Sparkling Cider Snack Mix

A festive, crunchy snack mix with a sweet apple-cider glaze, perfect for parties and holiday gatherings.

This party mix quickly became my go-to snack for festive occasions because everyone loves its unique sparkle and crunch.

Ingredients

• Dry Mix: 3 cups rice cereal squares (such as Rice Chex), 2 cups mini pretzels, 1 cup honey roasted peanuts, 1 cup dried apple chips broken into bite-sized pieces, 1 cup popcorn (plain, air-popped)
• Cider Glaze: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar packed, 1/4 cup sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat Oven:

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Mix Dry Ingredients:

In a large bowl, combine rice cereal pretzels peanuts apple chips and popcorn. Gently toss to mix.

Make Glaze:

In a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar sparkling cider cinnamon and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer stirring frequently for 2 3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Coat Mix:

Immediately pour the cider glaze over the dry mix. Toss gently with a spatula until evenly coated.

Spread Mix:

Spread the mix evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake:

Bake for 25 30 minutes stirring once halfway through until the mix is golden and crisp.

Cool:

Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. The mix will crisp as it cools.

Serve or Store:

Once cooled break into clusters if needed and serve or store in an airtight container.

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This mix always brings back fond memories of family holiday gatherings filled with laughter and joy.

Notes

For extra flavor add a pinch of nutmeg or swap honey roasted peanuts with candied pecans. This mix pairs well with sparkling cider or festive mocktails.

Required Tools

Large mixing bowl saucepan baking sheet parchment paper spatula

Nutritional Information

Per serving: Calories 255 Total Fat 11 g Carbohydrates 36 g Protein 4 g

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This sparkling cider snack mix is the perfect festive treat to share with friends and family this season.

Recipe FAQs

→ What gives the mix its sweet flavor?

The sparkling apple cider glaze combined with brown sugar and cinnamon adds a sweet, spiced touch to the crunchy mix.

→ Can I make this mix nut-free?

Yes, substitute honey roasted peanuts with seeds or omit them entirely for a nut-free version.

→ How to store the mix to keep it crunchy?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature once completely cooled to maintain crispness.

→ Is there a way to add a tangy flavor?

Replacing dried apple chips with dried cranberries introduces a pleasant tangy note.

→ What oven temperature is used for baking?

The mix is baked at 300°F (150°C) until golden and crisp, about 25–30 minutes.