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Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix with nuts, pretzels, and delicious sweet seasonings.

Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix

A delightful mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits with a sweet and spicy glaze that makes for the perfect quick snack.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Nuts and Crunchy Add-Ins
  • 3 cups mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts) and crunchy add-ins (pretzels, seeds, cereal) Choose a mix of nuts and crunchy snacks based on personal preference.
Dried Fruit
  • 1 cup dried fruit (dried cranberries, raisins, chopped dates, dried cherries, or banana chips) Add later if you want it softer.
Flavor Coating
  • 3 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp melted butter or neutral oil
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon Add more for a cozier flavor.
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional) Adds a deeper roasted taste.
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne Start small, you can always add more next time.
  • 3/4 tsp salt Essential for balancing flavors.
  • 1 tsp vanilla (optional) For a warmer sweet flavor.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 300 F.
  2. In a bowl, stir honey (or maple), melted butter, brown sugar, spices, and salt until it looks like a shiny glaze.
  3. Add the nuts and crunchy bits. Stir until everything looks coated.
  4. Spread it out on a sheet pan in one layer.
Baking
  1. Bake for about 18 to 22 minutes, stirring once halfway through so it does not clump too much.
  2. Let it cool completely. It gets crunchier as it cools, so do not judge it too early.
  3. Stir in dried fruit (and chocolate if using) after it is cool.

Notes

Let the mix cool fully before sealing it. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for about 1 to 2 weeks. In humid environments, add a piece of paper towel in the container to help protect the crunch.