These delicious cashew clusters were actually invented by my daughter. While we were snacking on some Trader Joe’s Sesame Cashews she said, “Mom, these would be better if they were rolled in hemp seeds instead of sesame seeds.” And that was it. We ran straight to the kitchen determined to come up with a honey cashew cluster that featured the delicious superfood hemp.

My daughter and I recipe tested until we came up with the perfect cashew cluster that was refined sugar free and delicious. We used a blend of honey and maple syrup as the base. Melted in some butter and added a few extras: cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Then we roasted them in the oven, stirring every 5 minutes until the syrup was thick and deep brown. Pulled them out, tossed them in hemp and some coconut sugar and let them cool.

And a star was born.

They are a delicious after school snack and they make great holiday gifts this time of year!

All About Hemp Seeds

Do you eat hemp seeds? My family loves them and they are loaded in nutrients. Hemp seeds are about 30% fat and 25% protein and high in potassium, sodium, vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc and calcium. They are especially rich in the fatty acids linoleic acid, alpha-linoleic acid and gamma-linoleic acid which have been linked to several health benefits. In fact, hemp seed oil has been used in Chinese Medicine for at least 3,000 years. Hemp products come from the same plant as marijuana, the Cannibus Sativa plant, but are not altered or bred for high levels of THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana). In fact, hemp products have negligible amounts of THC if they are extracted properly. In order to be legal in the United States, hemp products have to have less than 0.3% THC and hemp seeds usually have less than 0.1% THC. If you want to make sure yours are THC free, look for brands that are third party tested.

Evidence Based Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are heart protective
Can improve cholesterol levels
Reduces blood pressure
Protective against neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia
Reduces inflammation and neuroinflammation in the body
Reduces oxidative stress
Potential treatment in autoimmune conditions
Improves skin health
Reduces symptoms of PMS
Reduces symptoms of menopause
Relieve constipation
A complete plant source of protein
High in vitamins and minerals
A good source of healthy fatty acids

These delicious nutty seeds are perfect in these delicoius cashew clusters which is are refined sugar free, gluten free, grain free and loaded with nutrients.

Are you eating hemp? Let me know in the comments!

Honey Hemp Cashew Clusters

The perfect snack or holiday gift idea!

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Total Time 25

Course Snack

Ingredients

1 lb raw organic cashews
2 tbs grass fed butter I used Kerrygold
2 tbs honey
2 tbs maple syrup
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
2 tbs organic hemp hearts
2 tbs coconut sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in honey, maple syrup, salt, cinnamon and vanilla.
Spread cashews over a piece of parchment paper lined on a baking sheet.
Pour melted mixture over the cashews and toss until well coated.
Bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Take out and stir well. Return to oven. Do this for a total of 3 times (15 minutes). The sauce should be deep brown, thick and sticky.
Remove from oven and work quickly. Toss in a bowl with hemp hearts and coconut sugar. Spread out on a new piece of parchment paper in a single layer and let cool. Break into clusters. Store in an airtight container.