The Greatest Snack Mix Ever

I am not even kidding about how unbelievably amazing this snack mix is!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like to make a batch and keep it in a nice big bowl by the front door for guests to grab and enjoy as they come and go.  I also used to make this mix every year when I was teaching.  I’d package it up in cute little party favor bags and hand it out to my parents during Parent/Teacher conferences in October.  The first year I did that, the mom of one of my students emailed me within 10 minutes of leaving our conference because she had devoured the entire bag in her car and wanted the recipe to make more. 🙂

But be forewarned – it’s HIGHLY addictive!!!!!!

The Greatest Snack Mix EVER!!!

Ingredients –

• 10 oz. box mini peanut butter crackers
• 2 cups 1-inch square cheese crackers (I use Cheez-its)
• 2 1/2 cups tiny twist pretzels
• 1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup margarine (I use butter)
• 1 cup sugar (mmmm…)
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 14 oz bag seasonal colored M&M’s
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups candy corn

Directions –

Step 1 – Pour the first 4 ingredients in a super large mixing bowl (Note – I spray my bowl with cooking spray before adding the crackers so that I don’t spend a million hours trying to scrape off the sauce after it hardens later when it’s time to clean everything up).  Toss gently and set aside.

Step 2 – Bring margarine, sugar, and corn syrup to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat.  Boil 5 minutes – stirring constantly.

Step 3 – Remove from heat.  Stir in vanilla and baking soda.

Step 4 – Pour over cracker mixture and stir to coat.  Work QUICKLY because the sauce hardens in a jiffy!

Step 5 – Spread in a large buttered roasting pan and bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Step 6 – Spread onto aluminum foil to cool; break apart while warm.

Step 7 – When completely cool, toss with M&Ms and candy corn.  Store in an airtight container.  Or store in a locked container and throw away the key if you don’t have any self-control like me. 🙂

Happy Snack Mix-ing!