A sweet and salty treat, my Monster Munch Halloween Snack Mix will appeal to both kids and adults. It only takes a few minutes to whip up, and this crispy, crunchy snack mix will quickly become a family favorite.
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.
Notes
You can replace my snack 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 even make it gluten-free by substituting gluten-free snacks.Instead of peanuts, feel free to substitute roasted pecans, almonds, pistachios, or a nut mix.As far as candy, shop the grocery store candy aisle to find your favorite 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 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 snack mix, by swapping out holiday-specific candy. Check out my recipes for Mardi Gras Snack Mix or Game Day Snack Mix.You can make it ahead and store your Monster Munch Halloween Snack Mix 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.This recipe calls for a package of dry Ranch salad dressing mix. Do not use the liquid salad dressing.A one-ounce package of dry Ranch dressing equals about two tablespoons.