Winter cozy crunchy snack mix (Printable)

Crunchy mix with nuts, seasonal spices, and dried fruits, ideal for sharing in cold weather.

# What You Need:

→ Cereals & Base

01 - 3 cups whole grain cereal squares (e.g., Chex or similar)
02 - 2 cups mini pretzels
03 - 1 cup plain popcorn (air-popped, unsalted)

→ Nuts & Seeds

04 - 1 cup pecan halves
05 - 1 cup roasted almonds
06 - 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

→ Dried Fruit

07 - 1 cup dried cranberries
08 - 1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

→ Seasoning & Coating

09 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 300°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, mix the cereal squares, mini pretzels, popcorn, pecan halves, roasted almonds, and pumpkin seeds.
03 - Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt in a small bowl until smooth.
04 - Pour the seasoning mixture over the dry ingredients and toss gently with a spatula until evenly coated.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and fragrant.
06 - Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes, then stir in dried cranberries and chopped apricots.
07 - Transfer to an airtight container; store up to one week.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the opposite of a recipe that demands constant attention or fussy technique—you can actually relax while it bakes.
  • The combination of sweet, salty, and spiced keeps your hand reaching back into the bowl long after you meant to stop.
  • It genuinely tastes like winter smells, which sounds strange but makes perfect sense once you try it.
02 -
  • Stir it halfway through baking or the edges will toast too fast and the middle will stay soft—I learned this the crunchy way.
  • Never add the dried fruit before baking or it'll toughen up beyond recognition; after baking when things are warm is the only way.
03 -
  • Use an instant-read thermometer if you have one—you want the oven actually at 300°F because even 25 degrees hotter changes how it browns.
  • Stirring halfway through isn't optional; it's the difference between perfectly toasted and unevenly baked clusters.

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