Spiced Sunflower Seeds
Spiced sunflower seeds are the perfect inexpensive homemade snack!
Packed with flavor, these maple roasted sunflower seeds are the perfect nut free snack idea for kids or adults!
Naturally gluten free, vegan and paleo, you are going to want to have a batch of these spiced sunflower seeds at all times!
Why this recipe works
- Maple syrup, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and sunflower seeds make the best fall treat! This recipe is so easy to make, just stir and bake. And it’s ready in under 10 minutes!
- Easily double or triple this recipe, the spiced sunflower seeds will last 1-2 weeks on the counter in a well-sealed jar! But I promise you, the likely won’t last that long!
- Add to homemade trail mix, sprinkle in yogurt, oatmeal, or top your pancakes with these pumpkin spiced sunflower seeds! Or eat them by the handful, it’s your choice!
- Spiced sunflower seeds are the perfect solution to your kids nut-free lunches and snacks! This recipe can be adjusted based on your kids preferences (no pumpkin spice, less cinnamon).
Ingredients
- Shelled sunflower seeds
- Maple syrup
- Pumpkin spice
- Cinnamon
- Coconut oil (or avocado oil)
- Salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400F.
In a large bowl, add the sunflower seed, maple syrup, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, coconut oil (or avocado oil) and salt. Stir well to combine.
Add parchment paper, a silicone liner or foil to a pan for easy clean up. Spray with non-stick spray (I love avocado oil or coconut oil).
Add the spiced sunflower seeds and spread out the seeds out into a single layer.
Bake at 400F for 5 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool down at least 5-10 minutes before enjoying! You may notice the sunflower seeds will stick together as the maple syrup cools, just crumble them with your hand to break them apart.
What you need to make this recipe
- Extra Large Baking Sheet
- Silicone liner (makes transferring the seeds from the pan to the jar so easy)
- Weck Jars for storage
Top tips
- If you want these pumpkin pie spiced sunflower seeds to be sweet, increase the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons.
- Be sure to let these rest a few minutes before enjoying (they will burn your mouth right out of the oven).
- Change the flavor by using different spices. You can easily make these savory instead of sweet.
FAQs
What kind of sunflower seeds to use in this recipe?
This recipe calls for roasted shelled sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are very inexpensive (I get mine at Trader Joe’s for $1.99 per pound) but can also be bought in bulk bins (in stores like Sprouts, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, etc).
If you can only find raw shelled sunflower seeds, that’s ok! Check out the tips below on how to roast your own raw shelled sunflower seeds.
How to roast raw sunflower seeds (shelled)
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Add the sunflower seeds to a rimmed baking sheet.
- Spread the sunflower seeds out into a single layer and bake in the oven at 325F for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, check the seeds to see if they have started to brown.
- Continue to cook for 3-5 more minutes staying very close to the oven and using your nose to detect if the seeds start to smell done.
Benefits of eating sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are a great source of Vitamin E and are full of magnesium and copper!
Vitamin E protects cells against free radicals, and can help use make red blood cells which bring oxygen to your tissues and organs!
Sunflower seeds are also a great source of healthy fats and are a good source of protein as well!
How to enjoy
- Add them to your own homemade trail mix! Mix with chocolate chips, nuts, cereal or any of your favorite trail mix items!
- Sprinkle them on yogurt or smoothies
- Top sweet potato breakfast bowls for texture and crunch
- Add to pancakes or waffles for crunch
- Eat them straight out of the jar!
Other spices to add
You could make these spiced sunflower seeds savory as well! Just omit the maple syrup, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. Instead you can use:
- 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning
- 1 tablespoons of cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon curry powder + 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin powder
Substitutions
- Sunflower seeds: you could use pumpkin seeds, pecans or cashews (roast them the same way indicated above if raw).
- Maple syrup: if you don’t have maple syrup on hand, you could use date syrup, brown rice syrup or honey.
- Coconut oil: use avocado oil or even olive oil in a pinch.
- Pumpkin pie spice: simply double the cinnamon or use 3/4 tsp. cinnamon, 1/8 tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp nutmeg and small pinch cloves.
If you love this recipe, you should try
- Gingerbread Truffles
- Candied Mixed Nuts
- Homemade Vegan Granola
- Pumpkin Protein Bread
- Oat Flour Pumpkin Cookies
- Maple Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin Spice Maple Sunflower Seeds
Guided Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 tsp. pumpkin spice
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. melted coconut oil
- pinch of salt
- 1 cup roasted sunflower seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- In a bowl, combine the maple syrup, pumpkin spice, ground cinnamon, melted coconut oil and pinch of salt. .
- Add 1 cup of sunflower seeds and stir well.
- Place foil on the baking sheet and spray lightly with coconut oil.
- Add the sunflower seeds and spread out into a thin layer.
- Bake for 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool completely before enjoying!
Notes
- If you want these pumpkin pie spiced sunflower seeds to be sweet, increase the maple syrup to 2 tablespoons.
- Be sure to let these rest a few minutes before enjoying (they will burn your mouth right out of the oven).
- Change the flavor by using different spices. You can easily make these savory instead of sweet.
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Add the sunflower seeds to a rimmed baking sheet.
- Spread the sunflower seeds out into a single layer and bake in the oven at 325F for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, check the seeds to see if they have started to brown.
- Continue to cook for 3-5 more minutes staying very close to the oven and using your nose to detect if the seeds start to smell done.
Nutrition Information
Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in October of 2015, but was published again in October 2019 to include step by step directions, recipe notes and new photos.
I always forget about sunflower seeds! But too funny because I saw something like these at trader joes this week!
And ps: I’d be joining in on the fight for these I bet if I was there..looks amazing!
xo
These taste great! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Such a simple way to add a fall twist to sunflower seeds – LOVE IT! My husband has a sunflower seed habit and I bet he would love these.
Great snack! I’ve made a spicy version of pumpkin seeds but haven’t tried a pumpkin spice yum!
These sound amazing! There are these pumpkin spice pumpkin seeds at TJ… but homemade… wow. You might just be a genius :-)
maple anything! sign me up! i bet these are great in cookies
Yum, Sam! I bet these are so tasty. I want them on my salads!
So, I’m currently eating a salad with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice pumpkin seeds – I’m not afraid to admit I’m addicted to them :). However, I’ve some to enjoy sunflower seeds on my salad just as much, so you better believe I’m going to be making a batch of these! Gosh, they sound tasty!
i put sunflower seeds in my oatmeal every morning! i would totally love to make these since i love all things pumpkin spice and they would add such a nice touch to my oatmeal! :)
Such a great flavor combo! I love coconut oil and maple an everything. It feels like fall to me!
Mmmm I’ve never prepped my own sunflower seeds! Looks delish, Sam :)
I love that it’s sunflower seeds and not pumpkin seeds…but still pumpkin ;) Trickster and they look so yummy!!!
Yum! I just think maple syrup and coconut belong on everything.
Wow! These look super yummy and full of awesome flavors. Maple syrup addition sounds delish!
YUM. That is all.