Halloween Party Mix

I can't participate in Kelly's "Show Us Your Life" room this week because it's home-office week and as you saw in Sunday's smattering...I'm under construction. But I need a break from the desert, so...let's eat!!

This is a recipe I've only made once, and you know normally I don't post recipes on a first time basis, but this one was such a hit, I wanted to post it. Plus...it's called Halloween party mix, so we're running out of time to make it! Although I gotta tell you - this would work well just about any old time of the year!

I made this for the last game night I had with my high school cronies, and they liked it. I took the rest to a Bible study and to church for our Family Night dinner....and I had requests to bring the recipe to share. It does make quite a bit, so if you've got any big fall parties coming up, this would be a great thing to make!


The Recipe

1 package (11 ounces) pretzels
1 package (10-1/2 ounces) miniature peanut butter filled crackers
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 package (10 ounces) M&M's
1 package (18-1/2 ounces) candy corn

In a large bowl, combine the pretzels, crackers and peanuts. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and corn syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat; boil for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture will foam). Pour over pretzel mixture and stir until coated. Transfer to a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 250° for 45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Break apart while warm. Toss with M&M's and candy corn. Cool completely. Store in airtight containers.
I had some trouble finding the exact ounces of the ingredients, but I figured an extra ounce here and a missing ounce there eventually evened out. I was very sad that Aldis was out of pretzels the week I made this...so I had to go the name brand route. BUT - these little waffle designed pretzels worked really well with the coating. Good choice! I elected to get salted dry-roasted peanuts. I also used peanut M&Ms instead of plain - but you could do whatever you like in that realm.
I dumped the pretzels, peanuts, and crackers in my biggest bowl...

I used real butter and cut it into little chunks so it would melt faster with the sugar and the corn syrup.

I did not want to have to scrape burned sugar off the bottom of the pot, so I stayed right there and stirred it the whole time.

It started to boil...so when it got to look like this, I started the timer....

It came to a really good rolling boil.

And this is what it looked like when the timer went off. At this point, I added the vanilla and baking soda.

I poured it over the pretzels, crackers, and peanuts.

Won't lie...it was a bit of a challenge to stir. But I managed to get it mixed up well.

I decided to use my big roaster pan to bake it, so I poured the mixture in there and spread it out so I could get maximum baking evenness.

I stirred it every fifteen minutes. This is what it looked like at the first stirring.

And the second...

And the third! I didn't really have to do much "breaking" like the recipe said. That might have been because it was all spread out in the roaster pan and not bunched up on a cookie sheet.

I added in the candy corn (might have added some extra) and M&M's.

And here's the finished product! Very addictive. Great blend of sweet and salty.

And I have to say - it tasted even better after it sat for a few days. Very, very yummy!! Happy Halloween!!