Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts Trail Mix

By Afton

Ingredients

• 3 cups nuts (I used 1 cup each of pecans, cashews, and almonds. All were raw and unsalted)
• 1 egg white from a large egg, whisked to frothy
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark is fine)
• 2 + teaspoons cinnamon (I used 1 tablespoon)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, optional and to taste
• 1 1/2 cups dried fruit (I used 3/4 cup each dried cranberries and dried cherries)
• 1 1/2 cups baking chips (I used 3/4 cup each semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips)

Details

Servings 5
Adapted from averiecooks.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper. Don't skip lining your baking sheet; set aside.

To a large bowl, add the nuts; set aside. I recommend using raw, unsalted nuts but if you can't find them, previously roasted/salted will likely work but monitor baking time and optional salt level.

In a small bowl, add the egg white, water, and whisk vigorously until very frothy, foamy, and bubbly, about 2 minutes by hand.

Pour egg mixture over the nuts and stir to coat.

Add the sugars, cinnamon, optional salt, and stir very well to coat evenly.

Turn nuts out onto to prepared baking sheet, spreading them in an even flat layer.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once midway through (I baked 28 minutes); don't overbake or nuts can burn. Coating may appear bubbly, possibly a bit runny and loose in the center of tray even when nuts are ready to be pulled from oven, but firms up dramatically as nuts cool.

Use your judgment and let your nose and eyes be your guide to doneness.

Allow nuts to cool on baking tray for at least 2 hours. Ideally, leave nuts on baking tray and exposed overnight as it helps them get extra crispy and crunchy.

When nuts are cooled completely, sprinkle the dried fruit and baking chips over nuts.

Use your hands to break apart large clusters and disperse fruit and baking chips throughout.

Transfer mix to airtight containers, jars, or baggies. Mix will keep airtight at room temperature for at least 1 month.