Irresistible No-Bake Snack Mix Bars: Your Perfect Sweet & Salty Treat

Craving a snack that hits all the right notes? Look no further than these incredible No-Bake Snack Mix Bars! Bursting with a delightful blend of cereals, crunchy pretzels, wholesome nuts, chewy dried fruits, and vibrant chocolate candies, they deliver the ultimate balance of sweet and salty, coupled with an irresistible chewy and crunchy texture. These bars are not just easy to make; they’re a symphony of flavors and textures in every single bite, making them a family favorite for any occasion.

Effortless Fun: Simple to Make, Joyful to Eat!

Imagine a snack that brings joy to both the creation and the consumption. These No-Bake Snack Mix Bars are just that! Combining popular ingredients like crispy Chex cereal, classic Cheerios, savory pretzel sticks, hearty almonds, roasted peanuts, tangy dried cranberries, and colorful M&M’s, these bars offer a dynamic blend of textures and flavors. Each ingredient plays a crucial role, contributing to a snack that’s far from ordinary. From the moment you gather your ingredients to the final delightful chew, you’ll appreciate the simplicity and the delicious outcome.

Making these bars is an experience in itself, especially for families. Kids will absolutely love being involved in the process, eagerly helping to mix the dry ingredients while you manage the quick stovetop syrup. It’s a wonderful way to keep them engaged and foster a love for cooking, making it an ideal activity for those long summer afternoons or a rainy weekend indoors. The hands-on fun culminates in a treat everyone can proudly enjoy.

The magic of these snack bars lies in their amazing taste and the sheer convenience of not needing an oven. This means less heat in your kitchen, making them perfect for warm weather or when you simply want a quick, delicious treat without the fuss of baking. Their delightful combination of textures—the snap of cereal, the crunch of pretzels, the chewiness of dried fruit, and the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate—creates a truly satisfying snacking experience that stands out from typical store-bought options.

Crafting Your No-Bake Masterpiece: Essential Ingredients and Supplies

To embark on your no-bake adventure and create these delightful snack mix bars, you’ll need a selection of pantry staples and a few basic kitchen tools. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the readily available nature of its components. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to gather:

Key Ingredients for Flavor and Texture:

• Chex Cereal: Provides a wonderful crispness and a light, airy base for the bars. Its square shape helps bind the mixture together.
• Cheerios: Adds another layer of classic cereal crunch and a subtly sweet, oaty flavor that complements the other ingredients.
• Pretzel Sticks: Crucial for that irresistible salty crunch. Breaking them into halves ensures they are evenly distributed and easy to chew.
• Roasted Peanuts: Contribute a rich, savory flavor and a satisfying hearty crunch. They’re packed with protein, adding substance to your snack.
• Almonds: Offer a delicate nutty taste and a firm bite, enhancing the overall textural complexity.
• Dried Cranberries or Raisins: These provide a wonderful chewy element and a tangy or sweet burst of fruitiness that cuts through the richness.
• Regular M&M’s: Deliver classic chocolate flavor and a pop of color, making the bars visually appealing and extra fun.
• Mini M&M’s: A delightful addition for spreading chocolatey goodness more evenly throughout the mix.
• Light Corn Syrup: Essential for creating the sticky, binding syrup that holds all the dry ingredients together, ensuring a perfect bar consistency.
• Light Brown Sugar: Adds a warm, molasses-rich sweetness to the syrup, contributing to the bars’ overall depth of flavor.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and helps create a smooth, delicious syrup base.

Essential Kitchen Supplies:

• Large Bowl: For combining all your dry snack mix ingredients efficiently.
• Saucepan: A small to medium saucepan is perfect for preparing the binding syrup mixture.
• 8×8 Square Pan: The ideal size for creating a batch of perfectly thick and satisfying snack bars.
• Parchment Paper: A non-negotiable for easy removal of your bars from the pan and minimal cleanup.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect No-Bake Snack Mix Bars

Creating these delightful no-bake snack bars is a straightforward process that anyone can master. Follow these simple instructions to achieve a batch of perfectly sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy treats. Remember, precision in the syrup-making step is key to ensuring your bars hold together beautifully.

• **Prepare Your Pan:** Begin by lining an 8×8-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This thoughtful step acts as a sling, making it incredibly easy to lift the set bars out later. For extra assurance, you can also lightly spray the parchment paper or the pan itself with a non-stick cooking spray. Set this prepared pan aside, ready for action.
• **Combine Dry Ingredients:** In your large mixing bowl, combine the foundation of your snack bars. Add the Chex cereal, Cheerios, pretzel sticks (broken into halves for better distribution), roasted peanuts, almonds, and dried cranberries (or raisins if you prefer). Give everything a good, gentle toss to ensure all the components are well-mixed. This creates the textural medley that makes these bars so special.
• **Craft the Binding Syrup:** Now for the magic that holds it all together! In a small saucepan, combine the light brown sugar, light corn syrup, and unsalted butter. Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir this mixture occasionally to help the sugar dissolve and prevent sticking. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a full, rolling boil. As soon as it hits that boiling point, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat to prevent overcooking the syrup, which can make your bars too hard.

• **Combine and Coat:** Carefully pour the hot corn syrup mixture evenly over the dry snack mix in the large bowl. Working quickly, use a sturdy spoon or spatula to toss and fold the mixture until all the dry ingredients are thoroughly coated. Ensure every piece of cereal, every pretzel, and every nut is glistening with the sweet syrup. This even coating is vital for uniform bars.
• **Add the Chocolatey Finish:** Once the snack mix is coated, gently stir in the regular M&M’s and the mini M&M’s. Be gentle to avoid crushing the cereals or pretzels too much, and to keep the M&M’s from melting excessively from the residual heat of the syrup. The M&M’s add a delightful burst of chocolate and color that kids (and adults!) adore.
• **Press and Set:** Transfer the entire mixture into your prepared 8×8-inch pan. Using the back of a spoon, a spatula, or even your hands (lightly greased if needed), press the mixture down firmly and evenly into the pan. Compacting it well ensures the bars hold their shape. Once pressed, let the bars set at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This setting time allows the syrup to cool and firm up, binding all the ingredients together perfectly.

• **Cut and Serve:** Once the bars are firm, use the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift the entire slab out of the pan and onto a cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut the slab into 4 rows by 4 rows to yield 16 perfectly sized bars. Serve them immediately or store for later enjoyment. These bars are best enjoyed when they’ve had ample time to set, ensuring that satisfying bite.

Optimal Storage for Long-Lasting Freshness

Proper storage is key to maintaining the delightful texture and flavor of your No-Bake Snack Mix Bars. Once fully set and cut, these bars will remain fresh and delicious for several days, making them perfect for meal prepping or enjoying throughout the week.

Store your bars in an airtight container at room temperature on the counter. They will maintain their quality and delightful chewiness for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can also refrigerate them for up to a week. If you’re looking for an even longer-term solution, these bars freeze beautifully! Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2-3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature for a quick and easy snack anytime.

We absolutely adore seeing your culinary creations! If you make these incredibly simple and satisfying No-Bake Snack Mix Bars, don’t forget to snap a picture and share it with me. Tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can admire your delicious work. It brings me so much joy to see how inspired and creative you all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy every sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy bite!

xoxo,

Print Recipe

No-Bake Snack Mix Bars

• Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Set Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Yield: 16 bars
• Category: Dessert, Snack

Print Recipe

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Description

These No-Bake Snack Mix Bars combine cereals, pretzels, nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate candies for a perfect balance of sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy. An incredibly easy and delicious treat!

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Ingredients

• 3 cups Chex cereal
• 1 cup Cheerios
• 1 cup pretzel sticks, broken in halves
• 1/2 cup roasted peanuts
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
• 1/2 cup regular M&M’s
• 1/2 cup mini M&M’s
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

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Instructions

1. Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper and/or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, add the Chex cereal, Cheerios, pretzel sticks, peanuts, almonds, and dried cranberries; set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, add brown sugar, light corn syrup, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat.
4. Pour corn syrup mixture evenly over snack mix; toss to coat. Gently stir in the regular and mini M&M’s.
5. Press mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Let set for at least 30 minutes. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows to get 16 bars.

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Notes

• For thinner bars, press the mixture into a 13×9-inch pan.
• For a snack mix, pour mixture evenly out onto a large parchment-lined sheet pan. Once cooled, break into bite-sized clusters.