Cheerios Mix
Cheerios Mix offers a crunchy, sweet, and nutty snack combining toasted cereal with pecans and almonds, perfect for parties, snacks, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Brush a jelly roll pan (15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch) with butter.
- In a 3-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar, dark corn syrup, butter, and salt over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from heat.
- Stir in Cheerios, pecan halves, and slivered almonds until well coated.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Cool for 10 minutes.
- Loosen the mixture with a metal spatula.
- Let stand until firm, about 1 hour.
- Store in a covered container.
Tips & Substitutions
For an added touch, consider using honey instead of dark corn syrup for a different flavor profile. You can also substitute walnuts or cashews for the pecans if desired. Make sure to stir constantly while heating the sugar mixture to prevent it from burning. If you prefer a sweeter mix, feel free to increase the brown sugar slightly.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy the Cheerios Mix as a snack on its own or as a topping for yogurt or ice cream. It also makes a delightful addition to a trail mix. For a festive touch, consider pairing it with other sweets like the Peanut Butter Chocolate Preacher's Delight during gatherings.
Storage & Reheating
Store the Cheerios Mix in an airtight container at room temperature to keep it crunchy. It will stay fresh for about a week. If you want to reheat it, you can spread it out on a baking sheet and warm it in a 300°F oven for about 5-10 minutes to regain some crispiness.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Cheerios Mix contains roughly 1413 calories, with 38g protein, 65g carbohydrates, and 120g fat. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber (80% of the Daily Value), protein (76% of the Daily Value), and iron (38% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 880mg per serving (38% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, you can use gluten-free Cheerios to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities. Always check the packaging to ensure that the ingredients are certified gluten-free for safety.
How can I make this recipe nut-free?
To make a nut-free version, simply omit the pecans and slivered almonds. You can substitute with seeds like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for added crunch without the allergens.
Can I add other ingredients to this mix?
Absolutely! Feel free to customize the mix by adding dried fruit like cranberries or raisins, or even chocolate chips for a sweeter touch. Just be mindful of the balance of wet and dry ingredients to maintain the right texture.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).