Crunchy mix with sparkling cider glaze, apple chips, nuts, and cinnamon for festive gatherings.
# What you'll need:
→ Dry Mix
01 - 3 cups rice cereal squares (e.g., Rice Chex)
02 - 2 cups mini pretzels
03 - 1 cup honey roasted peanuts
04 - 1 cup dried apple chips, broken into bite-sized pieces
05 - 1 cup plain air-popped popcorn
→ Cider Glaze
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
07 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
08 - 1/4 cup sparkling non-alcoholic apple cider
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Method:
01 - Heat the oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, mix rice cereal, pretzels, peanuts, apple chips, and popcorn until evenly distributed.
03 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, sparkling apple cider, cinnamon, and salt. Simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and mix in vanilla extract.
04 - Pour the cider glaze immediately over the dry mix. Gently toss with a spatula to ensure even coating.
05 - Spread the coated mix evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until golden and crisp.
06 - Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. The snack will crisp as it cools. Break into clusters as desired and serve or store in an airtight container.
