Sweet & Salty Popcorn Crunch Mix
Elevate your snacking game with this Sweet & Salty Popcorn Crunch Mix! This delightful blend combines light and airy popped popcorn with a medley of crunchy cereals and salted peanuts, all enveloped in a warm, caramel-like coating. Perfectly balanced with sweet brown sugar and a touch of buttery goodness, this snack makes for an irresistible treat that’s great for late-night munchies, bake sales, or as a thoughtful homemade gift. Package about a cup in a decorative baggie, tie it with a ribbon, and watch it disappear!
22
Servings
169
Calories
9
Ingredients
Ingredients
Popped popcorn
12 cups (Popped and ready to use.)
Cheerios toasted oat cereal
4 cups (Unopened or direct from the box.)
Chex cereal
4 cups (Your choice (Rice, Corn, or Wheat); unopened.)
Salted peanuts
2 cups (Roasted and salted.)
Brown sugar
1 cup (Packed lightly.)
Corn syrup
3/4 cup (Light or dark, as desired.)
Butter
1/4 cup (Unsalted.)
Vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (Pure vanilla extract recommended.)
Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (Regular baking soda.)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C).
2
Grease a large roasting pan with cooking spray or butter. Add the popped popcorn, Cheerios, Chex cereal, and salted peanuts into the pan, stirring gently to combine evenly.
3
In a medium saucepan, mix together the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it comes to a rolling boil.
4
Once boiling, let it cook for 6 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
5
Remove the pan from heat and swiftly stir in the vanilla extract and baking soda. The mixture will bubble and become light and foamy.
6
Immediately pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and cereal mix. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to stir until everything is well coated.
7
Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour. Make sure to stir the mixture every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and prevent burning.
8
After baking, remove the pan from the oven and allow the mix to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, break into clusters and store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information
6.2g
Fat
25.5g
Carbs
3g
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sweet & Salty Popcorn Crunch Mix?
It is a delightful snack blend combining popped popcorn, crunchy cereals, and salted peanuts with a warm, caramel-like coating.
How many servings does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes approximately 22 servings.
What is the recommended oven temperature for baking the mix?
The oven should be preheated to 250°F (120°C).
How long does the popcorn mix need to bake?
The mix needs to bake uncovered for a total of 1 hour.
What specific cereals are used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 4 cups of Cheerios toasted oat cereal and 4 cups of Chex cereal.
Which type of Chex cereal works best?
You can use your choice of Rice, Corn, or Wheat Chex cereal.
How much popped popcorn is required?
You will need 12 cups of popped popcorn.
Why is it important to grease the roasting pan?
Greasing the pan with cooking spray or butter prevents the sticky caramel mixture from adhering to the surface.
How long should the sugar and butter mixture boil?
The mixture should reach a rolling boil and cook for exactly 6 minutes.
What is the purpose of adding baking soda to the caramel?
Baking soda causes the mixture to bubble and become light and foamy, which helps it coat the popcorn and cereal more easily.
Can I use unsalted peanuts in this mix?
Yes, but the salted peanuts provide the characteristic 'salty' balance to the sweet coating.
How often should I stir the mix while it is in the oven?
You should stir the mixture every 15 minutes to ensure an even coating and to prevent it from burning.
What is the calorie count per serving?
Each serving contains approximately 169 calories.
Is this recipe suitable for a bake sale?
Yes, it is an excellent choice for bake sales and can be packaged individually in decorative bags.
How should the finished popcorn mix be stored?
Once completely cooled, store the mix in an airtight container to keep it crunchy.
Can I use dark corn syrup instead of light?
Yes, you can use either light or dark corn syrup depending on your preference.
What is the protein content per serving?
There are 3 grams of protein per serving.
How much butter is needed for the recipe?
The recipe requires 1/4 cup of unsalted butter.
Can I substitute the peanuts with other nuts?
Yes, you can use other roasted nuts like almonds, cashews, or pecans if you prefer.
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Not necessarily; you would need to ensure your cereals (Cheerios and Chex) are certified gluten-free.
What are some suggestions for gifting this snack?
Package about one cup in a decorative baggie and tie it with a colorful ribbon for a thoughtful homemade gift.
What happens if I don't stir the mixture during baking?
Failure to stir may result in uneven coating and the bottom layer might burn.
Can I skip the baking step?
Baking is essential to set the caramel coating and provide the final 'crunch' texture.
What is the fat content per serving?
Each serving has about 6.2g of fat.
How much vanilla extract is used?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.
Should the popcorn be salted before adding the coating?
The recipe uses plain popped popcorn; the saltiness comes primarily from the salted peanuts.
Can this be made in a microwave?
This specific recipe is designed for oven baking to achieve the best texture.
When should I add the vanilla and baking soda?
Add them immediately after removing the boiled sugar mixture from the heat.
How do I get the clusters?
Wait for the mix to cool completely in the pan, then break it into your desired cluster sizes.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
There are approximately 25.5g of carbohydrates per serving.