Sweet and Salty Caramel Crispix Mix Recipe
Crispix Mix is a sweet and salty caramel-coated cereal snack made by combining Crispix cereal with a rich caramel sauce made from butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla. The mixture is heated and coated in the microwave for a perfect crunchy texture, then cooled and sprinkled with sea salt for an irresistible treat. Variations include adding nuts, candy pieces, or pretzels for an extra flavor and texture boost.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: About 8 cups 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Microwaving
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Caramel Sauce
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Cereal
- 6 cups Crispix cereal
Finishing
- Sea salt, for sprinkling
Optional Mix-ins (Recipe Variations)
- Peanuts, cashews, or pecans (1/2 to 1 cup)
- M&Ms, mini chocolate chips, or candy-coated pieces (1/2 to 1 cup)
- Pretzel sticks or broken pretzel rods (1 cup)
Instructions
- Prepare the caramel sauce: In a large saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Allow it to boil gently for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to thicken and develop a rich caramel flavor.
- Add baking soda: Remove the saucepan from heat and immediately stir in the baking soda. The mixture will foam up temporarily; mix well until the foaming subsides to create a lighter, aerated caramel.
- Coat the cereal: Pour the caramel sauce over the Crispix cereal in a large mixing bowl. Stir gently using a rubber or wooden spatula to evenly coat all the cereal pieces without crushing them.
- Microwave heating: Transfer the caramel-coated cereal to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, then stir gently. Repeat this process three more times for a total of 4 minutes of microwave heating. This step helps to dry and set the caramel coating, ensuring a crisp texture.
- Cool and finish: Spread the coated cereal evenly onto a prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with sea salt over the top. Allow the mixture to cool completely at room temperature. As it cools, break the cereal into smaller chunks or pieces using your hands or a spatula.
Notes
- If the mix feels too soft or sticky after microwaving, heat it in short microwave bursts to dry out the coating further.
- For a harder caramel coating, reduce the boiling time or the intensity of the boil when making the caramel.
- To prevent uneven coating, stir or gently shake the cereal mixture carefully to avoid crushing the cereal pieces.
- If your microwave is less powerful, increase each heating burst to about 1 minute and 15 seconds for better drying.
- Feel free to add nuts, candy pieces, or pretzels to vary the texture and flavor of your Crispix Mix.
Keywords: Crispix Mix, caramel snack, sweet and salty cereal mix, microwave caramel, homemade snack mix
