I’m pretty sure I got my love for snack food from my dad. My dad always stocks the fridge and pantry with chips and salsa, meat and cheese, or an assortment of nuts. Because there’s always room for a snack! That’s why one of my favorite things to make him for Father’s Day is a delicious snack mix. This sweet and spicy mix is so easy to make you’re going to want to make an extra batch to keep for yourself.

Watch the video and make a batch of this sweet and savory snack mix for all your favorite guys this Father’s Day!

Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix Recipe

adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients

1/2 cup pecans pieces
1/2 cup unsalted almonds
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 cups tiny pretzels
2 cup crispy rice cereal squares
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 tsp cayenne, optional

Supplies

Metal tin for gifting
Printable sticker paper

Download the printable Father’s Day label

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, half of the thyme, salt, cinnamon, red pepper. Meanwhile, spread the almonds and pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 10 minutes. Make sure to use a timer and watch them because nuts burn easily! Once toasted, combine the nuts and  butter in a large bowl. Mix them until the butter melts completely. Then stir in the pretzels, rice squares, and syrup.
2. Add the sugar mixture to the nut mixture. Spread the nut mixture back on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, stirring the mix half way through baking. Take it out of the oven then add the remaining thyme. Cool completely.
3. Download the printable Father’s Day labels, print them on adhesive paper, and cut them out. Peel and stick them on the lids of the metal tins and fill up with the snack mix. Now they are ready to gifted!

The finishing touch on a handmade gift is always the packaging! Scoop some of the snack mix into a metal tin and add a festive sticker on top. Just print out the free printable label on sticker paper, cut it out, and stick it to the tin lid. It looks so good, he might think you bought it that way. But it can be our little secret. ;)

Find more ideas for dad on my Father’s Day page and on my Pinterest board.