A package comprising a measured dosage of snack food pellets 4 sealed within a packaging 2, the pellets comprising a starch-based matrix which is expandable when subjected to heat during a cooking process. The pellets may be shaped to include at least one substantially plainer surface. The pellets may be provided with perforations in at least one of the layers (22 figure 2). The pellets may also be formed shaped to form two adjacent layers that when expanded form a hollow three dimensional shape. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a plurality of expanded snack food pieces that comprises the steps of providing a plurality of heat expandable snack food pellets； providing a cooking apparatus which comprises a cooking chamber, a heater that supplies hot air and a fan mechanism that directs the hot air through vents into the cooking chamber； disposing the pellets into the cooking chamber； and cooking and expanding the pellets using hot air provided by the heater. Also, disclosed is a kit of parts for carrying out the method.
