Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix + Video

by Lindsay Cotter · 11/18/2016

Pumpkin spice trail mix is one of my favorite fall crockpot recipes, and this trail mix is paleo and vegan friendly too! Great for holiday food gifts or for an easy healthy snack. Dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, cranberries, walnuts, pumpkin spice, and more. Smells and tastes amazing!

pumpkin spice trail mix in a mason jar, garnished with a raffia bow

There’s Christmas music playing everywhere and decorations out. And after reading Taylor’s cookie post, I realized there’s one and month and 9 days till Christmas. WHHHHHHAAAT!? I’m beginning to think we should move our Thanksgiving to October, like the Canadians.

You know, so we can all have more time for the shopping, cookie exchanges, parties, and not feel so rushed. Maybe? Yes? Everyone who agrees, say “I.” I!!!!!!

But let’s also be real. Our society moves at extremely fast pace. I will never keep up, and I’m okay with it. In fact, I’m just going to slow cook my way through life and holidays to enjoy the pumpkin spice and everything nice fragrance. Ohhh ahhh! Speaking of slow cooking (see what I did there?), I’ve got paleo pumpkin spice trail mix recipe that’s gonna POWER charge through till Christmas.

Remember the essential kitchen must haves? Well, the slow cooker is definitely an essential for entertaining and healthy holiday gift ideas. Ahhh, killing two birds with one stone here. YES!

So here’s the thing; you have two options.

Option One:

Make this slow cooker pumpkin spice trail mix for parties, holiday gifts, and Santa (as mentioned above).

Why? Because this trail mix is paleo and vegan friendly and there’s dark chocolate involved, which means you can PLEASE EVERYONE!

Option Two:

Make this slow cooker pumpkin spice trail mix, let the aroma fill your house, make a hot toddy, and cozy up with this snack bowl on the couch. Perhaps with a Holiday Movie Netflix marathon.

*Bonus option* –> Make 2 batches of slow cooker pumpkin spice trail mix and choose both options. There… problem solved.

In all honesty, the bonus option is the best way to go. You won’t be disappointed.

Also, did you know that this pumpkin spiced trail mix has health benefits to keep boost your mood during the holidays? Oh yes, more on that below.

But first, let’s shine some light on how EASY this edible DIY holiday gift is to make.

PLEASE NOTE –> I am NOT CRAFTY! Which is why I make food as my homemade gifts for friends and family. Then I stick it in a jar with a bow. BAM! Done! That’s one area I will never try to impress you with. Haha.

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix

Now, let me walk you through the simple steps to make this slow cooker pumpkin spice trail mix. It’s just as easy as my chunky monkey trail mix.

Things you will need:

cashews
walnuts
pecans
pumpkin seeds
cocoa nibs (optional)
dark chocolate
dried cranberries (without added sugar is best)
cinnamon
pumpkin spice
coconut oil, and
coconut sugar (or maple syrup)

Okay first you pick a variety of nuts and seeds. I chopped some pecans and added it in the mix with walnuts, cashew, and pumpkin seeds. Toss the nuts in coconut oil, spices, and bit of salt. I added extra cinnamon too. Always.

Then you place it in the slow cooker for 1 hr to 90 minutes. It comes out nice and “roasted” like!

Next, let your pumpkin spice trail mix cool on parchment paper.

Finally you add in your dark chocolate and naturally sweetened cranberries.

I told you this was ridiculously EASY!

Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix Nutrition

Now that you know how simple it is, can I tell you how ridiculously healthy these spices and nuts are? I will wrap it up in a “Nut Shell” for you. I just went there on the puns.

Cashew, walnuts, and pecans are the top healthiest nuts.
Pumpkin seeds are no different, but they aren’t a nut. You get this.
Each are high in magnesium, vitamin E, potassium, and zinc. Pumpkin seeds are highest in zinc. Cashews highest in magnesium. The real winner (and new proclaimed superfood) are the walnuts. Walnuts contain highest amount of Omega -3 fatty acids. Now, the cool thing about walnuts and omega-3 fatty acids is that they can help increase serotonin levels. Increase in serotonin levels can help combat depression.
The pumpkin spice (nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cinnamon) plus the coconut oil are ant-inflammatory foods that can keep your bodies immune system in check.

Plus, these real food ingredients can help fight oxidative stress. The stress that occurs within the body from say…traveling a bunch, too much processed food/sugar, and even too much physical stress. GASP! I could go on and on about oxidative stress but I’ll save that for a non holiday post. It might make you stressed reading it. LOL!

See? This is a MAGICAL HOLIDAY MOOD BOOSTING pumpkin spiced trail mix.

Video tutorial for making pumpkin spice trail mix – SO easy!

Let’s get to the recipe now.
I am pretty sure if you made it this far through my post, you deserve to eat the whole batch of paleo pumpkin spice trail mix, and you don’t have to share. I won’t judge.