Make Ahead

Party Mix for Grownups

September 28, 2010
4
2 Ratings
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

Recently, I was perusing the box of Crispix® that my husband brings out of the pantry for breakfast most mornings, when I saw the recipe for Crispix Mix® on the flap. It had been years since I’d made any kind of cereal snack mix, and I thought maybe it was time to try my hand at it again.

Starting with the recipe on the box, I tweaked the proportions and experimented with a few different, and slightly more "gourmet," additions, taking inspiration from one of my favorite recipes for spiced nuts from the New York Times. The results are below – may they fortify you and your loved ones this football season! —Merrill Stubbs

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 5 cups Crispix® (or Chex®)
  • 1½ cups mixed nuts
  • 2 cups tiny twist pretzels
  • 5 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Large pinch cayenne
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 250 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the cereal, nuts and pretzels. In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients until the sugar dissolves. Drizzle this evenly over the cereal mixture and then use your hands to stir, making sure to distribute everything evenly.
  2. Transfer to a 13x9” baking pan and bake for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until crisp and lightly toasted. Spread out on a paper towel-lined baking sheet to cool. Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Jean
    Jean
  • SusanRubinsky
    SusanRubinsky
  • java&foam
    java&foam
  • David Kmetz
    David Kmetz

6 Reviews

David K. January 7, 2019
Might add a dash of smoky paprika to the mix. Amp up the flavor without anymore salt..
 
Jean December 16, 2014
Should the mixed nuts be raw or already roasted and salted?
 
BakerMary December 25, 2013
Up the percentage of nuts, add ground flaxssed and nutritional yeast and you can cut down on salt some...
 
SusanRubinsky January 30, 2013
If you want to avoid mass market cereals, try substituting Crispix/Chex for Barbara's Shredded Spoonfuls.
 
brownhut March 5, 2011
Thank you for teaching me the basics of snack mix. I had no idea it was so easy. I added more butter, sugar and varied the spices considerably, but the credit is yours for the base. Thank you!
 
java&foam January 2, 2011
merrill...i made your "adult" party mix to take with me to my grandparents' house. the flavors were wonderfully balanced and I loved the fresh thyme. it does tend to be more subtle/mild than most other party mixes so for those of you who like an assault in the mouth kind of party mix, up the amounts of cayenne and garlic. it crisped up very nicely and I am going to make more this weekend!