Amazing Party Mix

Every good party needs a bowl of this on the coffee table. Homemade snack mix beats anything in a bag because you control the seasoning and the ratio of pretzels to nuts to cereal. This version leans savoury with a tablespoon of barbecue sauce stirred into melted butter, plus garlic powder and toasted sesame seeds for a faint nuttiness running through every bite.

The slow toast in a low oven is what does the real work. An hour with the occasional stir dries the cereals out so they snap instead of squish, and lets the seasoned butter soak into every crevice. By the end, the pretzels take on a deeper, almost roasted flavour and the nuts turn fragrant.

Pro Tips

• Toast the sesame seeds separately first. Tossing raw seeds straight into butter gives you a flat, grassy taste instead of the toasted nuttiness you want.
• Pour the hot seasoned butter over the cereal mix immediately and stir fast. The warmth helps the coating cling evenly before anything cools.
• Stir every 15 minutes during the bake. The pieces on the edges of the pan toast faster than the middle, and stirring keeps anything from scorching.
• Cool completely on the pan before storing. Warm mix steams itself soft inside a sealed container.

Variations

• Swap in mini cheese crackers or sesame sticks for some of the pretzels for more bite variety.
• Add a teaspoon of smoked paprika or a few dashes of Worcestershire for a deeper, smokier coating.
• Toss in dried banana chips or unsweetened coconut flakes after baking for a sweet and salty take.