If you grew up on classic nuts and bolts (whether homemade or in the signature shiny red package), you're gonna love making your own version. And your kids might just love it even more!

Classic nuts and bolts are so, so easy to make, while also being so, so satisfying. The best part? By swapping out an ingredient or two and replacing them with a slightly different flavour profile, you have a whole new snack. When the kids get bored of one version, just whip up another combination!

Ingredients for Classic Nuts and Bolts

4 cups Cheerios (or similar cereal)

4 cups pretzels (stick or mini pretzels work great)

2 cups mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, etc.)

1 cup Chex cereal (Corn or Rice Chex) or Shreddies

For the seasoning:

1/2 cup butter (melted)

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions for Classic Nuts and Bolts

1. Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C).

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Cheerios, pretzels, mixed nuts and Chex or Shreddies cereal.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne pepper.

4. Pour butter and seasoning mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir gently to make sure everything is evenly coated.

5. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread mixture evenly onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking.

6. Once the classic nuts and bolts mixture is golden and crispy, remove from the oven and let cool completely before serving and/or storing.

Flavour Variations for Classic Nuts and Bolts

Sweet and Spicy

  • Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the coating mixture for a sweet kick.
  • Increase the cayenne pepper to 1 tsp for extra heat.
  • Reduce the soy sauce to 1/2 tbsp to keep the sweetness balanced.

BBQ Flavour

  • Replace the Worcestershire sauce with BBQ sauce.
  • Add 1 tsp of smoked paprika for a deeper BBQ flavour.
  • Omit the soy sauce for a more pronounced BBQ taste.

Herby Ranch

  • Swap out the soy sauce for ranch dressing seasoning mix (about 1-2 tbsp).
  • Add 1 tsp of dried dill and parsley for a fresh, herby taste.
  • Omit the salt as ranch seasoning often includes salt.

Cheese Lovers’ Mix

  • Add 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the coating mixture.
  • You can also use cheese-flavoured crackers in place of some of the Chex or pretzels for extra cheesiness.
  • Reduce the soy sauce to 1/2 tbsp to prevent the cheese flavour from being overpowered.

Zesty Lemon and Herb

  • Add the zest of 1 lemon to the coating mixture.
  • Toss in some dried thyme or rosemary for a fragrant herb twist.
  • Reduce the paprika to 1/4 tsp to allow the lemon and herbs to shine through.

Sweet and Crunchy

  • Add 1/4 cup of brown sugar (packed), 2 tbsp of honey or maple syrup and 1 tsp of cinnamon to the seasoning mixture for a sweet flavour profile.
  • A pinch of sea salt balances out the sweetness.
  • Omit the soy sauce, garlic powder and onion powder to keep the focus on the sweet flavour.