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Spiced Snack Mix
Transform your favorite pantry staples into a savory, crunchy treat with this customizable spiced snack mix. It is an excellent way to use up the last handfuls of pretzels, cereal, and nuts hiding in your cupboards. A simple coating of melted butter and savory seasonings brings everything together for a deeply flavorful bite. Whether you choose to bake it in the oven or crisp it up in the air fryer, the result is highly addictive. Serve this crowd-pleasing mix at your next casual gathering or keep a batch on hand for easy afternoon grazing.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (240 to 300g) crunchy mix-ins (see Super-Easy Flavor Combinations)
- ¾ cup (90g) raw nuts such as walnuts, pecans, cashews, and peanuts
- ¼ cup (½ stick/56g) unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- 1Gather your preferred seasoning blend to flavor the mix.
- 2For the oven method, preheat your oven to 275°F.
- 3For the air fryer method, lightly coat the basket with cooking spray and set it aside.
- 4Combine the crunchy mix-ins and raw nuts in a large bowl, then set the mixture aside.
- 5Melt the unsalted butter in a small pot over medium heat, then stir in the soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce along with your chosen seasoning blend.
- 6Continue stirring until any sugar in your seasoning dissolves completely, or simply remove the pot from the heat if using a sugar-free blend.
- 7Pour the warm butter mixture over the dry ingredients in the bowl, tossing thoroughly until every piece is evenly coated.
- 8If using the oven, spread the coated mixture into an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet.
- 9Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes, until the pieces appear dry and slightly darkened. Allow the mix to cool completely before serving.
- 10If using the air fryer, place the mixture into the prepared basket and cook at 250°F for 20 to 25 minutes. Shake the basket every 5 minutes until the mix is dry and toasted.
- 11Transfer the air-fried mix to a large baking sheet or bowl, letting it cool entirely before eating.
- 12Customize your crunchy base by mixing and matching ingredients like cereal squares, pretzel sticks, toasted oats, bagel chips, corn nuts, cheesy crackers, or even plantain chips.
- 13Store the finished snack mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- 14Experiment with different flavor combinations to create your perfect custom snack mix.