Description
Irresistible sweet-and-salty toffee chex mix delights taste buds with its crunchy caramel coating and addictive flavor profile. Crisp cereal pieces meld perfectly with buttery toffee, creating a snack so delectable you won’t be able to stop munching.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 6 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 2 cups pretzels (mini twists or sticks)
- 1 cup pecans (or almonds)
Sweet and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup light corn syrup (or honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup toffee bits (Heath or Skor bits)
Finishing Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional, for drizzle)
Instructions
- Arrange the kitchen workspace with all necessary tools: a large baking sheet, parchment paper, medium saucepan, mixing bowl, and spatula. Position oven rack to center position and warm the oven to 250F (120C).
- Create the caramel foundation by combining butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in the saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium temperature, stirring consistently until ingredients meld into a smooth liquid.
- Allow the caramel mixture to reach a gentle bubbling point, continuing to stir occasionally. Watch carefully to prevent scorching, maintaining a consistent movement for approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and swiftly incorporate baking soda and vanilla extract. The mixture will fizz and expand slightly, creating a lighter, aerated texture.
- Place Chex cereal, pretzels, and pecans into a spacious mixing bowl. Carefully pour the warm caramel mixture over the dry ingredients, using a gentle folding technique to ensure comprehensive and uniform coating.
- Transfer the thoroughly coated mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, spreading it into an even, thin layer to promote consistent roasting.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven. Rotate and gently stir the mixture every 15 minutes to guarantee uniform caramelization and prevent burning.
- After 45 minutes, extract the tray from the oven. Immediately scatter toffee bits across the hot mixture, allowing them to adhere naturally to the warm surface.
- Allow the toffee Chex mix to cool completely at room temperature, which will help solidify the caramel coating and create crisp clusters.
- Optional: Melt white chocolate chips using short microwave intervals, stirring between each to maintain smooth consistency. Delicately drizzle the melted chocolate over the cooled mixture.
- Gently break the mixture into bite-sized clusters. Store in an airtight container, maintaining freshness for up to one week.
Notes
- Swap regular Chex for gluten-free versions to make this recipe celiac-friendly and accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Reduce sugar content by using alternative sweeteners like monk fruit or stevia for a lower-calorie option.
- Select high-quality butter and fresh pecans to enhance the overall depth and richness of the toffee coating.
- Toast pecans briefly before adding to the mix to intensify their nutty flavor and create a more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 235
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg