Description
Zesty spicy Chex mix delivers a fiery punch of flavor that dances across taste buds. Crispy, bold snack blend promises a thrilling adventure you won’t want to miss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients (Cereals and Crackers):
- 3 cups corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups wheat Chex cereal
- 3 cups rice Chex cereal
- 1 1/2 cups Cheez-Its crackers
- 1 1/2 cups mini pretzels
- 1 1/2 cups mini Club Crackers
- 10 ounces (283 grams) salted mixed nuts
Buttery Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1 packet (1 ounce/28 grams) ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Seasoning Adjustment:
- Cayenne pepper can be omitted or reduced to 1/4 teaspoon for less heat
Instructions
- Prepare a pristine workspace by aligning baking sheets with parchment paper, positioning the oven rack in the center, and heating to a gentle 250°F.
- Craft a flavor-packed elixir by liquefying butter in a microwave-safe vessel, then whisking in Worcestershire sauce, ranch dressing mix, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper until harmoniously blended.
- Create a robust foundation by cascading Chex cereals, Cheez-Its, mini pretzels, mini Club Crackers, and mixed nuts into an expansive mixing bowl, forming a textural landscape.
- Drizzle the aromatic sauce across the dry ingredients, employing a rubber-tipped spatula to gently massage and coat each morsel without fracturing the delicate cereal structures.
- Distribute the seasoned mixture across baking sheets in an even, breathable layer, ensuring no ingredient overlaps or clusters, then slide into the waiting oven.
- Rotate and tumble the mixture every quarter-hour, allowing each component to toast uniformly for approximately one hour, watching carefully to prevent scorching while developing deep, golden notes.
- Once achieved, extract the mix and allow it to cool completely at room temperature, where it will naturally crisp and intensify its complex flavor profile.
- Transfer the cooled snack medley into airtight containers, preserving its crunch and zesty character for future munching adventures.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting crushed red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper for personal spice tolerance.
- Replace butter with coconut oil or olive oil for healthier alternative and potential vegan adaptation.
- Use gluten-free Chex, pretzels, and crackers to make recipe celiac and gluten-sensitive friendly.
- Allow mix to cool completely to maximize crunchiness and prevent soggy texture during storage.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 226
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 326 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg