Description
Sweet and salty with plenty of crunch, this Candy Coated Crispix Mix is an addicting snack perfect for holiday sharing. Clusters of caramel-coated Crispix cereal, peanuts, and milk chocolate M&M’s create an irresistible munchable treat that’s easy to prepare and sure to be a hit.
Ingredients
Snack Mix
- 17 ounces Crispix cereal
- 2 cups salted dry roasted peanuts
Candy Coating
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix-ins
- 1 pound milk chocolate M&M’s (a little more than 2 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare: Preheat the oven to 200°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a very large bowl, mix the Crispix cereal and salted dry roasted peanuts. Set this aside while preparing the candy coating.
- Make candy coating: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the butter, brown sugar, light corn syrup, and salt. Cook while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for about 5 minutes until a smooth syrup forms.
- Add baking soda: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the baking soda. The mixture will foam up slightly. Quickly pour the foamy candy over the cereal and peanuts, gently stirring to distribute the coating evenly without crushing the cereal.
- Bake the coated mix: Spread the candy-coated cereal mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 200°F for 1 hour, stirring and turning the mix every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and drying.
- Cool and add M&M’s: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the snack mix to cool for 15 to 20 minutes, until cool enough to add the milk chocolate M&M’s without melting them.
- Store: Once mixed, store the Candy Coated Crispix Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness and crunch.
Notes
- You can use any M&M’s variety such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or pretzel; milk chocolate is recommended.
- Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of sweetened coconut flakes to the mix for extra texture and flavor.
- After cooling, drizzle melted white or dark chocolate over the mix and let it set for an extra indulgent touch.
- Try adding different nuts like pecans or cashews to customize the flavor.
- Substitute some Crispix cereal with pretzel twists for a different salty crunch.
- For a spiced variation, add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the butter and sugar mixture while cooking.
