A sweet and salty treat, my Monster Munch Halloween Snack Mix with Bugles will appeal to both kids and adults. It only takes a few minutes to whip up, and this crispy, crunchy snack mix, sometimes called a trail mix or party mix, will quickly become a family favorite.
Whether making this Halloween treat for a party or just a quiet evening at home, it’s sure to please your big and little monsters. Even the most ghoulish neighborhood ghosts and goblins will love this delicious Halloween treat.
Why you will love this recipe:
- Did I mention it only takes ten minutes to make?
- It’s versatile; you can use your favorite candy and your family’s favorite snacks.
- This festive party mix may become a new fun Halloween tradition and is so easy even your kids can make it.
- You can leave the candy out and have a flavorful snack mix that is perfect for any occasion.
Here’s what’s in it:
- Cheez-its – one of my favorite cheesy baked snack crackers is a must-have for this recipe. If you have shopped for Cheez-its lately, you know they come in about a million flavors. Any work. Feel free to substitute your favorite bite-size snack crackers.
- Bugles – an old-fashioned classic snack that is shaped like a mini-cornucopia comes in a multitude of flavors including caramel, and nacho cheese. I used the original recipe, but feel free to use your favorite flavor.
- Pretzels – are bite-size bits of salty pretzel deliciousness. You can use pretzel sticks and break them up if you can’t find the smaller ones.
- Pecans – I like to use roasted and salted pecans, but feel free to substitute peanuts, almonds, or cashews, or even a mix of nuts.
- Vegetable oil – a small amount is drizzled over the mix to help the ranch dressing stick.
- Dry ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix – isn’t just for salad dressings or dips, it also provides the herby flavoring to this snack mix we have come to know and love.
- Halloween-themed candy – candy corn, peeps, M&Ms, candy pumpkins, etc., all work in this recipe. I wouldn’t try anything with a chocolate coating as it may melt.
Here’s how to make it:
- Combine the Cheez-its, Bugles, pretzels, and nuts in a gallon-size plastic storage bag or large bowl.
- Drizzle the vegetable oil over the mixture and shake the bag gently, or toss it if in a bowl, to coat the mixture evenly.
- Add the dry Ranch dressing mix and shake again, or toss it if in a bowl, to coat the mixture evenly.
- When you are ready to serve it, place the snack mix in a bowl, and add the candy.
Frequently asked questions:
You can replace my suggested ingredients with your favorite snacks or dry cereal like Chex Mix, popcorn, Goldfish, mini Wheat Thins, oyster crackers, sesame sticks, etc.; you get the idea.
You can make this Halloween treat gluten-free by substituting gluten-free products. Be sure to read all of the ingredient labels to confirm that they are indeed gluten-free.
I use roasted pecans because I almost always have them on hand, and I love them. But, feel free to substitute roasted almonds, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, or a nut mix.
Shop the grocery store candy aisle to find your favorite Halloween-themed candy. Candy corn is always a favorite, as are mellow creme or jelly pumpkins. Orange and black jelly beans, skittles, or M&Ms are also a great choice. I sometimes include edible candy googly eyeballs to give it a little personality. Or, you can leave the candy out altogether.
You can also use this recipe to make a holiday or special occasion-specific mix by swapping out holiday-specific candy. For example, check out my recipes for Mardi Gras Snack Mix and Game Day Snack Mix. The only difference is the type and color of the candy I use.
Sharon’s tips:
This recipe calls for a one-ounce package of dry Ranch salad dressing mix. Do not use liquid salad dressing in a jar.
A one-ounce package of dry Ranch dressing equals about two tablespoons.
This Halloween Snack Mix can be stored in a tightly sealed Ziploc plastic storage bag on your kitchen counter for up to a week. I think it keeps better if you wait to add the candy until right before you are ready to serve it, but I’ve stored it with and without the candy, and it still stays fresh for over a week.
More Halloween recipes:
Have fun this Halloween with these fun and easy recipes: Jalapeno Mummies, Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs, Witches Brew Halloween Punch, Easy Halloween Meringue Ghosts, and Graveyard Chocolate Cheesecake Dip.
Need more menu suggestions? Check out all of my Halloween recipes or my roundup post: 50+ Spooktacurarly Cute and Easy Halloween Treats and Party Recipes.
★ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!
Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!
Halloween Snack Mix Recipe – Monster Munch
Ingredients
- 2½ cups Cheez-its
- 2½ cups Bugles
- 2½ cups pretzels small or mini
- 1 cup peanuts salted or unsalted
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil I use peanut oil
- 1 ounce dry Ranch Salad Dressing and Seasoning Mix
- 2 cups assorted Halloween candy
Instructions
- Combine the Cheez-its, Bugles, pretzels, and peanuts in a gallon-size plastic storage bag or large bowl.
- Drizzle the vegetable oil over the mixture and shake the bag gently, or toss it if in a bowl, to coat the mixture evenly.
- Add the dry Ranch dressing mix and shake again, or toss it if in a bowl, to coat the mixture evenly.
- When you are ready to serve it, place the snack mix in a bowl, and add the candy.
Leave a Reply