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.