Description
Sweet caramel praline snack mix delivers a Southern-inspired symphony of crunchy pecans, buttery caramel, and crisp cereal. Golden brown clusters promise delightful moments of indulgence that connect friends and family around irresistible homemade goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 cups crispix cereal
- 2 cups pecan halves (salted)
Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
Binding and Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Heat the oven to a low 250°F (120°C), creating an ideal environment for slow caramelization.
- Combine the Crispix cereal and pecan halves in a spacious mixing bowl, ensuring an even distribution of ingredients.
- In a large saucepan, merge brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter over medium-high heat, stirring intermittently until the mixture reaches a rolling boil.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and quickly incorporate vanilla extract and baking soda, watching as the mixture transforms into a frothy, bubbling concoction.
- Gently cascade the praline mixture over the cereal and pecans, meticulously folding to guarantee each morsel receives a luxurious caramel coating.
- Transfer the glazed mixture into a 9×13-inch baking pan, spreading it evenly to promote uniform cooking.
- Bake for 1 hour, interrupting the process every 20 minutes to stir and prevent potential scorching, allowing the caramel to gradually set and intensify in flavor.
- After baking, immediately disperse the praline crunch onto wax or parchment paper, permitting complete cooling and natural separation.
- Once thoroughly cooled, fragment the praline crunch into delectable bite-sized clusters, ready for immediate indulgence or sharing.
Notes
- Swap Crispix with gluten-free rice cereal for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the same crunch and texture.
- Reduce sugar content by using a sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener, which helps create a lower-calorie treat without compromising flavor.
- Toast pecans briefly before mixing to enhance their natural nutty flavor and add an extra layer of depth to the praline coating.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, ensuring the praline crunch remains crisp and doesn’t absorb moisture from the environment.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 234 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2.1 g
- Protein: 3.2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg