Vampire Bite Trail Mix Recipe

As a recipe-obsessed food blogger, I dreamed up a Vampire Snack that pairs candied cranberries, dark chocolate fangs, toasted nuts, and a single unexpected spice to make this Halloween trail mix stand out.

I love messing with snacks, and this Vampire Bite Trail Mix is one of those slightly naughty ideas that actually works. I tossed crunchy mini pretzels with bright red candy coated chocolates so every handful looks like a little horror scene, then tucked in gummy vampire fangs for that silly gross factor.

It’s legit one of my favorite Spooky Trail Mix Ideas and yeah it doubles as a perfect Vampire Snack for a late night scary movie. Youll get curious looks, laughs, and maybe a few dramatic squeals, and thats exactly the point when Halloween rolls around.

Ingredients

• Mini pretzels: Crunchy and salty, mostly carbs, adds great texture to the mix.
• Roasted salted peanuts: Good protein and healthy fats, but can be high in sodium.
• Roasted salted almonds: High in fiber and monounsaturated fats, filling and nutrient dense.
• Red candy coated chocolates: Pure sugar, very sweet, bright color, kids love the pop.
• Semi sweet chocolate chips: Adds chocolate depth and slight bitterness, brings cocoa flavor.
• Dried cranberries: Tart chewy bits, give fiber and antioxidants, but often sugared.
• Gummy vampire fangs: Chewy novelty candy, pure sugar, adds spooky shape and texture.
• Mini marshmallows: Soft and airy, mostly sugar, mellow the chocolate and candy sweetness.

Ingredient Quantities

• 2 cups mini pretzels
• 1 1/2 cups roasted salted peanuts
• 1 cup roasted salted almonds
• 1 1/2 cups red candy coated chocolates like M&M’s
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup gummy vampire fangs or gummy worms
• 1/2 cup candy eyeballs
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

How to Make this

1. Grab a very large bowl and dump in 2 cups mini pretzels, 1 1/2 cups roasted salted peanuts and 1 cup roasted salted almonds.

2. Add 1 1/2 cups red candy coated chocolates, 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup white chocolate chips.

3. Toss in 1 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup gummy vampire fangs or gummy worms, 1/2 cup candy eyeballs and 1 cup mini marshmallows.

4. Use a large wooden spoon or clean hands to gently fold everything together, tossing from the bottom up so the candies don’t get crushed.

5. If your kitchen is warm or the chocolate looks soft, pop the bowl in the fridge for 8 to 10 minutes before adding the candy eyes and marshmallows so nothing melts.

6. Keep some gummy fangs and eyeballs back and press them on top after mixing for a spooky look, it makes the mix way more fun to grab.

7. Give it a quick taste and adjust: add a few more pretzels if you want more crunch, or extra cranberries if you want it fruitier.

8. Spread the mix on a parchment lined baking sheet for a minute to cool and give it one last gentle stir to evenly distribute everything.

9. Portion into airtight containers or small treat bags for handing out, and press a couple of reserved gummies or eyeballs on the outside so people see the theme.

10. Store at room temp in an airtight container for best texture about 3 to 5 days, or keep cool if you need longer; if you plan to store more than a few days add marshmallows just before serving so they stay soft.

Equipment Needed

1. Very large mixing bowl, big enough to toss everything without spills
2. Measuring cups (2 cup, 1 cup, 1/2 cup)
3. Large wooden spoon or clean hands for folding gently
4. Rimmed baking sheet plus parchment paper for cooling
5. Spatula or bench scraper to spread and give a last gentle stir
6. Small bowl or spoon to hold the reserved gummies and eyeballs
7. Refrigerator (for a quick chill if the chocolate gets soft)
8. Airtight containers or small treat bags for storing and portioning

FAQ

Vampire Bite Trail Mix Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Mini pretzels: Chex cereal (rice or corn) for that salty crunch, goldfish crackers for a kid friendly swap, or roasted chickpeas for extra protein and crunch.
• Roasted salted peanuts: roasted salted cashews, dry roasted almonds, sunflower seeds or pepitas if someone has a nut allergy.
• Red candy coated chocolates like M&M’s: red jelly beans for color, dried cherries for tart chew, red Skittles or broken red candy melts if you want candy pieces instead of chocolates.
• Gummy vampire fangs or gummy worms: gummy bears, sour gummy bats, Swedish Fish or fruit snacks for less sticky options.

Pro Tips

1) If your kitchen is warm, chill the big bowl for 8 to 10 minutes before you add the marshmallows and candy eyes so nothing melts, but dont leave it in there forever or the nuts and pretzels will sweat and get soggy.

2) Add the marshmallows and eyeballs last and save a few gummies to press on top for looks, it makes the mix way more fun to grab. If you need to store it for longer, pack the marshmallows separately so they stay soft.

3) Fold VERY gently from the bottom up with a big spoon or clean hands so the gummies and candies dont get crushed, if you stir too hard the gummies shred and the chocolate chips can crumble everywhere.

4) Taste and tweak: toss in a few more pretzels for crunch or extra dried cranberries for tang, and when bagging press a couple eyeballs or fangs on the outside so people see the theme right away, it gets handed out faster.