Make this sweet and salty, perfectly crunchy butter pecan snack mix with salty pecans, real butter, and a caramel coating the next time you need an easy snack for the holidays, a party, or just because!
We all need a crunchy little snack sometimes. You know the kind that you reach into once, and before you know it, the bowl is empty? Yeah, that kind. Whether it’s sweet, savory, salty, or spicy, snack mixes are an easy way to satisfy a hankering for a little somethin’ somethin’.
This butter pecan snack mix is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring just a handful of ingredients. We love it for movie nights, and special occasions, and to pack it up to give as edible gifts to friends and family.
It’s shareable, enjoyable, and if anyone you know loves candied pecans or butter toffee pretzels, they’re going to love this praline crunch even more!
Butter Pecan Snack Mix
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s sweet, nutty, crispy, crunchy, and addictive!
- Made with a handful of simple ingredients.
- Just 15 minutes of prep time.
- Perfect for special occasions or an anytime snack.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
Jump- Crispix cereal: Made from corn, these are light and crispy with just the right amount of crunch.
- Pecan halves: Add a nutty element, and when coated in sugar, they give the best sweet crunch.
- Light brown sugar and light corn syrup: Both add sweetness, while the brown sugar adds a caramelized flavor, the corn syrup prevents the sugar from hardening too much. So, you won’t break a tooth!
- Butter: Allows the sugars to blend nicely into a buttery mixture, for flavor and consistency.
- Vanilla extract: A warm flavor addition.
- Baking soda: Helps the mixture to bubble up, making the butter, sugar mixture light and airy. Again, so it’s not rock solid.
How to make Butter Pecan Snack Mix
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Crispix and pecans and set those aside. Then, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter until it comes to a boil. Stir it often.
- Step Two: Remove the sugar from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Then, add the baking soda until it becomes fluffy (you’ll see it start to fizz).
- Step Three: Pour the butter-sugar mixture over the cereal and nut mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Step Four: Spread the contents of this spectacular praline pecan crunch in an even layer on a prepared rimmed baking sheet.
- Step Five: Bake in a preheated 250°F oven for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Once the hour is up, leave the tray sitting at room temperature for an hour for it to cool. Break up any large pieces, if necessary. Enjoy!
- Prepare your pan. Line it with parchment paper AND spray with nonstick spray. This stuff will stick!
- For a stronger sweet and salty balance, use salted pecans and salted butter. It’s up to you!
- Use real butter. It’s what gives it that smooth, delicious, buttery flavor.
- Don’t forget to stir. You’ll want to stay close by so you can monitor and stir every 20 minutes so that it doesn’t burn.
- Make sure it’s completely cool before storing; otherwise, any trapped heat will cause it to become soggy, and it’ll stick together.
- Add mix-ins. Once it’s cooled, feel free to add any extras, such as pretzels, peanuts, chocolate chips, or M&M’s.
Storage & Reheating
How to store leftovers
This praline crunch snack mix can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Just remember to cool it completely before storing.
Need more crunchy snack recipes? Try these:
Click here to view my entire collection of snack recipes.
Butter Pecan Snack Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 9.6 ounces Crispix cereal
- 2 cups pecan halves
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F and line a lipped baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the Crispix and pecans; set aside.9.6 ounces Crispix cereal, 2 cups pecan halves
- In a medium saucepan, add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil, stirring often.½ cup light brown sugar, ½ cup light corn syrup, ½ cup butter
- Remove the sugar mixture from the heat and add the vanilla extract, then stir in the baking soda until fluffy.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Pour the mixture over the Crispix mix and gently toss to fully coat.
- Spread the mixture into an even layer onto the prepared baking sheet and bake, stirring every 20 minutes, for 1 hour.
- Once the hour is up, remove the pan from the oven. Let sit at room temperature for about an hour to cool and then break up any large pieces, if necessary.
Notes
- Store the snack mix in an airtight food storage container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- I like to use salted pecans & salted butter because I like a strong salty to sweet contrast, but you can use unsalted for either or both.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Did you make this recipe?
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This recipe is AWESOME! I made it for my family for Thanksgiving as a last minute thing. I’m already being asked to make more!
Yay, thanks, Linda! I love when last minute things are a hit 🙂
I’m going to try substituting real maple syrup for the corn syrup. We were just given a gallon as a gift and we need to use it up!
Let me know how it goes!