Method for binding particulates to a snack base

A method of preparing a coated food product including individual coated snack pieces comprising the steps of:

• A. providing individual product base pieces;
• B. applying a slurry coating to an exterior surface of said product base pieces;
• and
• C. applying a dry set coating to said product base pieces thereby providing a substantially coated food product including individual coated snack pieces,
• wherein said dry set coating comprises both a dry set material having a particle size of 500 micrometers or less and particulates having a particle size of greater than 500 micrometers to about 5000 micrometers, and
• wherein a weight ratio of the product base pieces to the slurry coating is between 1:1 and 1.25:1 and a weight ratio of the product base pieces to the dry set coating is at least 2:1 and
• wherein the slurry coating is configured to reduce stickiness and reduce bridging between the individual coated snack pieces.