Sweet and Savory Party Mix

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Our theme for this Sunday Funday is food for cookouts, stuff that Dads would like, since we have Father's Day coming up for guys of the paternal role model type! There are as many party mix recipes out there as there are people that make it, and this is our version.  I actually quite like to pair this with curried muddy buddies...  This is a great mix to have on hand for snacking while waiting for the grill to finish, or during commercial breaks/timeouts for whatever game is playing.  It's make ahead and holds well, so it's a great recipe addition to lessen the load on the day of a get together or cookout.  

As I stood there, breaking up the pieces, still slightly warm, hubby stood there happily sampling and munching and mmmhmmm'ing.  We have tweaked this recipe to be our perfect blend of sweet and savory, with just enough heat to warm, but not be too spicy (for us).  The one note I have is to make sure your white pepper isn't expired!  Fresh white pepper is a flavor revelation, expired white pepper is a dud.  I love it and really need to use it more often.

 
Sweet and Savory Party Mix

9 cups Chex type cereal (I use a combination of rice and corn Chex, plus some Cinnamon Life cereal)
1 cups mini pretzels twists
2 cups nuts of choice (I used pistachios and pecans this time)
1 cup mini bread sticks (or goldfish, oyster, or other small snack cracker)
1 cup bagel chips of choice (we like the garlic and herb flavor, but plain is fine too)
1 cup dried cranberries

Sauce:
¾ cup butter melted
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
½ cups honey
½ cup brown sugar
1 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½-1 tsp cayenne pepper (or 1 tbsp Sriracha + ⅛ tsp cayenne)
1 tsp chili powder
¼ tsp white pepper

Preheat oven to 250ºF.

In a giant bowl combine the cereals, mini pretzels, mini bread sticks, bagel chips and nuts.

In a small pot or the microwave, melt the butter. Add the Worcestershire sauce, honey, brown sugar, curry powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, cayenne pepper/Sriracha, chili powder, and white pepper. Whisk well until the mixture emulsifies and blends fully.

Pour the seasoning sauce over the dry snack mix.

Using a spatula, mix to coat all the mix ingredients evenly.  Sprinkle on the dried cranberries and mix to combine.

Transfer the snack mix onto two parchment lined baking trays and spread evenly.
   
Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until everything is evenly crisped. 

Remove snack mix from oven and let it cool completely.  (You can also leave it in the oven with the door slightly ajar as it cools, until ready to package it.)  The mix will crisp up significantly as it cools.

Serve immediately or keep stored in an air tight container for up to 3 weeks.

It darkens slightly after baking, like caramel corn,
and is delectably crispy!


 Our Sunday Funday this week focuses on cookout foods in anticipation of Father's Day, come and check out all the recipes shared:

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