Treat yourself to this scrumptious Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix! This easy recipe is the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors. It hits all the right tastebuds and is a total crowd pleaser ... perfect for entertaining during the holidays or anytime of year!
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I love a special treat, especially when it comes to parties. And it's hard to go wrong with classic Chex Mix ... people will eat.it.up. But why stick to the same old recipe when you can do something a little more exciting, right?
This Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix is the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors and the crunchy texture is irresistible. You won't be able to resist returning to the bowl for another handful (and another)!
Best of all? This crowd-pleasing snack is so simple to make! It takes just a few minutes to throw together, and it smells so delicious as it bakes.
You can enjoy this homemade Snack Mix as everyday treat (pack a bag to get you through a long day) or serve it at a holiday party ... it's perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Whenever you make a batch, it's sure to disappear before you know it!
Ready to get started? Keep reading for the easy recipe!
Ingredients
This tasty snack is made with easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Cereal - I used Life Cereal (original flavor) to make the mix, but you could use Chex, too (use a plain flavor, like corn, wheat, or rice).
- Pretzels - You'll also need some small pretzels. I used these square pretzels, but mini twists would also work great.
- Fruit - Dried pineapple is the perfect compliment to the sweet, spicy, savory flavors. Feel free to substitute other fruits, like mango or apricot.
- Nuts - I used roasted pistachios for this recipe, but other nuts (like almonds, pecans, walnuts, or cashews) would also be delish.
- Seasoning - The seasoning mixture is made with a combinations of olive oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, sugar, and garlic powder.
You'll Also Need
You'll use a small bowl to prepare the seasoning, along with a large bowl to stir the snack mix together. You'll also need a large baking sheet (or two smaller sheets) to bake the snack. These sturdy sheet pans are my fave!
How to Make Snack Mix
This crowd-pleasing snack couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Combine cereal and pretzels. Mix the pretzels and cereal together in a large bowl.
- Make seasoning mixture. Whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, sriracha, sugar, and garlic powder in a small bowl to create the spicy, Asian-inspired sauce. Tip: Feel free to adjust the sriracha to taste.
- Mix seasoning with cereal and pretzels. Add the seasoning mixture to the big bowl, then mix everything together until well coated.
- Bake. Spread the snack mixture on a large baking sheet (use two, if necessary) in a single layer. Then bake until the snack is toasted and fragrant, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Add pineapple and nuts. Remove the mixture from the oven, then stir in the dried pineapple and pistachios.
All right, time to enjoy your homemade Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix ... doesn't it look delicious!
Variations
Feel like experimenting? Here are a few ideas to try:
- Cereal - Try the recipe with Life Cereal and Chex to see which you prefer, or use another cereal, like Cheerios or Crispix.
- Nut - Swap out the pistachios for other roasted nuts, such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, or cashews. Tip: If you use unroasted nuts, add them into the cereal mixture halfway through the baking process to toast them.
- Fruit - Substitute dried mango, apricots, or another dried fruit for the pineapple.
- More / Less Spicy - The sauce isn't that spicy, but you can cut down on or leave out the sriracha if you don't enjoy spicy foods. Of course, if you love hot and spicy foods, you can always add more, too!
- Vegan - To make the recipe vegan, use Life Cereal, not Chex.
- Gluten Fee - For a gluten free option, use Rice Chex or Corn Chex, gluten free pretzels, and swap out the soy sauce for tamari.
Storage
To store the Spicy Sweet Snack Mix, let it cool completely first. Then transfer it to an airtight container. It should stay fresh for a couple weeks.
Related Recipes
Look for more easy snacks and appetizers? You'll love these recipes, too:
- Homemade Crostini (Plus, topping ideas!)
- Texas Nachos
- Beau Monde Dip
- Vegan Pigs in a Blanket
- Guacamole
- Buffalo Cauliflower Dip
- Savory Cheese Truffles
- Puff Pastry Xmas Tree
Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix
Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray
- 4 cups Life Cereal (or Chex)
- 2 cups mini pretzels
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sriracha sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup dried pineapple (cut into bite size chunks, if necessary)
- 1 ½ cups pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (149°C). Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine cereal and mini pretzels in a large bowl.
- Whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, sriracha, sesame oil, sugar, and garlic powder until well combined.
- Pour olive oil mixture evenly over cereal and stir well to coat.
- Spread cereal mixture on baking sheet in a single layer. (You may need two baking sheets, depending on size.)
- Bake until toasted and browned, about 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven, then stir in pineapple and pistachios. Let cool.
- Serve snack mix immediately, or store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Notes
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Lori
Mmmm this has got me hungry! I love sweet and spicy!
It's one of my favorite combinations, too, Heather:)
Ummm that looks AMAZING!! I'm a huge fan of Quaker Life cereal, and I love the idea of using it in a snack mix 🙂 Pinning!
Thank you so much for sharing:) Let me know if you try it!
I sure will!
this is a great idea, I am not so creative as you are, but I learned a lot today, thanks #client
Thank you so much:) I'm so glad you like it!