Sweet and Salty Caramel Popcorn Mix made with popcorn, pretzels, Chex cereal, nuts and potato chips, all coated in caramel. Perfect party snack!
We are taking caramel popcorn to a whole new level today! The sweet and salty level with crunchy salted pretzels and ruffled potato chips but also cereal and nuts. This Sweet & Salty Caramel Popcorn Mix is currently our favorite for Friday movie nights. If you've never tried salty potato chips coated in sweet caramel, you are missing out! It's a surprising but a delicious treat. Perfect for a party mix!
This Sweet and Salty Caramel Popcorn Party Mix is quite addicting yet surprisingly easy to make. If you follow the prep steps, you can make it under 20 minutes and ready for your movie night or next party!
Ingredients:
- popcorn
- potato chips
- Chex cereal
- pretzels
- nuts
- butter
- brown sugar
- corn syrup
- salt
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
Instructions:
- Start by selecting the mix: pop the popcorn and place in a large mixing bowl with Chex cereal, pretzels, nuts and broken up ruffled potato chips. I do not recommend classic potato chips as they are too thin and will burn in the oven.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add brown sugar and corn syrup. Stirring often, bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and let cook for 2 minutes without stirring. It's helpful to set up a timer.
- Remove saucepan from heat, stir in salt and vanilla. It will bubble up (you are adding liquid to hot sugar mixture) so be careful. Stir. Add baking soda and stir until the mixture is lighter and creamy in color.
- Pour caramel mixture over the party mix. Stir well. Spread on a large baking sheet (lined with silicone baking mat). Bake in the oven for 4 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. The caramel mixture will melt all over the popcorn mix. Remove from oven and let cool. It will set up and become crunchy. Break it up and place in serving dish. Enjoy!
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Best tips:
- Measure out all of the ingredients and have them ready to go. When making caramel, you need to watch the mixture and it's helpful to have the brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, vanilla and baking soda ready.
- Use a heatproof and large mixing bowl. If you don't have a large one, use two medium ones. You can also place the mix on the baking sheet and pour the caramel mixture over it and stir to coat.
- Watch the popcorn mix while baking in the oven. Every oven is different and if yours is running hot, the caramel might burn. Don't forget to stir halfway through baking.
- Do not use classic potato chips. They are very thin and might burn during baking.
- You can use any nuts you like: pecans, salted peanuts, almonds or walnuts. I personally love candied walnuts and thought they are perfect in this recipe.
More party snacks:
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
Sweet and Salty Popcorn Party Mix
Sweet and Salty Caramel Popcorn Mix made with popcorn, pretzels, Chex cereal, nuts and potato chips, all coated in caramel. Perfect party snack!
Ingredients
- 6 cups popped popcorn
- 2 cups Chex cereal
- 1.5 cups pretzels
- 1 cup nuts
- 1.5 cups broken ruffled potato chips
for caramel:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup corn syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Pop the popcorn and place in a large mixing bowl with Chex cereal, pretzels, nuts and broken up ruffled potato chips.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add brown sugar and corn syrup. Stirring often, bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and let cook for 2 minutes without stirring. It's helpful to set up a timer. In the meantime, prepare large baking sheet with silicone baking mat and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove saucepan from heat, stir in salt and vanilla. It will bubble up (you are adding liquid to hot sugar mixture) so be careful. Stir. Add baking soda and stir vigorously until the mixture is lighter and creamy in color.
- Pour caramel mixture over the party mix. Stir well. Spread on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 4 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. The caramel mixture will melt all over the popcorn mix. Remove from oven and let cool. It will set up and become crunchy. Break it up and place in serving dish. Enjoy!
Notes
- Do not use classic potato chips. They are very thin and might burn during baking.
- You can use any nuts you like: pecans, salted peanuts, almonds or walnuts. I personally love candied walnuts and thought they are perfect in this recipe.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Nutrition
Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 110g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 546mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 6.9mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!
Lori Burch says
Great!!! Vey delicious, easy to make , it’s a party favorite
Ashley Harrison says
Absolutely ADDICTIVE! I made this to take on a weekend trip with my husband and in-laws. I love that the recipe is easily customizable, meaning you can add whatever little snack foods you have on hand. I added some Cheez-Its and some Reece’s pieces to give it a little Fall flair. Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe!
Marge says
After making this recipe, once the popcorn is cooled can you put this in baggies to use the next day?
I want to make this for Super Bowl party but I was wondering if I can make it the day before.
Thank you
Shanna Cook says
I made this for New Year's Eve and we loved it...thanks for sharing the recipe!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
That's awesome, Shanna! Thank you!!
Kristyn says
Love the sweet & salty combination!! Popcorn or a popcorn mix is our favorite movie snack!! Adding caramel is an added bonus!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Thanks so much, Kristyn!
Rachael Yerkes says
Oh my, give me give me give me! This is the best!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Yay! Thanks, Rachael!
Courtney O'Dell says
This popcorn is so dangerously delicious - cant wait to make it again!
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Awesome! Thank you, Courtney!
Becky Hardin says
The perfect snack idea! Love sweet and salty snacks.
Anna@CrunchyCreamySweet says
Me too! So delicious!
Cheryl says
We love sweet and salty snacks! This knocked it out of the park!