Kansas City Crunch

Kansas City Crunch Snack Mix

This irresistible snack mix delivers the perfect harmony of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. Featuring a crunchy blend of cereals and Fritos chips coated in a zesty caramel glaze, it’s a fantastic treat for parties, game nights, or anytime you want a tasty snack.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups Rice or Corn Chex cereal
• 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 2 cups Fritos chips
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• Optional: Colored sugar sprinkles

Directions:

1. Prepare Dry Mix: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine Chex cereal, Rice Krispies, Fritos, and cashews.
2. Make Caramel Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sugar, corn syrup, cinnamon, chili powder, and salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully stir in baking soda—watch as it bubbles up. Mix until fully incorporated.
3. Combine & Cool: Pour the hot caramel sauce over the cereal mixture and toss gently to coat evenly. Spread the coated mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Let cool completely (about an hour) until crisp.
4. Serve & Store: Break into bite-sized pieces once cooled. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature to keep the crunch fresh.