addictive snack mix. Feel free to add mini pretzel twists for an added even layer if you wish but we love the crunch this snack already has. Try it for a holiday movie marathon or holiday party and watch how much everyone enjoys it! My final recommendation is to add pecan halves and ground ginger if you like those flavors for a more holiday-focused taste.

Here’s what you’re going to need:

1 1/2 Cups of Coconut Flakes

1 Cup of Unsalted Pumpkin Seeds

2 Cups of Quaker Life Cinnamon Cereal

1 Cup of Dried, Unsweetened Cranberries

1 1/4 Cup of Shelled Pistachios

2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil

1/3 Cup of Honey

1/2 Tsp of Salt

1/2 Tsp of Almond Extract

3/4 Tsp of Cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a large roasting pan with parchment paper. Next, combine the coconut flakes, cranberries, pistachios, pumpkin seeds and cereal in the pan. In a small saucepan, melt together the coconut oil, honey, salt, almond extract and cinnamon to create the most delicious mixture. Once it’s all melted together, pour it over your mixture in the pan and toss it together so everything is coated evenly. Bake for 5 minutes, mix halfway through and then bake for another 6 minutes. Let it cool and then break it apart to enjoy!

Not only is this the tastiest holiday snack for your kids, but this makes a great gift to give to neighbors, friends, coworkers, anyone! Get a cute little holiday tin, put your mixture in and you have a sweet, yet healthy gift for the holidays!

This post was originally published December 7th, 2021*

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