Anna’s Favourite Cereal Snack Mix
Recipe from Set for the Holidays
Appetite for Random House, 2018
If you were to bring me this snack mix as a host gift during the holidays, I would welcome you with open arms. I love receiving cereal snack mixes, and while this recipe is my personal favourite, I do enjoy trying other people’s variations. Confession: when I make a batch of this recipe, I always tuck a little away for myself before the rest gets packaged up for gift-giving or putting out for a party.
Make Ahead: You can store the baked cereal mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks (but GOOD LUCK staying away from it that long—put a lock on it!)
Ingredients
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
- 2 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) dry hot sauce powder or hot sauce (optional)
- 4 to 5 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups (100 g) Shreddies
- 2 cups (50 g) Cheerios
- 2 cups (50 g) Crispix or other rice cereal
- 2 cups (100 g) pretzel twists or squares
- 1 cup (160 g) whole almonds
- 1 cup (150 g) unsalted peanuts
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
Step 2
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and whisk in the celery salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, cinnamon, hot sauce powder (or hot sauce) if using, and Worcestershire.
Step 3
Combine the cereals, pretzels, peanuts and almonds in a large mixing bowl and pour the spiced butter overtop. Toss well (using your hands is quickest and most effective) and then spread this mixture on the baking tray.
Step 4
Bake for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cereal browns a little. Let the mix cool on the tray on a wire rack. Scoop into an airtight container. If gifting, pack the mix into a cookie tin or a tall mason jar, along with a label and ribbon.
Helpful Hint: Vary the cereals depending on your tastes, but I do recommend using 3 types, each with a special feature. In my mix, the Shreddies are hearty and really hold the spice, the Crispix are light and crispy, and the Cheerios fill the corners and round out each bite. You can go nut-free by replacing the almonds and peanuts with more pretzels or a small snacking cracker.
Even More of a Treat: If you are making this mix for gift-giving, or to have on hand during the holidays, stir a handful of bite-sized chocolate candies (think M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces) into the cooled mix for a fun touch.
