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Light & Sweet Candy Corn Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix

light & sweet candy corn pumpkin seed trail mix - featured image
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A quick and easy fall snack that perfectly balances salty and sweet with crunchy roasted pumpkin seeds and soft, chewy candy corn. This crowd-pleasing trail mix comes together in under 15 minutes and is perfect for Halloween parties, cozy movie nights, or any autumn gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 1 cup candy corn
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt, plus a pinch for finishing
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and honey together, stirring until combined, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. Let cool for a minute.
  3. Place the raw pumpkin seeds in a large mixing bowl. Pour the butter-honey mixture over the seeds and toss well until every seed is coated.
  4. Spread the coated pumpkin seeds in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the ½ teaspoon of sea salt evenly over the seeds.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. After 5 minutes, pull the pan out, stir the seeds, and spread them back out.
  6. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle the candy corn over the hot seeds. Do not stir yet. Let the candy corn sit on top for 2 minutes to soften.
  7. After 2 minutes, gently stir the candy corn into the seed mixture. If adding dried cranberries, stir them in now.
  8. Let the trail mix cool completely on the baking sheet, about 20-30 minutes.
  9. Once completely cool, break up any large clumps with your fingers. Transfer to a serving bowl or airtight container. Sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt right before serving.

Notes

Do not over-toast the seeds; they go from golden to burnt quickly. Let the candy corn soften on the hot seeds for exactly 2 minutes before stirring. Use a light hand with the honey to keep the seeds crunchy. For best texture, let the trail mix cool completely before storing. The mix tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: trail mix, candy corn, pumpkin seeds, fall snack, Halloween snack, easy snack, sweet and salty

Find it online: https://cookyep.com/light-and-sweet-candy-corn-pumpkin-seed-trail-mix-easy-fall-snack/