Description
This Toffee Chex Mix is a delightful combination of crispy Chex cereal, crunchy nuts, and salty pretzel thins all coated in a rich homemade toffee glaze. Baked to perfection, this sweet and salty snack mix is perfect for parties, gift-giving, or an indulgent treat anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Cereal and Mix-Ins
- 12.8 oz box Rice or Corn Chex Cereal
- 3 cups assorted nuts (pecans, almonds, peanuts, etc.)
- 3 cups pretzel thins (or mini knots)
Toffee Sauce
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) to prepare for baking the coated cereal mix.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the Rice or Corn Chex cereal, assorted nuts, and pretzel thins ensuring an even distribution of all the crunchy components.
- Melt Butter: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter carefully.
- Add Sugar Mixture: Stir in the dark brown sugar, light corn syrup, and salt to the melted butter, mixing thoroughly.
- Boil the Toffee: Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then let it boil steadily for 4 minutes without stirring to develop the rich toffee flavor.
- Finish Toffee Base: Remove the pan from heat, then quickly stir in the pure vanilla extract and baking soda; the mixture will foam, creating a light texture for the coating.
- Combine Coating and Mix: Pour the hot toffee sauce evenly over the cereal mixture and toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything well.
- Bake the Mix: Spread the coated mixture evenly on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even toffee coverage and crispiness.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and allow the mix to cool completely on the baking sheet before breaking it into pieces for serving or storing.
Notes
- Use either Rice Chex or Corn Chex based on your preference; both work well for this recipe.
- Assorted nuts can be customized to your favorites or what you have on hand.
- Stirring the mix every 15 minutes while baking is crucial for even coating and preventing burning.
- Let the mix cool fully on the pan to allow the toffee to harden and become crispy.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks for maximum freshness.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the pretzels and Chex cereal used are certified gluten-free.
