Crispy Caramelized Chex Mix

Crispy Caramelized Chex Mix

Brown sugar, butter, Chex...what more could you want?  This stuff is even more delicious than caramel corn; plus, you don't have to worry about the popcorn hulls sticking between your teeth and gums.  Eew.
Although I think I've developed an immunity to the addictiveness of this sweet & salty treat, most people who try it can't get enough, and then they go home and make some themselves because it's a very easy recipe.
I got this off of the Chex website, but since I printed this one out, they've changed it a little.  Of course, I made a few changes too.  I don't include M&Ms like they do, and I substitute some pretzels for some of the Chex, since I like sweet & salty things.  I also added nuts because I'm an adult now, and I can take it.  Any nuts work.  I've used macadamia nuts which was a successful addition, but today I used pecans because they were what I had.  


Crispy Caramelized Chex Mix
     --adapted from Chex website

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Corn Chex cereal*
• 6 cups Rice Chex cereal*
• 6 cups pretzels*
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups nuts (pecans and macadamia nuts are best)

Instructions:

Heat oven to 250°F. Spray a large roasting pan with no-stick cooking spray. (If you don't have a large roasting pan, you can use two cookie sheets or two 9 x 13 inch pans).  Place cereal, pretzels, and nuts in prepared pan.

Combine brown sugar, butter and syrup in 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a boil (8 to 9 minutes). Continue cooking, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add baking soda; mix well.

Pour syrup mixture over cereal; toss gently until well coated. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, or until coating is set. Cool and stir for 5-10 minutes, or until they don't stick together any more.  Store in an airtight container.
Makes about 18 cups

*In today's pics, I used 8 cups Rice Chex, 8 cups Corn Chex, 1 cup mini pretzels, 1 cup Mini Club Crackers, and 2 cups pecans.

This recipe makes a lot of Chex mix.