Best Nuts And Bolts Recipe 🥨 Holiday Snack Party Mix Recipe (2024)

Nuts and Bolts snack mixis a twist on a classic homemade Chex mix recipe with the addition ofCheerios, goldfish crackers, bugle chips, cheese crackers,and additional nuts.

This snack mix pairs perfectly withmulling spices mixfor when you want to give an amazinghomemade food gift.

Thisrecipe makes a HUGE batchand is what I keep on hand to snack on all holiday season. I love to have this recipe on hand for when you need to put together a last-minutefood gift or just need the perfect snack. Other snacks I make to have on hand are myseasoned ranch cheese crackers,anddill pickle chex mixfor some out-of-the-box snack options.

Why You Will Love Homemade Nuts And Bolts Party Mix

• Party Hit: Ideal for holiday gatherings, this snack mix's diverse textures and flavors please a crowd with its savory appeal.
• Versatile Delight: Its adaptability allows for endless flavor variations, catering to individual taste preferences and occasions.
• Thoughtful Gift: Perfectly packaged, this snack mix makes a heartfelt homemade present, sharing joy during the festive seasons.
• Convenient Crunch: With its make-ahead nature and long-lasting crispiness, it's a convenient snack ready to satisfy cravings or unexpected guests throughout the holiday season.

Ingredients you need for this nuts and bolts recipe:

• butter
• Worcestershire Sauce
• garlic salt
• onion salt
• celery salt
• season salt
• sugar
• Corn ChexCereal
• Rice Chex
• Cheerios (Honey nut or original)
• Wheat Chex
• crispex
• bugels
• pretzel sticks
• mixed nuts
• pecan pieces
• cashew pieces
• gold fish crackers
• gold fish pretzels
• cheese nips or cheez-its

What can I use instead of bugles?

If you don't have Bugles or prefer an alternative for your Nuts and Pretzels snack mix, you can substitute them with another type of crunchy snack or chip. Some good alternatives to Bugles include corn chips (such as Fritos), mini ice cream cones (without the ice cream, of course), or even rolled tortilla chips. Choose an option that you enjoy and that will provide a similar crunchy texture to complement the mix.

🔄 Nuts and bolts recipe variations:

You may want a different flavor profile when it comes to your chex party mix snack mix. Whether you crave a spicy kick, a sweet and savory combo, or unique flavors like ranch, BBQ, or even a chocolate lover's delight, these tweaks will add a delightful twist to this classic holiday snack. Discover endless possibilities to suit your taste and occasion.

• Spicy Nuts and Bolts: Add a bit of cayenne pepper or your favorite hot sauce to the seasoned butter mixture to give the mix a spicy kick.
• Sweet and Savory: Mix in some sweet ingredients like M&M's or dried cranberries to balance the savory flavors.
• Ranch Flavor: Use a ranch dressing mix packet in place of some of the salt and other seasonings for a tangy, ranch-flavored twist.
• Sesame Soy Nuts and Bolts: Add soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds to give the mix an Asian-inspired flavor.
• BBQ Nuts and Bolts: Mix in some barbecue seasoning or sauce to give it a smoky BBQ flavor.
• Italian Herb Blend: Add Italian spices and grated Parmesan cheese for an Italian-inspired variation.
• Cinnamon-Sugar Nuts and Bolts: Replace some of the salt and seasonings with cinnamon and sugar for a sweet and spiced mix.
• Chocolate Lover's Mix: Add chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and pretzel M&M's for a sweet and salty chocolate mix.

Remember, the possibilities are endless, so feel free to get creative and tailor the Nuts n' Bolts snack mix to your taste or the occasion you're serving it for. Enjoy experimenting with these variations!

How to make nuts and bolts snack mix:

1. Heat oven to 250° F
2. Melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan.
3. Add the seasonings.
4. Stir together the dry ingredients in a very large bowl.
5. Pour the seasoned butter equally over the cereal and nuts.
6. Stir to coat the cereal and butter mixture.
7. Portion out the nuts and bolts mixture onto baking sheets, about 6 cups per sheet. Or, use a very large roasting pan and stirring every 30 minutes.
8. Bake for 90 minutes, rotating and stirring the mixture on the pans every 30 minutes.
9. Cool completely.
10. Repeat until all the mix is baked. It took me 3 rotations of 90 minutes to bake this recipe.
11. Store in airtight container.

Slow Cooker Nuts And Bolts Instructions:

This slow cooker method allows for easy preparation, and it's a convenient way to make a large batch of this delicious holiday party mix. Enjoy!

1. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, and then stir in the Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, onion salt, celery salt, seasoned salt, and sugar.
2. In a large slow cooker, combine the Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Cheerios, Wheat Chex, Crispex, pretzel sticks, mixed nuts, pecan pieces, cashew pieces, goldfish crackers, and cheese nips.
3. Pour the seasoned butter mixture over the dry ingredients in the slow cooker.
4. Gently stir the mixture in the slow cooker to coat everything evenly with the seasoned butter.
5. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to the "Low" heat setting.
6. Cook for 2 to 3 hours, stirring the mix every 30 minutes to ensure even coating and prevent sticking.
7. After cooking, spread the snack mix on a baking sheet or parchment paper to cool and dry.
8. Once completely cooled, keep your Nuts n Bolts snack mix stored in an airtight container.

📖 Recipe

👩🏻‍🍳 Sarah Mock

CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger

Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 14 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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