Novelty snacks and method of manufacture of same

A method for producing a snack comprising:

• supplying a combination of wet and dry ingredients having a variety of particulate forms and sizes, wherein the combination of wet and dry ingredients does not include grain;
• mixing the ingredients to a homogeneous blend to a non-cohesive loose mix of ingredients with a moisture level of 6 to 20% by weight;
• depositing a metered amount of a charge of the homogeneous blend into a sleeve including a forming chamber;
• compressing the charge between an anvil plug and an ultrasonic horn with a pressure ranging from 15 to 100 kg/cm2 by means of an actuator;
• and
• energizing the ultrasonic horn to cause the charge to be agglomerated into a desired shape having a different texture and hardness from the homogeneous blend, wherein a finished snack has a density ranging from 0.3 to 2.0 g/cm3.

A method for producing a snack comprising:

• supplying a combination of ingredients having a variety of particulate forms and sizes, wherein the combination of ingredients does not include grain;
• mixing the ingredients with a fluid to coat the surface of the various ingredients to a desired moisture level of 6 to 15% by weight and to a homogeneous blend having a first hardness and texture, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of water, a sugar solution, a fruit juice, and glycerin;
• depositing a metered amount of a charge of the homogeneous blend into a sleeve including a forming chamber;
• compressing the charge of ingredients between an anvil and an ultrasonic horn by means of an actuator;
• and
• energizing the ultrasonic horn to cause the charge to be agglomerated into a desired shape having a second hardness and texture different from the first hardness and texture.