Winter Cozy Crunchy Snack (Printable Version)

Crunchy blend of nuts, spices, and dried fruits for warm, cozy moments.

# What You’ll 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

# Directions:

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

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • It fills your kitchen with the kind of aroma that makes people ask what you're cooking before they even see it.
  • You can make a big batch in under an hour and have snacking sorted for days, no preservatives required.
  • The combination of crunchy, sweet, and spiced hits every craving at once—it's genuinely hard to eat just a handful.
02 -
  • Do not skip stirring halfway through baking—I learned this the hard way with a batch that had burnt edges and a pale, soft center, and it completely changed the texture.
  • The dried fruit goes in after cooling, not before, because the oven's heat will turn it into chewy disappointment instead of plump, tender pieces.
  • Air-popped popcorn makes a real difference; microwave butter popcorn will make your entire batch taste like something from a movie theater instead of your kitchen.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts separately for two minutes at 300°F before adding them if you want them to taste deeper and more roasted—it's an extra step that honestly transforms the entire mix.
  • Brown your butter before mixing in the spices, which adds a nutty, caramelized depth that elevates this from 'good snack' to 'people asking for the recipe' in one decision.

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