Description
Craving a road trip caramel trail mix brings adventure to snacking with sweet and salty goodness. Crisp nuts, chocolate pieces, and caramel drizzle create irresistible flavor combinations travelers will crave mile after mile.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups rice cereal (original, wheat, or combination)
- 1 cup roasted pistachios
- 1 cup roasted cashews
- 1 cup mixed raisins
- 1/2 cup original M&M’s
- 1/2 cup peanut M&M’s
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 300°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or aluminum foil. Distribute rice cereal evenly across the surface.
- In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter over medium heat. Continuously stir until the mixture melts into a smooth, glossy consistency. Remove from heat immediately.
- Drizzle the caramel mixture over the rice cereal, gently folding to ensure complete and uniform coating of each piece.
- Spread the coated cereal into a single layer and bake for 30 minutes. Interrupt baking every 10 minutes to stir and prevent burning.
- Transfer a clean silicone mat or cooking spray-coated aluminum foil onto a cooling rack. Carefully pour the hot caramel cereal onto the mat, allowing it to cool completely.
- Once the caramel cereal reaches room temperature, combine it with pistachios, cashews, raisins, and M&M’s in a large mixing bowl. Gently toss to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Transfer the trail mix to an air-tight container. Preserve at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for maximum preservation of up to one month.
Notes
- Adjust the caramel coating thickness by controlling stirring technique, ensuring each rice cereal piece gets evenly glazed without clumping.
- Customize the trail mix by swapping nuts or adding dried fruits like cranberries or chopped apricots for diverse flavor profiles.
- Prevent caramel from burning by maintaining medium heat and stirring consistently during the melting process.
- Create a gluten-free version by using certified gluten-free rice cereal and checking ingredient labels for M&M’s.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 263 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 62 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg