3 Quick & Easy Honey Snacks That Are Packed With Nutrients
When you get that persistent sweet craving, how about you treat it with something that is super sweet, very delicious, highly nutritious and all-natural? Yes, I’m talking about honey; the world’s oldest sweetener and medicine.
Raw honey is packed with natural antioxidants, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and different phytochemicals that have many potential health benefits (1)(2). I’m not going to elaborate more on honey’s benefits here, but you are free to do your own research on it. I’m just going to share three of my favorite quick honey snacks or desserts that are so satisfying and easy to make. So, let’s get started!
1. Honey with Greek Yogurt
A combination of the healthiest natural sweetener (honey) and the healthiest form of dairy (yogurt) yields an irresistibly satisfying treat. I choose Greek yogurt, but this works with any other type of yogurt of your choice (non-fat, low-fat or full-fat) — even better when it’s vanilla-flavored.
There are different versions of this snack:
Version 1: This is the simplest and quickest one; just add a few tablespoons of honey on top of the yogurt and that’s it! You can also stir them together to make a homogeneous creamy mix.
Version 2: Want to spice it up a little bit? Add a dash of cinnamon powder and blend it in.
Version 3: Want something a little more filling and crunchy? Toss some raw walnuts (whole or crushed) on top or blend them in.
Version 4: How about making it a little more fruity? Just add some raisins and/or any other dried fruits you have at hand (berries, apricot, mango, etc.). Alternatively, add some juicy canned pineapple cut into small pieces.
2. Honey with Nuts
Health and fitness experts usually advise people to stay away from sugary and fatty foods, but I don’t think anyone would disagree that this crunchy treat has more benefits than harms! It’s true that nuts are loaded with fats, but it’s mostly the healthy type of fats; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (3).
Nuts on their own make a good snack, but not as good as when mixed with honey and a little bit of cinnamon! Here’s how I usually do it:
Toss some raw, whole (or crushed if you prefer) walnuts, almonds and pistachios in a small bowl. Add a few tablespoons (as much as suits you) of honey and some cinnamon powder and mix it all together until all the nuts are completely covered in cinnamon-infused honey.
Tip: I prefer to use raw nuts but you can use roasted nuts if that’s what you prefer. The cinnamon is optional but I personally love it! Eat it with a spoon or a fork, and better yet, with a cup of green tea.
Feel free to choose any and as many types of nuts as you’d like to go into this quick desert, such as walnuts, pecans, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, macadamia, Brazil nuts, and whatnot. You can also add some seeds like sunflower and pumpkin seeds.
Warning: Macadamia nuts are very addictive, and very expensive too! They are so dense and buttery, and mostly made up of fats. With about 75% fat content (4), they are especially cherished by keto dieters.
3. Honey with Apples
There are two ways you can make this; one is super fast and the other requires a few steps to prepare.
Quick Raw Version:
Slice up a seeded apple or two, toss in a bowl, drizzle with honey, and you’re good to go — simple but effectively tasty and nutritious!
Pan-Roasted Version:
When you’re not too busy or too lazy, this “softer” version is totally worthwhile. Follow these steps:
1. First, cut a couple of seeded apples into small cubes.
2. Melt about 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
3. When the butter is fully melted, add the apple cubes.
4. Add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (optional).
5. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon powder (optional).
6. Stir and saute for a few minutes until the apple pieces start browning.
7. Turn off the heat then add three tablespoons of honey and stir well.
Let it cool down a little bit and then enjoy! Makes a great topping for an ice cream too (you could also replace the apple cubes with banana slices for this purpose).
Tip: The next time you make dinner rolls, stuff a few of them with this pan-roasted apple delight before baking and see how it pans out!