Description
Homemade caramel snack mix delivers a delightful blend of sweet and salty flavors. Crisp pretzels, toasted nuts, and caramel coating create an irresistible treat that will satisfy snack cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (946 ml/32 oz) rice Chex or corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups (420 g/14.8 oz) mini pretzels
- 2 cups (50 g/1.8 oz) popcorn (plain, air-popped)
- 1 cup (120 g/4.2 oz) mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, or cashews)
- ½ cup (113 g/4 oz) butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup (220 g/7.8 oz) brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¼ cup (60 ml/2 fl oz) light corn syrup or honey
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (85 g/3 oz) chocolate chips (milk or dark)
- ½ cup (85 g/3 oz) M&Ms or Reeses Pieces
- ½ cup (60 g/2.1 oz) dried cranberries or raisins
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Position oven rack to center and warm to 250F (120C), simultaneously lining a spacious baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal heat circulation.
- Ingredient Fusion: Thoroughly combine Chex cereal, pretzels, popcorn, and mixed nuts in a large mixing bowl, creating a robust foundational mixture with diverse textures and crunch.
- Caramel Creation: Melt butter in a saucepan, gradually introducing brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Simmer the mixture, stirring intermittently to prevent scorching and achieve a glossy, amber-hued sauce with rich depth.
- Flavor Enhancement: Remove caramel from heat, vigorously whisking in baking soda and vanilla extract, which triggers a dramatic foaming reaction and intensifies the overall taste profile.
- Coating Technique: Pour warm caramel over dry ingredients, employing a gentle folding motion to ensure comprehensive and uniform coverage of each ingredient morsel.
- Baking Process: Spread the caramel-coated mixture evenly across the prepared baking sheet, then place in preheated oven. Rotate and stir every 15 minutes to promote consistent caramelization and prevent burning.
- Cooling and Clustering: After 45 minutes, extract the snack mix and allow complete cooling at room temperature. Gently break into delectable clusters, maintaining a satisfying crunch.
- Optional Embellishment: Scatter chocolate chips or colorful M&Ms throughout the cooled mixture for an additional layer of indulgent flavor and visual appeal.
- Storage Strategy: Transfer to an airtight container, preserving freshness and crispness for up to one week – though its irresistible nature may challenge such longevity.
Notes
- Control Caramel Temperature: Watch closely while cooking caramel sauce to prevent burning, which can create bitter flavors and ruin the entire batch.
- Ensure Even Coating: Gently fold caramel sauce into dry ingredients using a spatula, guaranteeing each piece gets a uniform, delicious caramel layer without clumping.
- Prevent Sticky Aftermath: Let the mix cool completely before breaking into clusters, allowing caramel to set and prevent messy, stuck-together pieces.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap traditional ingredients with gluten-free pretzels, dairy-free butter, or swap nuts for seeds to accommodate different dietary restrictions while maintaining the recipe’s delicious essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg