1. **Preheat the oven:** Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. **Prepare the mix:** In a large bowl, combine the Rice Chex cereal and pecan halves. Set aside.
3. **Make the praline coating:** In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and corn syrup, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then let it boil for 2 minutes without stirring.
4. **Add baking soda and vanilla:** Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the baking soda, vanilla extract, and salt. The mixture will bubble up slightly—this is normal and helps create the crunchy coating.
5. **Coat the cereal and nuts:** Immediately pour the praline mixture over the cereal and pecans in the large bowl. Gently stir to coat everything evenly.
6. **Bake the mix:** Spread the coated cereal and nut mixture in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even coating and prevent burning.
7. **Cool and break apart:** After 1 hour, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the snack mix cool completely on the baking sheet. Once cooled, break it apart into bite-sized pieces.
8. **Serve or store:** Serve the Praline Crunch Snack Mix immediately, or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
### Tips:
– **Add variety:** You can add other nuts (like almonds or cashews) or mix in dried fruits like cranberries or raisins after baking for a different flavor profile.
– **Gift idea:** This snack mix makes a great homemade gift! Package it in decorative bags or jars and tie with a ribbon.
– **Make it extra crunchy:** If you prefer a thicker caramel coating, increase the butter to 3/4 cup and the brown sugar to 1 1/2 cups.
Enjoy your irresistible Praline Crunch Snack Mix—a perfect combination of sweet, salty, and crunchy!
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