Praline Crunch

🥣 Ultimate Praline Crunch Recipe

A Southern Classic with a Buttery Caramel Twist

---

🍬 What Is Praline Crunch?

Praline Crunch, sometimes referred to as "Southern snack crack" or "caramel snack mix," is a decadent combination of cereal (typically Corn Chex or Crispix), pecans, and a buttery praline coating made with brown sugar and corn syrup. It’s then baked low and slow until caramelized, crunchy, and completely addictive.

This treat combines the sweet, nutty essence of traditional Southern pralines with the addictive crunch of snack mix. The result is a dessert-style finger food that's perfect for holiday parties, gift bags, game nights, or just general snacking.

---

🛒 Ingredients Breakdown

Here's what you'll need to create this irresistible snack. The recipe is highly adaptable based on your taste and pantry.

Dry Ingredients:

• 8 cups Corn Chex, Crispix, or Rice Chex
  (You can use one or mix two types for varied texture)

• 2 cups pecan halves
  (Lightly toasted if you prefer extra crunch)

• 1½ cups mini pretzels
  (Optional but adds great salty balance)

Praline Coating:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar

• ½ cup light corn syrup

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon salt (optional, especially if using salted butter)

💡 Optional Add-ins:

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

• Pinch of cayenne pepper (for a sweet heat version)

• 1 cup toffee bits or crushed praline candy

• 1 cup M&Ms or white chocolate chips (added after baking)

---

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

🥄 1. Preheat and Prepare

• Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C).

• Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them with nonstick spray.

Low, slow baking ensures that the praline coating hardens perfectly without burning.

---

🥣 2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a very large mixing bowl (or use a large roasting pan), combine:

• 8 cups of Chex or Crispix

• 2 cups of pecans

• 1½ cups pretzels (optional)

Toss gently to distribute everything evenly.

---

🔥 3. Make the Praline Caramel Sauce

In a medium saucepan over medium heat:

1. Melt 1 cup of butter.

2. Stir in 1 cup brown sugar and ½ cup corn syrup.

3. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to boil.

4. Allow it to boil gently for 3 minutes without stirring.

Don’t walk away — this is a hot sugar mixture and can bubble up quickly.

After 3 minutes:

• Remove the pot from heat.

• Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon baking soda.

• The mixture will foam up — this is normal and important for texture!

🧪 Why baking soda? It reacts with the brown sugar and corn syrup, aerating the caramel to create a lighter, crispier coating.

---

🍯 4. Combine the Sauce and Cereal Mix

• Immediately pour the hot praline mixture over the cereal and nut mix.

• Use a spatula or wooden spoon to gently fold and stir, ensuring every piece is coated.

Take your time with this step. It’s important that all cereal and nuts get a bit of the sticky coating before baking.

---

🔥 5. Bake Low and Slow

• Spread the coated mix evenly onto the two prepared baking sheets.

• Bake at 250°F (120°C) for 1 hour, stirring every 15–20 minutes.

This step slowly dries and caramelizes the mixture, giving it that signature crunch.

🍳 Stirring Tip: Use a wide spatula to gently turn the mix over without crushing the cereal or breaking the pecans.

---

❄️ 6. Cool and Harden

• After an hour, remove trays from the oven.

• Let the mix cool completely on the trays (about 30–45 minutes).

As it cools, the praline coating will harden into a crunchy shell.

🧊 Cool completely before storing — this keeps it crisp and prevents clumping.

---

🍬 7. Break Apart and Enjoy

Once cooled:

• Gently break apart any clusters into bite-sized chunks.

• Serve immediately or store for later.

---

🎁 Storage and Gift Ideas

📦 Storage:

• Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

• Do not refrigerate — it can cause the caramel to become sticky.

🎀 Gift Ideas:

• Portion into clear treat bags tied with ribbon for holiday gifts.

• Fill mason jars with Praline Crunch and add a festive label.

• Perfect for teacher appreciation, party favors, or bake sales.

---

🧑‍🔬 Pro Tips for Perfect Praline Crunch

1. Use unsalted butter so you can control saltiness, especially if using salted pretzels.

2. Toast your pecans for 5–7 minutes at 350°F before mixing in. This intensifies their flavor.

3. Stir carefully while baking. You want even coating without crushing delicate cereal.

4. Avoid overbaking. The mixture will seem soft when hot but will firm as it cools.

5. Add delicate toppings (like M&Ms or chocolate chips) only after the mix has cooled.

---

🔄 Creative Variations

🌰 Maple Pecan Crunch:

• Replace corn syrup with maple syrup.

• Add a pinch of cinnamon and ¼ tsp maple extract.

🧂 Sweet & Salty Snack Mix:

• Add salty peanuts, cheese crackers, or bugles.

• Sprinkle a little sea salt on top before baking.

🍫 Chocolate Praline Crunch:

• Drizzle cooled mix with melted white or dark chocolate.

• Chill until set.

🌶️ Spicy Cajun Crunch:

• Add ¼ tsp cayenne pepper to caramel sauce.

• Stir in spicy Cajun-seasoned nuts.

---

📝 Make-Ahead and Party Tips

🧺 Make-Ahead:

• Make up to a week ahead for parties or gifting.

• Refresh by spreading on a baking sheet and warming at 250°F for 10 minutes.

🥳 Party Serving Tips:

• Serve in decorative bowls or cones.

• Make individual snack cups for grab-and-go ease.

• Add a variety of snack mixes for a DIY snack bar.

---

🧾 Nutritional Information (Approximate, per ½ cup)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	250
Carbohydrates	28g
Sugars	15g
Fat	14g
Saturated Fat	6g
Sodium	180mg
Protein	2g