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This crowd-pleasing Praline Snack Mix brings together the best of both worlds: the flavors of classic Southern pralines and the satisfying crunch of traditional party mix! Every bite delivers a perfect balance of sweet and salty, with toasted pecans, crispy cereal, and crunchy pretzels all wrapped in a warmly spiced brown sugar coating that makes it impossible to stop at just one handful.
This praline-coated snack mix isn’t just a treat – it’s a delicious solution for all your holiday gifting and entertaining needs. The buttery, caramel-coated mixture makes a thoughtful homemade gift when packaged in mason jars tied with ribbon, arranged in festive holiday tins, or presented in cellophane bags with handwritten tags. Whether you’re creating welcome gifts for guests, adding a special touch to teacher appreciation baskets, or assembling care packages for far-away loved ones, this sweet and crunchy mix shows just how much you care!
What makes this recipe truly special is its versatility throughout the year. While it’s perfect for holiday gatherings and fall and winter celebrations, it’s equally at home at summer picnics, tailgate parties, a Mardi Gras snack, or afternoon coffee dates with friends! The mix travels beautifully, making it ideal for potlucks and bake sales, and its generous yield means you can easily make a batch to share and still have plenty left to enjoy at home. Plus, the fact that it stays fresh for up to two weeks means you can make it ahead of time!
Nikki’s Recipe Rundown
- Taste: This praline snack mix hits all the right notes with its buttery caramel coating, warming cinnamon spice, and perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors.
- Texture: Every bite delivers a delicious mix of textures with crispy rice Chex, crunchy pretzels, and toasted pecans!
- Ease: With just a handful of pantry staples and about 40 minutes from start to finish, this recipe is super easy to make!
- Pros: This recipe makes a generous amount of snack mix and lasts for up to 2 weeks! So you can make it ahead of time, snack on it, or share it with others.
- Considerations: While this snack mix recipe is quite forgiving, paying attention to cooling time and proper storage in airtight containers is essential for maintaining that crispy texture!
- Recipe Repeatability: This is a foolproof recipe that consistently delivers excellent results and can be easily doubled or customized to make all year long.
Ingredients Needed for Praline Snack Mix
- Salted Butter: Salted butter is nice here since it will balance out the sweetness! If you have unsalted butter, add 1 teaspoon of salt to the melted butter mixture.
- Brown Sugar & White Sugar: A combination of brown sugar and white granulated sugar adds sweetness and a caramelized flavor!
- Ground Cinnamon: For a warming, cozy flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract adds a depth of flavor to this snack mix.
- Rice Chex: I like using rice Chex, but you can use any unflavored Chex version!
- Pecans: Halved pecans are just the right size!
- Pretzels: Pretzels add the perfect salty addition for a salty-sweet snack mix.
How To Make The Best Pecan Praline Snack Mix
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Prep the Syrup Mixture
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Melt your butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter is completely melted, add the brown sugar and ½ cup of white granulated sugar. Whisk to combine.
Add in the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. Whisk again to combine, and then let the mixture cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.
Step 2 | Combine with Snack Mix
After 3 minutes, fold in the Chex, pecans, and pretzels. Make sure the snack mix is evenly coated in the sugar mixture.
Step 3 | Bake & Enjoy
Spread the snack mix out on a 9×13-inch baking sheet and sprinkle it with the remaining granulated sugar. Bake the snack mix for 25 minutes.
Let your snack mix cool on the counter until it is warm to the touch, and then break it up and transfer it to a serving bowl.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easier cleanup and to prevent sticking, which is especially helpful when breaking apart the cooled mix.
- When melting the butter and sugar mixture, stir constantly to prevent burning and ensure even caramelization. The mixture should be smooth and completely combined.
- Spread the mix in a single, even layer on the baking sheet – overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking and soggy pieces rather than the desired crunch.
- Let the mix cool completely for maximum crunchiness! While it’s tempting to dig in right away, a little bit of patience will give you the best texture.
Variations and Substitutions
- Nuts: While pecans are traditional in a praline mix, you can use walnuts, almonds, or cashews for a different flavor profile!
- Cereal: I like the way rice Chex tastes here, but you can use corn Chex if you prefer. You could also add other cereal to the mix, like Crispix or Cheerios!
- Chocolate: For an extra layer of indulgence, add in some mini white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips!
- Gluten-Free: To make this praline snack mix recipe gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free pretzels!
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Recipe FAQs
Praline is essentially any confection that contains nuts! Often times, candied pecans are referred to as pralines, but pralines can consist of nuts like walnuts or almonds, too!
Absolutely! The mix stays fresh for up to two weeks!
This usually happens if the mix is stored in a humid environment. Always ensure your storage container is completely airtight and store in a cool, dry place.
Storage
Storage: Store the snack mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing this snack mix, since it will lose its crunchy texture!
What to Serve with Praline Snack Mix
Serve this praline snack mix alongside other party favorites like fresh fruit or a holiday charcuterie board! For casual gatherings, set out small bowls throughout the space so you never get too far from this addictive snack mix.
It also pairs well with a Biscoff butter cookie latte, gingerbread hot chocolate, or spiced apple cider for an afternoon treat!
Don’t forget this when Mardi Gras celebrations roll around! I love to snack on this before we dig into our Shrimp Po’ Boys, Shrimp and Grits, or Roast Beef Debris with Gravy!
Other Recipes to Try
- Christmas Pretzels with Rolos
- Cookie Butter Cookies
- Hot Chocolate Brownies
- Cookie Butter Muddy Buddies
- Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats
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Praline Snack Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups rice chex
- 1 ½ cups halved pecans
- 2 cups pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Melt your butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter is completely melted, add the brown sugar and ½ cup of white granulated sugar. Whisk to combine.
- Add in the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. Whisk again to combine and then let the mixture cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.
- After 3 minutes, fold in the chex, pecans, and pretzels. Make sure the snack mix is evenly coated in the sugar mixture.
- Spread the snack mix out on a 9×13 inch baking sheet and sprinkle it with the remaining granulated sugar. Bake the snack mix for 25 minutes.
- Let your snack mix cool on the counter until it is warm to the touch and then break it up and transfer it to a serving bowl.
- Serve and enjoy!
Want to Save this Recipe?
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By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Notes
- We prefer the taste of rice chex, but you can use corn chex as well.
- You can use whole pecans or chopped pecans in addition to halved pecans. You can also use a combination if you want a variety of sizes in your snack mix. Halved pecans give the most quintessential “pecan praline” look.
- I use light brown sugar to avoid over-sweetening my snack mix. Dark brown sugar is made with more molasses than light brown sugar so it will give a richer, stronger, sweeter flavor. If you have a big sweet tooth then you can definitely use it instead of light brown sugar.
- If you are using unsalted butter then you’ll want to whisk in 1 teaspoon of salt along with the sugars. You can also sprinkle some salt onto the snack mix as it comes out of the oven.
- It is important to let your snack mix cool before serving it. The sugar mixture will be quite hot and can easily burn you. Usually my snack mix needs to cool for about 10 minutes before it’s cool enough to touch.
- You can serve this snack mix as soon as it is cool enough to handle, or you can let it cool completely. Once cooled completely the snack mix will be a bit crunchier.
- Store your snack mix in an airtight container or ziploc bag on the counter for up to 2 weeks.
- We like to use circular pretzels (similar to what you would find in store bought chex mix) but any shape of small pretzel will work just fine.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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