Pin This This vibrant mix blends black cocoa cereal, pretzels, and caramel popcorn coated with honey and sea salt, baked to crisp perfection. After cooling, dark chocolate chips, gold candy-coated chocolates, espresso beans, and gold star sprinkles are folded in for a festive, crunchy treat. Quick to prepare, it's ideal for celebratory occasions with an enticing balance of sweet and savory flavors.
I still remember the first New Year's Eve I hosted at my tiny apartment. I wanted something special to set out at midnight, something that looked as festive as the moment felt. That's when I threw together this gold and black snack mix, and it became the thing everyone kept reaching for all night long.
The best part was watching guests grab handfuls throughout the night, the gold sprinkles catching the light from the party decorations. Someone even asked if I'd ordered it from a fancy bakery.
Ingredients
- Black cocoa cereal: I reach for Oreo Os when I can find them, the dark color makes the gold really pop and they stay crunchy longer than you'd think
- Mini pretzel twists: These add the perfect salty backbone, I've learned the mini size distributes better than the big ones
- Caramel popcorn: This brings sweetness and crunch, any store-bought variety works beautifully
- Dark chocolate chips: They melt just slightly from the warm coating and create little pockets of richness
- Chocolate-covered espresso beans: A grown-up touch I add when it's an adults-only party, the coffee kick is surprisingly welcome near midnight
- Gold candy-coated chocolates: Hunt down those gold M&Ms, they're the star of the show visually
- Gold star sprinkles: A little edible glitter never hurt anyone, especially on New Year's Eve
- Unsalted butter: Melts into a coating that helps everything stick together without being greasy
- Honey: Just enough to add subtle sweetness and help the coating cling
- Sea salt: This brings all the flavors into focus, don't skip it
Instructions
- Get Your Oven Ready:
- Preheat to 325°F and line your baking sheet with parchment. Trust me, parchment makes cleanup so much easier when you're dealing with sticky honey coating.
- Build Your Base:
- Toss the cereal, pretzels, and caramel popcorn together in your biggest bowl. You'll hear all those different textures clicking against each other.
- Make the Magic Coating:
- Melt the butter low and slow, then stir in honey and salt until it's completely smooth and glossy. The smell alone will make you hungry.
- Coat Everything:
- Drizzle that warm butter mixture over your mix, then use your hands or a big spoon to toss everything gently. You want every piece kissed by that coating, but not drenched.
- Toast It:
- Spread everything in one layer on your sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, giving it a stir halfway. Your kitchen will smell like a carnival and a bakery had a party.
- Cool Down:
- Let it cool completely on the pan. I know it's tempting to dig in, but patience here means perfect crunch.
- Add the Sparkle:
- Once cool, dump it back in the bowl and toss in the chocolate chips, espresso beans, gold candies, and those sparkly stars. This is when it transforms into something truly festive.
- Serve with Style:
- Fill bowls for grazing or pack into clear bags tied with gold ribbon for guests to take home. Either way, it won't last long.
Pin This This snack mix became our tradition after that first party. Now I make a double batch every New Year's Eve, one for the party and one to keep in a jar on the counter for those lazy first days of January when we're all moving a little slower.
Making It Your Own
I've tossed in roasted cashews when I wanted something fancier, or left out the espresso beans entirely when kids were joining the countdown. The beauty of this mix is how forgiving it is. You could swap in white chocolate chips, add dried cherries for a pop of color, or even throw in some coconut flakes if that's your thing.
Keeping It Fresh
Store this in an airtight container and it'll stay crispy for up to a week, though I've never had a batch last that long. The key is making sure it's completely cool before you seal it up, any warmth trapped inside turns everything soggy.
When You're Missing Something
Can't find black cocoa cereal? Use chocolate Chex or even crushed chocolate graham crackers. No gold candies at the store? Yellow M&Ms or butterscotch chips work in a pinch. This recipe is more about the spirit of celebration than perfection.
- Gluten-free pretzels and popcorn make this safe for sensitive guests
- Skip the espresso beans and it's instantly kid-friendly
- Double the recipe if you're feeding a crowd, it scales up beautifully
Pin This Here's to midnight snacks that sparkle as much as your New Year's plans. May your bowl be full and your year be bright.
