You can always tell when the Our Best Bites girls are stressed out because we tend to post a lot of sweets. I had excellent intentions of posting a quick and easy dinner today, but I was overcome by the temptation of Pretzel M&Ms, which are simultaneously the most glorious and the most horrific creation in the history of creations. I promise, I’ll post something healthy next week.
It seems like every fall, we start posting cereal and/or popcorn mixes. I’m not sure if it’s because of the hint of Halloween or the return of football and fall TV shows, but cereal mixes just feel right in the fall.
This one is a little different from ones we’ve posted in days gone by because it calls for brown sugar instead of white sugar. Which brings us to caramel. Which, when you combine with salty nuts and Pretzel M&Ms, leads to sad feelings when you step on the scale the next day.
First, line a baking sheet with waxed paper or aluminum foil and lightly spray it with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.
Then, combine some graham cracker cereal (like Honey Grahams) with some honey roasted peanuts and some salted cashews or macadamia nuts in a very large bowl and set that aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, Karo syrup, and a stick of butter (I told you this was bad) and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling, stirring often, for 2 minutes (3 if you’re at a high elevation). When it’s done cooking, add a teaspoon of vanilla and stir to combine. Drizzle the caramel over the cereal mix and quickly stir the mixture to coat everything evenly. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and allow it to cool for a few minutes, just to a point where the candy mixture has cooled but it’s not solid. Add the Pretzel M&Ms and toss gently to combine.
Allow it to cool completely (you can even pop it into the fridge to hurry things along) and then transfer it to a serving bowl or serve individual portions in small cups or cupcake liners.
Unfortunately, we cannot be held liable for the lack of snacky self control that will accompany the presence of this mix in your house. Sorry about that.
Sweet & Salty Caramel Snack Mix
Recipe adapted by Our Best Bites from Southern Living
6 cups graham cracker cereal (like Honey Grahams)
1 cup honey roasted peanuts
1 cup salted cashews or macadamia nuts
1/2 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light Karo syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups Pretzel M&Ms (about 1 large bag)
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or wax paper and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Toss together the cereal and the nuts in a large bowl and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, and Karo syrup and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it begins to boil. Allow to boil for 2 minutes (3 if you’re at a high elevation) and then remove from heat. Add the vanilla and stir until combined. Drizzle the caramel mixture over the cereal/nut mixture and stir quickly to combine. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. When the caramel mixture has cooled but isn’t solid yet (just a few minutes), add the Pretzel M&Ms and toss gently to combine. Allow to cool completely before serving.
OK, healthy it’s not. But absolutely delicious well makes up for that!!!! Yummy. Thanks.
Oh, I want this! But what I really want is something that pops up on here telling me how many squats, mountain climbers, wind sprints, etc. I need to do in order to eat half the batch. Because I will.
One of the many things I love about you, Kate, is that you are always looking out for us high-elevators (or those who live at high altitudes). Not everyone out there is that sensitive to our situation. That’s what makes you special. Well, that and posting a snacky-dessert thing instead of a healthy, quick and easy dinner. You don’t hear me complaining do you? No, no you don’t.
This sounds fantastic! I love snack mixes and this might be the best one yet 🙂
OMGoodness! This stuff is so yummy. Cool weather, football, colors changing, and snacks like this…what could be better! Thanks for sharing!
Fiber One makes a new cereal called Caramel Delight that tastes a lot like Honey Grahams but more caramel-y. I bet it would be really good in this recipe plus the fiber cancels out the butter and m&ms, right?
Brilliant!
does it have to be real butter or is stick margarine o.k.??
Real butter will make it a million times better because it will caramelize (whereas margarine won’t), but if you’re in a life or death situation, I guess margarine would work. 😉
Karo syrup….I’m not familiar with that? I’m up North here in Canada….it’s not an American thing is it?
It’s just corn syrup, but I didn’t want to use the name corn syrup because some people don’t know that it’s a different product from high fructose corn syrup and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with people telling me I was murdering children by calling for corn syrup… 🙂
ummmm, YUMMY! cant wait till payday to make this! wow, you girls dont make trying to loose weight easy! 🙂
Sounds DELIGHTFUL!
I did use pecans here, and they’re an option, but I like cashews or macadamias better. But that’s totally my personal take. 🙂
The recipe calls for cashews or macadamia nuts. In your picture it looks like you used pecans. Is that another option?
EVery year for general conference we make “Conference Crunch” to eat as we listen and watch. This is very similar, but going to be the new “conference Crunch”. Thank you!!
Oh the girls at work are gonna love and hate me! 🙂
It seems like your stress has coincided with mine, because the last few treats you’ve posted I’ve had to make and consume within a few days of your posting. And they’ve all helped. This looks wonderful, and I can’t wait to try. And thanks a lot for updating the sidebar (sarcasm) – I’m going to get so fat this fall!
ladies……. keep posting the junk!!! 🙂 It’s well, that time of year and I LOVE having homemade snacks!!! 🙂
Wow, this looks so good… we’ve really been in a rut lately with lunchbox foods & after school snacks; I think my kids would really like this! They don’t love nuts but I think this would be a great way to get them to eat some nuts, with all that other yummy stuff mixed in 🙂
Sounds great! Unfortunately I am trying to keep the weight down (23 weeks pregnant) so I may save this to make as a holiday gift for family members with a small serving left for us as I will be close to delivery time!
My college daughter (and her many friends all over the US) will LOVE this in their care packages!
Mine will too!
This looks so good! Perfect for all those football games! (PS Sorry about the stress!!)
Looks delicious! Can we expect another cookbook behind that stress?
Not this SPECIFIC stress (well, maybe a little), but definitely our overall stress levels! 😉
Yay! 🙂 I’m requesting your cookbook for Christmas this year 🙂
this will be fun to make for General Conference weekend! Thanks for posting!
This looks soooo good. You’re right, snack mixes taste so good in the fall. I think I may make this really soon. (And this is a good excuse to try the pretzel M&M’s because apparently I am a dinosaur and don’t buy things unless they are on sale or they are in a recipe so that I “have” to buy them.)
This looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it.
Sounds SO yummy! AND yep, those pretzel M&M’s are pretty addictive…they should come with a warning. I love your little disclosure at the end…I can hardly comment for laughing. *GRIN* (oh, and the side bar has like 10 yummy sugary fall things, too….pie in a jar, apple cider doughnuts, caramel apples…oh my poor scale) hehe
This sounds so yummy! Great snack idea.
This just made my “must try” list!
Yeah, I probably could have done without that recipe. That would be a nice snack mix to take for the holidays though.
Hi!
This looks like an awesome recipe and I can’t wait to try it. In the ingredients it calls for vanilla but I don’t see where it is added in the directions. I assume this is done when you take the caramel mixture off the heat? If you could clarify, that would be great.
Thanks!
Wende
Hi, Wende! Yep, it’s right after you remove it from heat. I changed the recipe. Thanks for pointing it out!
Wow!!! This sounds amazing!! And fairly easy!!! Just looking at the recipe I am starting to salivate and 10 extra pounds are getting ready to jump on my thighs!!! 😉