Vampire Bite Trail Mix Recipe

I made a Vampire Snack that’s wickedly sweet, shockingly crunchy, and will haunt your snack bowl until you run out.

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I’m obsessed with this Vampire Bite Trail Mix because it tastes wild and I love the contrast of salty and sweet. I cram handfuls into my mouth while watching scary movie snacks and grinning like a little monster.

Red gummy candies hide like little bloody surprises among mini pretzels that snap and keep it from getting boring. But it’s not just sugar chaos; there’s a clever salty crunch that makes me come back for more.

I bring it to every Halloween Trail Mix Bar and people always ask for more. Messy, loud, ridiculous snack energy.

Try it and you’ll see.

Ingredients

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Salted roasted peanuts, crunchy and salty protein hit you’ll keep reaching for.
Roasted almonds, roughly chopped for extra crunch and a nutty bite.
Mini pretzels, broken into pieces for fun crunch and salty contrast.
Candy coated chocolate pieces, bright red and black for spooky pops.
Red gummy candies, chewy, playful texture like candy teeth or worms.
Candy-coated dark chocolate eyeballs, slightly bitter with cute creepy vibes.
White chocolate chips, sweet creaminess that softens the darker bits.
Yogurt covered raisins, tangy-sweet chew that feels a bit healthier.
Dried cranberries, tart chewiness that cuts through the sweetness.
Freeze-dried strawberries, lightly crushed for intense fruity bursts.
Red candy melts, glossy red color for extra “blood” flair.
Flaky sea salt, optional sprinkle to balance sweet and add crunch.
Cocoa powder, lightly dusted if you want it a bit spooky.

Ingredient Quantities

2 cups salted roasted peanuts

1 cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped

2 cups mini pretzels, broken into bite sized pieces

1 1/2 cups candy coated chocolate pieces (red and black if you can find em)

1 cup red gummy candies (gummy teeth or gummy worms work great)

1 cup candy-coated dark chocolate eyeballs or chocolate chips

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup yogurt covered raisins

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup freeze dried strawberries, lightly crushed

1/2 cup red candy melts or red baking chips, for extra “blood” color

1 tsp flaky sea salt, optional for balance

1 tbsp cocoa powder, lightly dusted if you want it a bit more spooky

How to Make this

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1. Line a large rimmed baking sheet or big bowl with parchment or wax paper and set aside so clean up is easy.

2. In a very large mixing bowl combine the 2 cups salted roasted peanuts, 1 cup roughly chopped roasted almonds, 2 cups broken mini pretzels, 1 cup yogurt covered raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup lightly crushed freeze dried strawberries; stir gently so the big pieces mix evenly.

3. Add the candy parts next: 1 1/2 cups candy coated chocolate pieces, 1 cup red gummy candies, 1 cup candy coated dark chocolate eyeballs or chocolate chips, 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup red candy melts or red baking chips (reserve a couple tablespoons of the red chips whole for visual pops if you want).

4. Melt the reserved 1/2 cup red candy melts: put them in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave in 15 to 20 second bursts, stirring between bursts, until smooth. If it looks grainy add a teaspoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil and stir to glossy.

5. Drizzle most of the melted red candy over the trail mix and toss gently so some clusters get coated; save a little of the red for decorative drizzles on top later. This gives that “blood” color and helps some pieces cling together.

6. Sprinkle the 1 tbsp cocoa powder over the mix and toss lightly to give a dusty spooky look, then taste and if you want balance sprinkle up to 1 tsp flaky sea salt and toss again.

7. If you like clusters, press some of the mixture lightly into a smaller pan or onto the baking sheet in clumps while the red candy is slightly tacky; if not just leave loose and mixed. Add the reserved whole red chips and a few extra gummy teeth or worms on top for fun.

8. Let the mixture sit at room temperature until the red candy sets, about 15 to 30 minutes, or pop it in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes to speed things up.

9. Break apart any large clumps, give a final stir to distribute colors, then transfer to an airtight container or individual bags for easy snacking.

10. Store at cool room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the fridge for up to a month. Give it a quick toss before serving because the red candy can settle into clumps. Enjoy, but watch out for vampire bite marks on your fingers.

Equipment Needed

1. Large rimmed baking sheet or big bowl (lined with parchment or wax paper)
2. Very large mixing bowl
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. Small microwave safe bowl (for melting the red candy melts)
5. Heatproof spatula or rubber scraper
6. Wooden spoon or long handle spoon for stirring
7. Small baking pan or additional baking sheet for forming clusters (optional)
8. Airtight container or resealable bags for storing leftovers

FAQ

How long will the Vampire Bite Trail Mix keep? It stays good for about 2 weeks at room temp in an airtight container, or up to 1 month in the fridge. If you live somewhere hot store it in the fridge so the chocolate and candy dont melt.

Can I make it nut free? Yes, swap the peanuts and almonds for extra pretzels, sunflower seeds, or roasted chickpeas. Double check candy and chocolate labels cause many are made on shared equipment with nuts.

How do I keep the red candy melts from bleeding onto lighter pieces? Let the candy melts cool and set fully before mixing, or toss them in briefly with other ingredients and then move to the fridge so they firm up. If candies are soft from heat, they will smear.

Any good substitutions for gummy candies or dried fruit? Sure, use sour belts, red M&M style pieces, dried cherries or tart apple chips. Just try to keep a mix of textures crunchy, chewy and a little salty.

How much does this recipe make? With the listed amounts you get about 8 to 10 cups, enough for 8 to 12 snack bags depending on portion size.

Can I make this ahead for a party? Absolutely, make it a day or two ahead for flavors to meld. Add the most delicate candies like gummy teeth right before serving if you want them extra fresh looking.

Vampire Bite Trail Mix Recipe Substitutions and Variations

2 cups salted roasted peanuts: swap for dry roasted cashews, shelled pistachios, or toasted sunflower seeds if you want something nut-free. They give the same crunch but different flavor, so taste and adjust salt.
1 1/2 cups candy coated chocolate pieces: use red M&M like candies, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds, or colored yogurt chips. If you can only find mixed colors, just pick out the reds to keep the vibe.
1 cup white chocolate chips: sub with vanilla candy melts, white almond bark, or coconut flakes for a lighter texture. White chips melt easier, so watch heat if you warm the mix.
1 cup red gummy candies: replace with red sour belts, strawberry gummy bears, or chopped fruit leather for chew and tartness. They won’t be exactly the same shape, but they bring the red pop you’re after.

Pro Tips

1) Balance the sweet and salty. Taste a small spoonful after you add the dried fruit and yogurt raisins, before you coat with red candy. If it feels too sweet, sprinkle just a pinch of the flaky sea salt and toss. Too salty? Add a few more dried cranberries or a handful extra of freeze dried strawberries to mellow it out.

2) For nicer clusters, work while the red candy is slightly tacky. Melt the red chips in short bursts and use a small bowl to drizzle, then press small handfuls onto the parchment sheet. If the candy firms up too fast, pop the tray in the fridge for 5 minutes to set the shape. If it gets grainy, stir in a teaspoon of neutral oil until glossy.

3) Keep crunchy bits crunchy. Don’t overmix once the melted candy touches the pretzels and nuts. Gently fold so you get even color but not total saturation. If any pieces go soggy later, grab them out and re-toast nuts or pretzels in a 300 F oven for 5 minutes and toss back in.

4) Presentation and storage hacks. Reserve a few whole red chips and some gummy teeth to press on top for instant spooky pops. Cool everything completely before sealing in airtight containers, and give the mix a quick stir before serving because the red candy tends to clump and settle. Store at cool room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks or in the fridge up to a month.

Recipe by Bob Jones

0.0 from 0 votes

I made a Vampire Snack that’s wickedly sweet, shockingly crunchy, and will haunt your snack bowl until you run out.

Servings

servings

Calories

658

kcal

Equipment: 1. Large rimmed baking sheet or big bowl (lined with parchment or wax paper)
2. Very large mixing bowl
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. Small microwave safe bowl (for melting the red candy melts)
5. Heatproof spatula or rubber scraper
6. Wooden spoon or long handle spoon for stirring
7. Small baking pan or additional baking sheet for forming clusters (optional)
8. Airtight container or resealable bags for storing leftovers

Ingredients

2 cups salted roasted peanuts
1 cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
2 cups mini pretzels, broken into bite sized pieces
1 1/2 cups candy coated chocolate pieces (red and black if you can find em)
1 cup red gummy candies (gummy teeth or gummy worms work great)
1 cup candy-coated dark chocolate eyeballs or chocolate chips
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup yogurt covered raisins
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup freeze dried strawberries, lightly crushed
1/2 cup red candy melts or red baking chips, for extra "blood" color
1 tsp flaky sea salt, optional for balance
1 tbsp cocoa powder, lightly dusted if you want it a bit more spooky

Directions

Line a large rimmed baking sheet or big bowl with parchment or wax paper and set aside so clean up is easy.
In a very large mixing bowl combine the 2 cups salted roasted peanuts, 1 cup roughly chopped roasted almonds, 2 cups broken mini pretzels, 1 cup yogurt covered raisins, 1 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup lightly crushed freeze dried strawberries; stir gently so the big pieces mix evenly.
Add the candy parts next: 1 1/2 cups candy coated chocolate pieces, 1 cup red gummy candies, 1 cup candy coated dark chocolate eyeballs or chocolate chips, 1 cup white chocolate chips and 1/2 cup red candy melts or red baking chips (reserve a couple tablespoons of the red chips whole for visual pops if you want).
Melt the reserved 1/2 cup red candy melts: put them in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave in 15 to 20 second bursts, stirring between bursts, until smooth. If it looks grainy add a teaspoon of vegetable oil or coconut oil and stir to glossy.
Drizzle most of the melted red candy over the trail mix and toss gently so some clusters get coated; save a little of the red for decorative drizzles on top later. This gives that "blood" color and helps some pieces cling together.
Sprinkle the 1 tbsp cocoa powder over the mix and toss lightly to give a dusty spooky look, then taste and if you want balance sprinkle up to 1 tsp flaky sea salt and toss again.
If you like clusters, press some of the mixture lightly into a smaller pan or onto the baking sheet in clumps while the red candy is slightly tacky; if not just leave loose and mixed. Add the reserved whole red chips and a few extra gummy teeth or worms on top for fun.
Let the mixture sit at room temperature until the red candy sets, about 15 to 30 minutes, or pop it in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes to speed things up.
Break apart any large clumps, give a final stir to distribute colors, then transfer to an airtight container or individual bags for easy snacking.
Store at cool room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the fridge for up to a month. Give it a quick toss before serving because the red candy can settle into clumps. Enjoy, but watch out for vampire bite marks on your fingers.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.