Name: Sweet & Salty Party Mix
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 (3-3.5-oz) pkg microwave popcorn ((about 5 cups popped)); 3 cups miniature pretzel twists; 2 cups dry-roasted salted peanuts; 2 cups rice chex cereal; 1 cup butter; 1 cup packed light brown sugar; 1/3 cup corn syrup; 1 tsp baking soda

Sweet & Salty Party Mix – the ultimate caramel popcorn. This stuff should come with a warning label! It is ridiculously delicious. Popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, and Chex cereal coated in an easy homemade caramel sauce made with butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and baking soda. This makes a lot of snack mix. It is great for parties and an easy homemade holiday gift. Whip up a batch ASAP!

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Easy Caramel Popcorn Recipe

This Sweet & Salty Party Mix is our new obsession. This stuff is crazy good! I mean it! This is caramel corn on steroids. Popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, and Chex cereal coated in an easy homemade caramel sauce. I made a batch to take to our tailgate last week and I was worried that it wouldn’t make it to the tailgate. My family couldn’t stop eating it. We managed to save about half of it to share with everyone in the parking lot and it was a huge hit! I had none leftover. I have already made it again. We absolutely love this stuff!

baking sheet of caramel pretzels popcorn and peanuts

How to Make Sweet & Salty Party Mix

This party mix is super simple to make. Start with popping a bag of microwave popcorn. In a giant bowl, combine popcorn, pretzels, dry roasted peanuts, and Chex cereal. In a large saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to cook without stirring for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; carefully stir in baking soda. The mixture will foam up. Pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn mixture; stir until evenly coated. Spread the popcorn mixture onto a large rimmed baking sheet; bake 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and cool.

I used Orville Redenbocker microwave popcorn. You can use any flavor of microwave popcorn that you prefer.
You are going to want to use a large saucepan for the caramel mixture. When you add the baking soda, the mixture is going to foam up and expand. If you use a small saucepan, you will have a giant mess!
What does the baking soda do? The baking soda makes the sugar mixture light and airy – perfect for caramel corn.
How Long with Sweet & Salty Pary Mix Keep? This will keep for several weeks in an air-tight container. I place the cooled caramel corn in gallon ziplock bags. Great for storage and easy snacking.
Is Sweet & Salty Snack Mix gluten-free? Yes! This is a delicious gluten-free dessert.

bowl of of caramel pretzels popcorn and peanuts

Caramel Corn Snack Mix for a Crowd

This caramel popcorn should come with a warning label. It is ridiculously good! We had zero self-control around this stuff. This recipe makes a lot of party mix. It is great for a crowd or an easy holiday gift. Tie some up in a cellophane bag or throw some in a Christmas tin and you are set!

Here are a few more of our favorite party snacks and easy holiday gifts:

Dessert