Sparkling Cider Snack Mix

A festive, crunchy snack mix with a sweet apple-cider glaze, perfect for parties and holiday gatherings.

This snack mix has become a go-to for holiday entertainments at my house, loved by both kids and adults.

Ingredients

• Dry Mix: 3 cups rice cereal squares (such as Rice Chex), 2 cups mini pretzels, 1 cup honey roasted peanuts, 1 cup dried apple chips broken into bite-sized pieces, 1 cup popcorn (plain air-popped)
• Cider Glaze: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar packed, 1/4 cup sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat Oven:

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix Dry Ingredients:

In a large bowl, combine rice cereal pretzels peanuts apple chips and popcorn. Gently toss to mix.

Make Cider Glaze:

In a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar sparkling cider cinnamon and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer stirring frequently for 23 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Combine Mix and Glaze:

Immediately pour the cider glaze over the dry mix. Toss gently with a spatula until evenly coated.

Spread on Baking Sheet:

Spread the mix evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake:

Bake for 2530 minutes stirring once halfway through until the mix is golden and crisp.

Cool:

Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. The mix will crisp as it cools.

Serve or Store:

Once cooled break into clusters if needed and serve or store in an airtight container.

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This treat always brings smiles as my family gathers around the table to enjoy it together.

Required Tools

Large mixing bowl Saucepan Baking sheet Parchment paper Spatula

Nutritional Information

Per serving: 255 calories 11 g total fat 36 g carbohydrates 4 g protein

Notes

For extra flavor add a pinch of nutmeg or swap honey roasted peanuts with candied pecans This mix pairs well with sparkling cider or festive mocktails

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This sparkling cider snack mix is sure to be a holiday favorite and an easy crowd-pleaser.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ What ingredients create the crunchy texture?

The combination of rice cereal squares, mini pretzels, honey roasted peanuts, dried apple chips, and air-popped popcorn provides varied crunch and texture throughout the mix.

→ How is the sweet glaze made?

The glaze is made by melting butter with brown sugar, sparkling apple cider, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract, creating a sweet-spiced coating for the mix.

→ Can the mix be stored for later use?

Yes, once completely cooled, store the snack mix in an airtight container to maintain its crispness and freshness for several days.

→ Are there suggested variations for flavor?

Adding a pinch of nutmeg or substituting honey roasted peanuts with candied pecans, as well as replacing apple chips with dried cranberries, can add unique twists to the flavor.

→ What oven temperature and time are recommended?

Bake the coated mix at 300°F (150°C) for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway, until golden and crisp.