Roasted Chickpea Trail Mix

15  ounces		low sodium chickpeas — rinsed and drained
1/2  tablespoon		coconut oil — melted
1/2  tablespoon		pure maple syrup
1/2  teaspoon		ground cinnamon
1/2  teaspoon		kosher salt
1/8  teaspoon		smoked paprika — optional
1/4  cup		raw pumpkin seeds — pepitas
1/4  cup		raw almonds — or pecan halves
1/3  cup		dried cherries
1/4  cup		dark chocolate chips

Tip: For nutritional information on all the ingredients in Roasted Chickpea Trail Mix just click on each ingredient name. Then adjust the serving size for any Roasted Chickpea Trail Mix ingredient with the serving size tool in the nutrition facts area to the right to see how you can save calories, carbs and more.

Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Lay the chickpeas on a double layer of paper towels and dry them as much as you can, changing out the towels as needed. Remove any skins that come loose (no need to get them all). Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. (Do not be tempted to add anything to the chickpeas. Starting them out in the oven plain helps them become extra crispy!).

Remove the chickpeas from the oven and drizzle with the coconut oil and maple syrup. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, salt, and smoked paprika. Toss to evenly coat (the pan will be hot—be careful!—let cool a few minutes as needed), then return the chickpeas to the oven for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven once more and give it a little shake to rotate the chickpeas. Add the pepitas and almonds to the pan in a single layer. Continue baking until the nuts are toasty and the chickpeas are brown and crisp, about 8 to 10 additional minutes. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely.

Once the chickpeas and nuts are cool, add them to a serving bowl. Stir in the dried cherries and dark chocolate chips. Divide into desired portions and store for later or munch immediately!

Recipe Notes
Store for up to 1 week in an airtight container at room temperature. If you use a ziptop bag, the chickpeas will soften but will still be delicious. If you’d like to keep them extra super crispy, try a parchment paper bag like these or these.

I do not recommend freezing this recipe, as the chickpeas and nuts become soft.