Sparkling Cider Snack Mix

A festive, crunchy snack mix with a sweet apple-cider glaze, perfect for parties and holiday gatherings.

This mix quickly became a favorite at our family events because everyone loves the sweet and salty combination paired with the holiday flair.

Ingredients

• Dry Mix: 3 cups rice cereal squares (such as Rice Chex), 2 cups mini pretzels, 1 cup honey roasted peanuts, 1 cup dried apple chips broken into bite-sized pieces, 1 cup popcorn (plain air-popped)
• Cider Glaze: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar packed, 1/4 cup sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic), 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat Oven:

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine Dry Ingredients:

In a large bowl combine rice cereal pretzels peanuts apple chips and popcorn. Gently toss to mix.

Make Cider Glaze:

In a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar sparkling cider cinnamon and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer stirring frequently for 23 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

Coat Mix:

Immediately pour the cider glaze over the dry mix. Toss gently with a spatula until evenly coated.

Spread on Baking Sheet:

Spread the mix evenly onto the prepared baking sheet.

Bake:

Bake for 2530 minutes stirring once halfway through until the mix is golden and crisp.

Cool:

Remove from oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet. The mix will crisp as it cools.

Serve:

Once cooled break into clusters if needed and serve or store in an airtight container.

Save to Pinterest

Making this snack together brings back warm holiday memories and is always a fun family activity.

Required Tools

Large mixing bowl saucepan baking sheet parchment paper spatula

Allergen Information

Contains peanuts milk (butter) and gluten (pretzels possibly cereal) check all product labels for allergens especially if serving guests with dietary restrictions

Nutritional Information

Calories 255 Total Fat 11 g Carbohydrates 36 g Protein 4 g per serving

Save to Pinterest

Enjoy this sparkling cider snack mix at your next party for a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Recipe FAQs

→ What ingredients add crunch to the mix?

Rice cereal squares, mini pretzels, honey roasted peanuts, dried apple chips, and air-popped popcorn create a satisfying crunchy texture.

→ How is the cider glaze prepared?

Butter, brown sugar, sparkling apple cider, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla are gently simmered until thickened to form a sweet, flavorful glaze.

→ Can I substitute any ingredients for dietary needs?

Yes, you can replace honey roasted peanuts with candied pecans or swap dried apple chips with dried cranberries for a tangy alternative.

→ What is the baking process for the mix?

After coating the dry ingredients with glaze, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 25–30 minutes, stirring halfway for even crispiness.

→ How should the mix be stored after cooling?

Once fully cooled and crisp, store the clusters in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunch.