Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix – Chelsea’s Messy Apron

December 11, 2022

0 31 5 minutes read

This delicious Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix starts with cinnamon and honey-nut flavored cereals tossed in mixed nuts and coated in a caramelly sugar mixture with a hint of pumpkin pie spice. Toss in some pretzels and seasonally colored candies and you’ve got a great mix to enjoy with family or friends or a perfect gift; fill up a bag or decorative box with this mix and give it out as a festive treat.

Overhead view of Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix.

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix

One of the first recipes I ever shared on this site was this No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake. It has been a popular recipe on the site for the past seven years and one I make every fall or Thanksgiving for my own family. One of the hallmarks of that recipe is a faint pumpkin flavor that is anything but overwhelming. My husband was convinced he didn’t like pumpkin pie, and I was convinced I could get him to love it.

Turns out that cheesecake is one of his favorite recipes and he’ll tell you it’s because the pumpkin isn’t overpowering. While most of my other pumpkin recipes have pumpkin as the front-and-center flavor, Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix is not overwhelmingly pumpkin. In fact, there is not any actual pumpkin in this snack mix; instead, there’s just a hint of pumpkin in the form of pumpkin pie spice.

QUICK TIP

Pumpkin pie spice is a delicious combination of warming spices. You can find it among other spices in the grocery store, or you can make your own!

Process shot: mix cereal and nuts on a lined baking tray; combine butter, sugar and corn syrup; stir to melt; add in salt and baking soda; stir in vanilla; pour over the cereal and nuts.

How to make Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix

Start by tossing together the cereal and nuts. Use any type of nuts; I love a combination of nuts! I recommend lightly salted nuts so the nuts have a better flavor without requiring you to season them.
Make the syrup. Combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup and boil for one minute. Be sure to stir the entire time the mixture is boiling!
Mix into the cereal and nuts. Pour the prepared syrup over the cereal and nuts and, working very quickly, toss to coat everything in the sugar mixture.
Stir together pumpkin pie spice and sugar. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cereal and nuts; then bake the mix.
Remove the snack mix from the oven. Toss everything with a spatula and return to the oven for a few more minutes.
Add mix-ins. After baking, let the mix cool slightly and then add in the pretzels and M&M’s. Let the mix stand for another 30+ minutes to fully harden and solidify.

QUICK TIP

Make sure the sugar syrup mixture boils for 1 minute; start the timer once it’s doing a full rolling boil, not just simmering.

Process shots: toss the cereal, nuts and sugar syrup; mix the spice blend and sprinkle over the tray of ingredients; bake, turn and bake again; remove from oven, add pretzels and M&M's; let mix harden and then serve.

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix Tips

I recommend using an extra-large sheet pan (15×21 inches) or two large sheet pans.
Make sure to get the right cereal. The cinnamon and honey-nut flavored Chex cereals add so much to this Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix! (Not sponsored)
Line the sheet pans with foil, parchment paper, or Silpat® liners so the mix doesn’t stick and make a big mess! It’s nearly impossible to get off an unlined tray.
Let the mix cool completely before serving. This mixture needs some time for the sugar syrup to fully harden and the cereal to become firm. Set aside at least an hour for everything to fully set up.
I recommend a good nonstick saucepan; you want one with a heavy bottom so you don’t burn the syrup.
Use a pot bigger than you think you’ll need because the syrup “grows” when the baking soda is mixed in.
Add pumpkin pie spice to taste. In the recipe I indicate 2-3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice; add this to personal preference. We like 2 teaspoons, but if you’d like a stronger pumpkin spice flavor, add 3.

QUICK TIP

Customize this snack mix to the occasion. Use red and green M&M’s for Christmas, blue and white for Hanukkah, and orange and brown for Thanksgiving. And because the pumpkin spice flavor is so subtle, this can be used year-round, not just in fall and winter.

View of the Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix in a large bowl.

More Pumpkin Treats

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix

This delicious Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix starts with cinnamon and honey-nut flavored cereals tossed in mixed nuts and coated in a caramelly sugar mixture with a hint of pumpkin pie spice. Toss in some pretzels and seasonally colored candies and you’ve got a great mix to enjoy with family or friends or a perfect gift; fill up a bag or decorative box with this mix and give it out as a festive treat.

Pumpkin Spice Snack Mix

Instructions

PREP: Preheat oven to 350. Line a 15×21-inch baking sheet (or 2 smaller baking sheets) with heavy-duty foil or parchment paper (regular foil tends to rip easily) and grease generously with nonstick cooking spray.
CEREAL: Add 4 cups Cinnamon Chex, 4 cups Honey Nut Chex, and 1 cup mixed nuts to the prepared sheet pan.
SYRUP: In a heavy, medium-sized pot, add the 1/2 cup butter (cut into tablespoons), 1 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1/4 cup corn syrup. Place over medium to medium-high heat and stir constantly until butter is melted. Continue to stir until the mixture comes to a rapid boil. Boil for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly, and remove from heat. Add in the 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt. Stir to combine. Add in the vanilla extract and stir to combine. Pour over the cereal on the sheet pan and, working quickly, stir until cereal and nuts are coated in the mixture. Spread cereal and nut mixture into one even layer.
PUMPKIN SPICED SUGAR: In a small bowl, combine 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (add 3 teaspoons for a stronger pumpkin spice flavor) and 2/3 cup white sugar; stir to combine. Sprinkle evenly over the cereal mixture. (Don’t mix this spiced sugar into the cereal).
BAKE: Bake for 5 minutes, remove from the oven, and toss using a metal spatula. Spread mixture again to one even layer. Return to the oven and bake for 4 more minutes. Remove from the oven and toss again. Spread in one even layer and let cool for 5 minutes. Add the pretzels and M&M’s onto the sheet pan, toss to combine, and spread in an even layer. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour to fully harden and set up.
STORAGE: Store in an airtight bag or container and room temperature. Mix is best enjoyed within 3-4 days.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: To have more Fall-centric colors, I pick out red, orange, yellow, and brown M&M’s to get 1 cup of these colors and then add those to the mix. For Christmas or Hanukkah, use candies with those colors.

Nutrition Facts

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

December 11, 2022

0 31 5 minutes read