Sweet and Spicy Frito Snack Mix
Sweet and Spicy Frito Snack Mix is a fun twist on classic party mix using Frito corn chips as the star of the show. If you ever wondered what a sweetened corn chip coated in a sweet and spicy caramel glaze tastes like, this is the recipe to try!
Inspired by Cookies and Cups
Try my other popular party snack mix recipes--Spring Chex Party Mix, or my Sweet Heat Texas Trash.
Why You'll Love Sweet and Spicy Frito Snack Mix
- An irresistible crunchy snack
- Only needs to bake for 15 minutes
- The perfect balance of sweet, salty, and a kick of spice
- Simple to make
- The ultimate snack for a game night or casual party
I'm sharing this fun and unique Sweet and Spicy Frito Snack Mix you'll wish you didn't even know about because once you pop that first crunchy cluster in your mouth, there's no turning back.
This easy homemade party mix combines salty Fritos corn chips, rice Chex cereal, pretzel twists, and mixed nuts, then tossed with a rich, sweet and spicy caramel glaze. Talk about the perfect combination of flavors, sweetness, spice, and crunch. This is the ULTIMATE snack mix!
The Frito corn chips in this recipe is everything and a major game changer when it comes to party mix recipes. The corn flavor offers a fun change and I promise if you set out a bowl of this snack mix when company is over it will disappear before your eyes.
Key Ingredients
Here is a list of everything you need. You can find the measurements in the recipe card below!
- Fritos Corn Chips- Here I used lightly salted corn chips and felt the overall recipe had plenty of salt.
- Chex cereal- Rice Chex are airy and light adding a perfect crunch factor with the other ingredients.
- Pretzels- Use any shape you love. The mini twists are a bit sturdier and hold up well with the glaze.
- Nuts- We love all nuts so I chose to use a mixture.
- M&M's candy- A touch of chocolate flavor is the perfect balance with the caramel glaze. It's springtime so I used the pastel color for a festive look.
- Sweet and spicy glaze- Brown sugar, light corn syrup, butter, cayenne pepper, and chili powder.
Additional Add-Ins To Try
Swap out or add some of these ideas to make the snack mix your own. Just don't skip the corn chips.
- Cereal- Corn Chex, wheat Chex, cheerios, or golden grahams.
- Crackers- Oyster crackers, Cheez-Its, or Ritz crackers.
- Candy- Add candy or chocolate like dark chocolate chunks, mini marshmallows, candy corn, or chocolate covered raisins.
- Nuts- Peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, or walnuts.
Important Tip
- The sweet and spicy glaze will set up fast so you want to work quickly when combining with the crunchy ingredients.
Step By Step Directions
See full instructions in recipe card below
Step One. Before you start make sure your oven is preheated to 350℉.
Combine all the crunchy ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Make sure to leave out the M&M's or any other candy or chocolate you might be using.
Step Two. In a small saucepan melt butter with brown sugar, light corn syrup, and spices. Bring to a medium simmer and allow to simmer for 4 minutes. It should be an amber color.
Step Three. Immediately pour glaze over crunchy mixture and toss with a large spatula until well combined. Transfer mixture to a large sheet pan sprayed with cooking spray and a layer of parchment paper.
Step Four. Bake in preheated oven for 8-minutes, toss, and bake another 8-minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at least 15-minutes. Break mixture into pieces large and small then add your M&M's candy. Cool completely and it's ready to serve.
Tips
- 💡Wait to mix in candy until after the baking time. You'll want to wait to add any candy you might have until after the Frito mix has baked and cooled some, otherwise the heat from the ingredients will melt the candy or chocolate. Not a bad thing, it just doesn't look as pretty.
- 💡Watch the baking time closely. Make sure to set a timer so you don't forget about the mix in the oven. It will brown quickly and can easily go from perfect to burnt.
- 💡The sweet and spicy glaze will set up fast so you want to work quickly when combining with the crunchy ingredients.
Storing Frito Snack Mix
- Make sure snack mix is completely cooled then add it to a large container with a tight fitted lid. This snack mix will stay fresh for up to two weeks. If it lasts that long.
More Snacks To Enjoy
- Classic Oven Baked Chex Party Mix
- Sweet and Spicy Fall Chex Mix
- White Christmas Chex Party Mix
- Cowboy Chocolate Bark
Sweet and Spicy Frito Snack Mix
Equipment
- 1 large bowl
- 1 small sauce pan
- 1 Large sheet pan
Ingredients
- 1 (9) ounce bag Fritos corn chips, lightly salted or regular
- 2 cups Chex rice cereal
- 2 cups mini pretzel twists
- 1 ½ cups mixed nuts
- 1 stick butter (8 tbsp) I use salted
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup M&M's chocolate candy
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350℉. Prepare a large sheet pan generously with non-stick cooking spray, then lay down a piece of parchment paper, followed by another coating of non-stick spray.
Prepare Crunchy Ingredients
- Combine all the crunchy ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Make sure to leave out the M&M's or any other candy/chocolate you might be using.9 ounce bag Fritos corn chips2 cups Chex rice cereal2 cups mini pretzels 1 ½ cups mixed nuts
Make Sweet and Spicy Glaze
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter with brown sugar, light corn syrup, and spices. Bring to a medium simmer and allow to bubble for 4-minutes. It should be the color of caramel. 1 stick butter (8 tbsp)1 cup packed brown sugar½ cup light corn syrup1 ½ teaspoon chili powder½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Bake
- Immediately pour glaze over crunchy mixture and toss with a large spatula until well combined. The glaze will harden fast so work quickly. Transfer mixture to your prepared sheet pan and place in the oven to bake for 8-mintues. Give it a toss and bake another 8-minutes.
Cool
- Remove pan from the oven and allow the mixture to cool at least 15-minutes or until you can handle it and it's not too sticky. Break the mixture into pieces large and small then add your M&M's candy over the top. Don't stir and leave snack mix to cool completely. Transfer to a large bowl to serve or place in an airtight container. 1 cup M&M's candy
Notes
Nutrition
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