Friday, October 9, 2015

Cheesy, Spicy, Sweet and Nutty Snack Mix

Bring this snack mix to a party and you will be a hero. Make it for a party at your house, and your guests will never want to leave. Or they won't leave until the mix is gone. It's sweet, salty, cheesy, nutty, and spicy. It's like regular snack mix turned up to 11 with the addition of cheese and sweetness. It's irresistible.

Oh, and if you need to boot those guests out of the house, pack up little to-go bags for them to take home after the party. This would be a welcome hostess gift, and a great dorm snack.

Cheese powder can be found online from spice shops, or from companies that sell popcorn supplies. There is also a cheese-flavored popcorn topping that you can find at grocery stores, but I don't recommend it - it can be way too salty, well before you taste enough cheese.

Even so, taste the cheese powder before you start. If it seems salty, you can skip the salt in the recipe and keep the saltiness in mind as you add the cheese powder.

The nuts I used were from Truly Good Foods that were supplied for this challenge.

Cheesy, Spicy, Sweet and Nutty Snack Mix
Donna Currie, Cookistry

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of garlic salt
5 cups Chex cereal (mixed or all one type)
1 cup Cheerios cereal
1/4 to 1/2 cup cheese powder
1 cup Buffalo Nuts
1 cup Butter Toffee Peanuts

Put the butter on a large sheet pan and place it in the oven while you heat it to 250°F. When the butter is melted, add the Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle on the salt, onion powder, and garlic powder so it's fairly well evenly distributed.

Add the cereals and stir and toss to coat the cereal with the butter and seasonings.

Place the pan in the oven and cook for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

After 45 minutes of baking, add 1/4 cup of cheese powder and stir. The cheese will stick to the cereal. Add more cheese powder, if desired. I added another 2 Tablespoons and I was happy with that, but more would not be terrible, either.

Add the nuts and stir to combine.

Cook an additional 15 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven and let the mix cool before storing.

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