Spicy Party Mix is a fabulous appetizer and a great healthy snack for kids. For adults, it goes really well with a cocktail; for children it’s the perfect replacement for Chex Party Mix.
Ever since the boys were little we’ve been visiting a resort in Mexico called Palmilla. It’s an old time place in San Jose del Cabo, one where Sinatra and his friends used to hang out and it’s gorgeous. This year is the first year that we have not gone to Pamilla. It’s closed until spring 2015 due to Hurricane Odile which destroyed parts of Baja California. From the news reports we saw it looked like utter devastation. They have our prayers in rebuilding entire towns.
On one of our visits to Palmilla, the hotel served a cocktail snack that was a mixture of nuts, dried fruit, and chili powder. I knew I’d have to make my own version of this sweet and salty snack for my family so we could eat it all year round. I hope y’all like it as much as we do. But beware! It’s addictive!
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground chipotle
- 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 cup golden raisins
- Place nuts in a large bowl and toss with oil
- Sprinkle chili, chipotle, and salt over nuts, tossing to incorporate
- Spread on a large baking sheet
- Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes
- Remove from oven and cool, then toss in raisins
- Serve
This fabulous Paleo snack recipe is equally wonderful for a festive New Year’s Eve cocktail party or to take in the car on a cross country journey. I haven’t tried making it with other combinations of nuts and fruits, but if you do please share your versions with us in the comments section below!
Catherine says
Haven’t tried it yet, but I’m thinking of adding some instant coffe granules and a spoonful of cacao powder for a mole type flavor.
Elana says
Catherine, we’d love to hear how that turns out :-)
The Steaming Pot says
This looks heavenly! The hard bit for me is to find chipotle powder. Any alternative suggestions?
Denise Fountain says
I get mine at Penzey’s (online or stores if you’re lucky to live near one). McCormick has a Chipotle Chile Pepper that is in supermarkets.
Jennifer says
Since it is the holiday season, I like to sub 1/2 the raisins for dried cranberries.
Elana says
Jennifer, that sounds amazing!
Tami p says
Delicious recipe!
Joanne says
I made your spicy party mix last night for a New Years snack, it was so easy to prepare and it was really addicting, I couldn’t stop eating it. Thank you for all your yummy recipes!!
Happy New Year!
Jessica says
Just made this substituting walnuts for pecans and dried cherries for the raisins. Accidentally put the fruit in the oven with the nuts, but it turned out fine. My batch needed a few minutes longer in the oven. Then I stirred in dairy free chocolate chips to half of the batch while it was still warm! Very delicious! Thank you!
Tanya says
I made this today & it was fantastic! I can’t have chipotle, so I substituted curry & sprinkled some tumeric in. I hate raisins, so I substituted organic dried cherries. This will be a regular at our house. The whole famy loved it!
AudreysApron says
Do you think it would work to leave the raisins out?
Pam Solomon says
Oh my! This looks so delicious!
Irene smith says
Thanks, will try
Irene smith says
I have purchased Celtic sea salt, but neglected to specify “fine” , can you advise me how to make it ” fine” myself?
Your bread recipes are so wonderful. Thanks for all of your knowledge, that you share with novices like me!
Thanks in advance for your suggestion.
mosesdj says
If you have a coffee grinder, you can use it to grind your coarse salt to fine…it works great!