Description
Praline Crunch is a delightful sweet snack combining crunchy Crispix cereal and salted pecan halves coated in a rich, buttery praline mixture. This easy-to-make treat bakes slowly to create a perfect balance of sweetness and crunch, ideal for serving at parties or enjoying as a delicious homemade snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Snack Mix
- 8 cups Crispix cereal
- 2 cups pecan halves (salted)
Praline Coating
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup corn syrup
- ½ cup butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) to create the perfect low-temperature environment for baking the praline crunch evenly.
- Mix Cereal and Pecans: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Crispix cereal and salted pecan halves evenly, ensuring the nuts and cereal are well distributed for coating.
- Make the Praline Coating: In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Stir occasionally and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once boiling, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and baking soda until the mixture becomes smooth and foamy. This creates the signature praline coating.
- Coat the Cereal: Pour the warm praline mixture over the cereal and pecans. Stir gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece is coated evenly with the sweet, sticky praline mixture.
- Bake: Spread the coated mixture evenly into a 9×13-inch baking pan. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. Every 20 minutes, remove the pan and gently stir the mixture to ensure even baking and coating throughout.
- Cool and Serve: After baking, remove the praline crunch from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, break into pieces or serve as desired.
Notes
- Use salted pecan halves to enhance the flavor with a hint of saltiness that balances the sweetness.
- Stirring every 20 minutes while baking is crucial to prevent burning and to ensure even coating of the praline mixture.
- Store praline crunch in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness and crunch.
- For a nuttier flavor, you can toast the pecans lightly before mixing.
