Fruit-Nut Snack

This fruit-nut snack mix is about as simple as it gets: salted Spanish peanuts, seedless raisins, and chopped dates tossed together in a bowl. No baking, no coating, no added sugar. Just three ingredients with a balance of salty, sweet, and chewy that makes it dangerously easy to eat by the handful.

Spanish peanuts are the specific variety called for here, and they’re worth seeking out. They’re smaller and rounder than Virginia peanuts, with a reddish skin and a slightly more intense, nuttier flavor. The salt on them is the only seasoning this mix needs.

The dates add a caramel-like chewiness and natural sweetness that’s richer than the raisins alone. Chopping them into small pieces ensures they distribute evenly rather than clumping together at the bottom of the bowl.

This mix stores well in an airtight container for a couple of weeks, making it a solid grab-and-go option for lunchboxes, road trips, or desk drawers.

Kitchen Tips

• Use dry, plump raisins. If they’ve dried out and hardened, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes and pat dry before mixing
• Chop dates with a lightly oiled knife to prevent them from sticking to the blade
• Store in a sealed container at room temperature. Refrigerating makes the dates hard and the peanuts lose their crunch

Variations

• Trail mix upgrade: Add ½ cup of sunflower seeds and ¼ cup of dried cranberries for more variety
• Chocolate version: Toss in ½ cup of dark chocolate chips for a sweet-salty treat (add after any warm ingredients cool)