The ultimate crowd-pleasing party food, this "Crack Snack" earned its name for a good reason! With just 4 simple ingredients, you can whip up this crunchy, sweet and salty snack mix in a matter of minutes!
My friend Kaci recently shared this cereal snack mix recipe with me, and I instantly knew that it would be a hit. It's fast, easy, requires just a few ingredients, and it tastes amazing. So amazing, in fact, that it's hard to stop eating. Hence the name!
This sweet and crunchy snack mix would go perfectly paired alongside other potluck munchies like my 3-Ingredient Queso Dip, Make-Ahead Ham and Cheese Sliders, and 3-Ingredient Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Bites. Packaged in a cute container, it's also a great holiday snack mix for gift-giving, so grab these ingredients and whip up a batch STAT!
HOW TO MAKE 4-INGREDIENT SNACK MIX:
Let's start with the basics: a box of Crispix cereal, salted butter, chopped pecans, and brown sugar.
First, line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Spread the cereal and the pecans on the baking sheet and set aside.
Next, combine the butter and the brown sugar in a saucepan. Boil the mixture for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until a thick, creamy caramel sauce forms.
Pour that sweet, buttery sauce over the cereal and nuts.
Use a spatula or wooden spoon to toss until the sauce coats the Crispix and pecans.
Bake the snack mix in a 325-degree F oven for 16 minutes (stirring halfway through). The end result is this sweet and salty party mix that has a perfect balance flavors and textures!
COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:
- Mix it up and use peanuts or almonds instead of the pecans.
- Make it a Chex Mix by swapping out the Crispix and using a combination of different Chex cereals instead (such as Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Wheat Chex).
- Use salted butter for this party mix recipe, which gives the dish a great sweet and salty flavor combination!
- As the mix starts to cool, use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up some of the larger clumps.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or package in cute bags or boxes and deliver to family, friends, and teachers for homemade holiday gifts!
Looking for even more easy snack mix recipes? Try these:
"Crack Snack" 4-Ingredient Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 (12 ounce) box Crispix cereal (about 12 cups)
- 1.5 cups chopped pecans (6 ounces)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an extra large baking sheet (or two smaller baking sheets) with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Spread cereal and pecans on prepared baking sheets. Set aside.
- Mix butter and brown sugar in a saucepan.
- Boil for two minutes, stirring frequently.
- Pour caramel mixture over cereal and nuts; toss to coat.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, and bake for an additional 8 minutes.
- Allow to cool, breaking apart any large clumps with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Notes
- Mix it up and use peanuts or almonds instead of the pecans.
- Make it a Chex Mix by swapping out the Crispix and using a combination of different Chex cereals instead (such as Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Wheat Chex).
- Use salted butter for this party mix recipe, which gives the dish a great sweet and salty flavor combination!
- As the mix starts to cool, use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up some of the larger clumps.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or package in cute bags or boxes and deliver to family, friends, and teachers for homemade holiday gifts!
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in January, 2014. It was updated in October, 2018.
cathy
Oh my this looks so good, I would eat the whole bowl 🙂 I pinned this and am checking it out from I should be mopping the floor link party!
Blair
Hi Cathy! Thanks for stopping by!
Christy
Hi!!! I want to take this with me on a vacation flying as a gift in a gift bag. Does this stay fresh very long? Also can it be frozen?
Blair
Hi, Christy! I've never tried freezing it, but I think it would work fine! And yes -- it keeps well in an airtight container for at least a couple of weeks (maybe longer...it's just always consumed faster than that)!
Kim Jackson
I used peanut butter chez and half a box of chocolate chez. I used cashews instead of pecans. I added pretzels and I 1 1/2 cups of brown sugar, as well as, 1 1/4 cup of butter to compensate for the extra cereal.
Blair
Sounds like a delicious combination!
Elizabeth
Yum!! I love chex mix!! Especially the sweet kind!
Blair
Me too, Elizabeth! 🙂
Constance
Yum...I changed mine up, less chex. Added pretzel sticks, raisins, peanuts and M&ms
Blair
Sounds awesome, Constance!!
Tiffany T
Thank you for this mix, some friends used to make this for me and college, and since losing touch with them, have yet to find the right recipe, but I think this is going to be perfect! Adding M&Ms, Reese’s pieces, peanuts, and pretzels to this. Thank you for this 🙂
Blair
Awesome! Your additions sound delicious!!
Caroline Armbrust
Thank you so very much!!
What is your opinion of adding crispy bacon? My family loves candy bacon, and thought this recipe would be a bonus addition!!
Blair
That's such a creative idea, Caroline! I'm sure the bacon would be a delicious salty addition to the sweet-and-salty mix!
Kathy
This is dangerous! So easy and so delicious! I’ll be making this often.
Blair
Thanks, Kathy! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it! I agree -- it's dangerous. 🙂
Louis Gawrys
does boiling the brown sugar and butter and corn syrup too long make the mix too stiff and overcooked? mine got too clumpy
Blair
Hi, Louis! Yes, I would think that it probably does. It will also get stiff as it cools, so the other possibility is that it cooled too much before you had a chance to spread it?
Ann
This was was yummy! The idea of using brown sugar instead of white sugar made me think of Cracker Jack so I switched out the cereal for freshly popped plain popcorn, used peanuts and added one cup of itty-bitty pretzel twists. I also added one-half teaspoon vanilla to the sugar mixture after boiling.
Blair
Sounds delicious, Ann! Thanks for sharing your changes!
Kenna
Could you use margarine or vegan butter in place of real butter?
Blair
Hi, Kenna! I think that margarine would work fine. I'm not familiar with vegan butter, so I have no idea if that would work or not. 🙂
ChrisMalf
Just made this for a ski weekend with the family. It is simple and very tasty. I recommend adding a good pinch of salt to the caramel to balance the sweetness. Thanks for posting this recipe, crack snack indeed!
Blair
Thank you! That extra pinch of salt is a great suggestion! 🙂
Trina Sarao
Most recipes for this type of mix call for baking soda which makes the sugar mixture foam to a light and fluffy consistency. Is that not necessary for this one? Thanks
Blair
Hi, Trina! I have never used baking soda, so I don't think it's necessary for this recipe. You can certainly give it a try and let me know if you think it works well. 🙂
Lorilee R Back
Do you think I could substitute blueberry cheerios?
Blair
Hi, Lorilee! No, I think the fruity flavor would be odd with the caramel/toffee flavor of the brown sugar-butter mixture. Plain cheerios might work fine, but I would avoid the blueberry. Hope that helps!
Nancy Noble
This is amazing. I omitted the nuts due to family allergies and added half a box of Golden Graham’s. Absolutely wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
Blair
Wonderful! So glad that you were able to make it work with your family's dietary needs. Thanks for your note, Nancy!
Sarah
Just made this! OMG sooooo good and easy. The only thing I added was sliced almonds as I had them on hand. I know I will be making this again and again.
Blair
That's so great to hear, Sarah! I'm sure the almonds were a delicious addition!
Richele
Hi! I have a batch in the oven and after ready through the comments, noticed one person mentioning the corn syrup in the recipe yet the recipe I see does not call for corn syrup. Am I missing something? Hope my batch turns out! Thanks!
Sarah
I made as is and just added almonds as I had them.
Blair
Hi, Richele! Nope, I don't use any corn syrup in this recipe. Not sure why the other individual did! 🙂
Shelley
First, thank you for this recipe. Simple is best!
Second, thank you for adding Chex-mix to your list of tips because I can't find Crispix to save my life right now! Even on Amazon it says it doesn't know when it will be back in stock (if ever).
Have a great holiday season!
Blair Lonergan
Oh, that's crazy! I didn't realize that Crispix is so hard to find at the moment. Glad there's another option! 🙂
Evelyn
I was kind of amused making this, because it felt like I was basically creating children’s cereal, but with nuts, for adults. Added two good doses of salt and pepper to the whole thing (because that’s how we roll)…and …my family literally could not stop eating it. I had to make more before the weekend was over.
Blair Lonergan
Yay! Adult cereal for the win, Evelyn! 🙂
Deysha
I’m not sure what I did wrong but when I took it out of the oven, there were some burnt pieces due to the sugar and butter. Is this normal?
Blair Lonergan
Hi, Deysha! I think a few burned or extra crispy pieces is normal (that always happens to me with Chex Mix too -- even without the sugar), but it shouldn't be a big deal and I doubt you did anything "wrong" if the rest of the mix came out well. Hope you enjoyed it!