Name: Air-Fryer Almond, Cherry, and Chocolate Trail Mix
Total time: 1 h 35 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons maple syrup; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon ground allspice; ¼ teaspoon table salt; 1½ cups (4½ ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats; ½ cup whole almonds; ½ cup unsweetened flaked coconut; ¼ cup raw pepitas; ½ cup unsweetened dried cherries; 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped coarse

Why This Recipe Works

The combination of oats, almonds, coconut, and crisp pepitas in this snack mix forms a pretty healthy base for the add-ins of dried cherries and dark chocolate. To tie everything together, we seasoned our mix with vanilla and allspice, plus a touch of salt to elevate the flavors. Store-bought trail mixes are often packed with sugar, but we were satisfied with a moderate amount of maple syrup, which helped to bind our oats and create clusters. We found that moving the oat mixture around during cooking caused small bits to fall through the basket, whereas a longer cooking time at a lower temperature produced an even, golden-brown color without stirring.

Before You Begin

Use pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup, here. You can substitute pistachios, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, or hazelnuts for the almonds and dried cranberries for the cherries. Do not substitute quick oats, instant oats, or steel-cut oats in this recipe. Make sure that the oat-nut mixture has cooled completely before adding the cherries and chocolate. This recipe can be easily doubled.

Instructions

Lightly spray air-fryer basket with vegetable oil spray. Whisk maple syrup, oil, vanilla, allspice, and salt together in large bowl. Stir in oats, almonds, coconut, and pepitas until all ingredients are evenly moistened. Scrape oat mixture into prepared basket and spread into even layer. Place basket into air fryer; set temperature to 300 degrees; and cook, without stirring, until oat-almond mixture is golden brown, 14 to 20 minutes.

Remove basket from air fryer and let oat-almond mixture cool completely, about 1 hour. Transfer mixture to clean large bowl, breaking up larger clusters, and stir in cherries and chocolate. Serve. (Trail mix can be stored in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.)