Caramel Chex Mix
Servings 16
A healthier version of the traditional favorite, caramel Chex mix! Made with homemade caramel, the rest of the ingredients are completely adaptable.
Ingredients
- 2 cups wheat Chex cereal
- 2 cups rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups Crispix cereal
- 3 cups almonds pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts
- 2 cups pretzel sticks broken
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds raw
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup yogurt covered peanuts
- 1 cup flaked coconut
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cereal, nuts and seeds.
- In a heavy bottom saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, and light corn syrup and stir until melted. Bring the mixture to a boil and allow it to boil for 1 minute. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the baking soda until a caramel begins to form (will be foamy and thick).
- Immediately pour the caramel over the cereal mixture and stir it all until everything is mostly coated. Divide the mixture among two 11x7 pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Place the pans into a preheated 200˚ F oven and bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes for a total of 4 times. During each 15-minute stirring, switch the pans (top or bottom) so that they both can have an even bake.
- At the end of baking, remove the pans and allow the mix to completely cool. Then add in remaining ingredients.
- Store caramel Chex mix in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Gluten-Free: To make it gluten-free, substitute the pretzel sticks for more cereal or nuts.
Raw Nuts: If you are using untoasted or raw nuts, toast the nuts first at 325˚ F for 5 minutes before adding it to main mixture.
Unsalted Nuts: If you are using unsalted nuts, add ¼ teaspoon of salt per cup of nuts. When ready, mix all of it into a large bowl and set it aside.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice | Calories: 646kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 481mg | Potassium: 727mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 639IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 16mg