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I’ve been eating this pumpkin spice autumn snack mix by the handful, and tbh, it’s starting to become a problem for me. But how can I not when it’s filled with crunchy snacks like cereal, pretzels, and caramel popcorn, nutty brown butter, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice? Bake up a batch for Halloween parties, family gatherings, and or a cute fall gifting situation. It’s seriously the best!

A sheet pan with autumn snack mix on a tan counter next to an orange linen, pumpkins, and brown bowls of caramel popcorn and pepitas.

This weekend, we saw Frankie Cosmos and Dua Lipa and she brought Ben Gibbard out on stage to sing “I Will Follow You into the Dark” and I literally cried. (It’s cool, I’m cool, it’s fine.) But overall, it was a 10/10 weekend in Seattle, made even better because I actually remembered to pack some of this snack mix for post-show drunchies.

Of course, I originally made this snack mix for a scary movie night with friends. (Scary movies + anything pumpkin spice + wine = autumn heaven.) But since this recipe makes about a zillion tons of snack mix, I had plenty for the plane and post-concert chilling.

Like my pumpkin spice cheesecake bites, classic mini pumpkin pie cups, and of course, my creamy pumpkin pie dip, this recipe has plenty of pumpkin spice to go around. But, it has no actual pumpkin lol. We’re going the Starbucks route with this recipe.

Typically, I like to make my own pumpkin pie spice just cause I’ve been making it ever since I was in pastry school. But this apple pie spice would be just as good! Or, if you want to make things quick and easy, just use store-bought and live your life. Enjoy friends!

Brown the butter (or just melt it)

Brown and white bowls of pretzels, spices, pumpkin seeds, cereal, teddy grahams, brown sugar, caramel corn, butter, and vanilla on a tan counter.

I’ve made this recipe multiple times both with brown butter and plain melted butter. Both will work great, but brown butter is 100% worth the extra effort! It gives the snack mix a caramel-y, toasty, nutty note that just makes it over the top good.

If you’re in a rush and want to skip the brown butter step, don’t stress! You’ll just need 1/2 cup (114 grams) of butter instead of the 10 Tablespoons (142 grams) the recipe calls for.

Recipe directions

A white pan of brown butter on a tan counter.
Start by browning the unsalted butter in a shallow, large skillet until it’s nutty & toasty.
A white pan of brown butter, sugar, spices, and vanilla on a tan counter.
Then, add the brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, & vanilla.
A hand stirring a white pan of brown sugar-butter mixture for autumn snack mix.
Cook the mixture over low heat for 1-2 minutes, just until everything is well-combined.
A pan of pumpkin spice autumn snack mix topped with brown sugar-butter mix on a tan counter.
Mix all of the snacks together on a sheet pan & drizzle the brown sugar mixture on top.
A hand using a rubber spatula to mix autumn snack mix on a pan.
Toss the snack mix very well. Next, bake it at 250°F (120°C) for 45-50 minutes, until it’s dry.
Autumn snack mix with pretzels, cereal, and caramel corn.
Right out of the oven, toss the caramel corn into the snack mix. Let it cool and enjoy!

Storing leftovers

Once the snack mix is completely cooled, store it in an airtight container. It’ll last at room temperature for 1-2 weeks before it starts to get stale.

I also love making this snack mix as a host gift! Store the snack mix in a fall themed container, or wrap it up in treat bags with cute ribbons. Everyone loves it so much!

A wood scoop scooping up pumpkin spice autumn snack mix.

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Easy Autumn Snack Mix with Caramel Corn

Yield: 12 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
I cannot stop eating this autumn snack mix! It has cereal, pretzels, pumpkin seeds, caramel corn, graham cookies, brown butter, and lots of pumpkin pie spice. Seriously, if you love anything pumpkin spice, you have to make this easy recipe. It's amazing for movie nights, fall holidays, Halloween parties, gifting, and everything in-between!
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups Golden Grahams cereal (80 grams)
  • 2 cups corn or rice Chex cereal (60 grams)
  • 2 cups pretzels (80 grams)
  • 1 cup roasted, unsalted pepitas (120 grams)
  • 2 cups honey or cinnamon Teddy Grahams (140 grams)
  • 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter (142 grams)
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed (100 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, optional (12-24 grams)
  • 3 cups caramel popcorn (90 grams)

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Then, mix the Golden Grahams cereal, Chex cereal, pretzels, pepitas, and Teddy Grahams on the prepared sheet pan. Set aside.
  • Next, melt the unsalted butter in a shallow, light-colored pan over medium-low heat. Cook, swirling the pan often, for 5-7 minutes. At first the butter will foam up and get bubbly, but eventually, you will start to see small brown bits on the bottom of the pan.
  • Once the butter is browned, add the brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir well and let the mixture bubble for about 1 minute.
  • Immediately pour the brown butter mixture evenly over the snack mix. Use a rubber spatula or clean hands to mix everything together until all of the snack mix is well coated in the butter mixture. Break up any clumps if needed. Taste and add more salt or spices if desired.
  • Spread the snack mix into an even layer on the sheet pan. Bake the snack mix for 45-50 minutes, tossing it well every 10 minutes, until it's completely dry to the touch.
  • For cinnamon sugar vibes: About 5 minutes before the snack mix is done, toss it with 1-2 Tablespoons (12-24 grams) of granulated sugar. This will give you a cinnamon sugar texture, but be careful not to add too much sugar or it'll come out overly sweet. This step is totally optional, I just like a little extra texture and sweetness but it's still good without!
  • Once the snack mix is dry, immediately toss it with the caramel popcorn. Let the snack mix cool completely. Then, store it in airtight containers for 1-2 weeks. Enjoy!

Notes

I forgot how good Golden Grahams cereal is, and it honestly makes this snack mix over the top good! But if you only want to use one type cereal, feel free to use 4 cups of either Golden Grahams or Chex. I like the mix of sweet and savory but either works!
If you want to skip browning the butter, you can use plain melted butter instead. Just use 1/2 cup (114 grams) of unsalted butter instead of the 10 Tablespoons (142 grams) of butter the recipe calls for.
Feel free to swap the spices with any warm spices you like. I’m a big fan of cardamom cause it gives the mix a deeper flavor but ginger, allspice, or cloves would be delicious too.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert, Snack
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 0.5cup, Calories: 140kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 13mg, Sodium: 155mg, Potassium: 106mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 2mg
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