Spicy crunchy snack mix (Printable Version)
Crunchy mix of nuts, pretzels, and cereal coated in spicy seasoning with a bold flavor.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Mix
01 - 2 cups mini pretzels
02 - 1 cup roasted peanuts
03 - 1 cup roasted cashews
04 - 2 cups rice cereal squares (e.g., Chex)
05 - 1 cup corn cereal squares
06 - 1 cup cheese crackers
→ Seasoning
07 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce (adjust to taste)
10 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
13 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
14 - ½ teaspoon salt
15 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - Set the oven to 275°F and allow it to heat thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, add pretzels, roasted peanuts, cashews, rice cereal squares, corn cereal squares, and cheese crackers.
03 - Whisk together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until homogeneous.
04 - Pour the seasoning mixture over the dry blend and toss gently to ensure even coating.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer.
06 - Bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to promote uniform toasting.
07 - Remove from oven and allow the mix to cool completely before serving or storage in an airtight container.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour and impresses everyone without any fancy skills required.
- You can customize the heat level to match your mood or your guests' tolerance, making it endlessly adaptable.
02 -
- Those 15-minute stirs aren't optional—the edges brown faster than the middle, so you need to rotate everything to keep it even.
- Don't store it while it's still warm or the steam will make it soft and disappointing, so set a timer and actually wait.
03 -
- Use a spatula instead of your hands when tossing so you coat everything evenly without the seasoning sticking to your fingers.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper not to be fancy, but because cleanup matters when you're living your life.