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Best Easy Sweet & Salty Pumpkin Seed Trail Mix with Candy Corn

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This sweet & salty pumpkin seed trail mix with candy corn is a happy accident that turned into a favorite snack. Caramelized pumpkin seeds, crunchy pretzels, salted peanuts, and chewy candy corn come together in under 15 minutes for an irresistible treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt, plus a pinch for finishing
  • 1 cup mini pretzels
  • ½ cup salted roasted peanuts
  • 1 cup candy corn
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the pumpkin seeds: Measure out 1 cup of raw pumpkin seeds and set them aside. If they look dusty or have any debris, give them a quick rinse in a fine-mesh strainer and pat them completely dry with a clean kitchen towel.
  2. Melt the butter: Place your large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter and let it melt completely, swirling the pan occasionally. It should foam up a little—that’s good. (About 1 minute)
  3. Add the brown sugar: Once the butter is melted and foamy, sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of packed light brown sugar. Stir continuously with your wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves into the butter and the mixture looks like a smooth, bubbling caramel. (About 1-2 minutes)
  4. Toast the seeds: Pour the raw pumpkin seeds into the pan. Stir them constantly to coat every seed in that buttery brown sugar mixture. Keep the heat at medium and don’t walk away—the sugar can burn fast. Cook until they’re fragrant and slightly darkened, about 4-5 minutes.
  5. Season the seeds: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of sea salt over the seeds and stir one more time to distribute it evenly. Remove the pan from the heat immediately.
  6. Cool the seeds: Spread the caramelized pumpkin seeds onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. Let them cool completely—this takes about 10 minutes. They’ll crisp up as they cool.
  7. Combine everything: Once the seeds are cool, transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Add 1 cup of mini pretzels, ½ cup of salted roasted peanuts, and 1 cup of candy corn. Toss everything together gently with your hands or a spatula until evenly distributed.
  8. Finish with salt: Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt over the top and give it one last gentle toss.
  9. Serve or store: Transfer the trail mix to a serving bowl or an airtight container. It’s ready to eat right away, but the flavors actually get even better after an hour or two as everything settles together.

Notes

Don’t rush the caramelization—keep heat at medium and stir constantly. Cool seeds completely before mixing to prevent candy corn from melting. Adjust salt to taste. Double the batch for parties as it disappears fast.

Nutrition

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

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