Crunchy Bacon Treat Mix

Ingredients

• 12 slices bacon, or more to taste
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, or more to taste
• 2 (10 ounce) cans mixed nuts
• 4 cups crispy rice cereal squares
• 4 cups crispy corn cereal squares
• 3 cups mini pretzels
• 1 cup oatmeal cereal squares (such as Quaker® Oatmeal Squares), crushed

Step 1

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Turn it every now and then until it’s nice and crispy, about 10 minutes. Once done, drain the bacon on paper towels and let it cool.

Step 2

While the bacon cooks, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, making sure the paper hangs over the edges for easy removal later.

Step 3

Melt the butter in a microwave-safe measuring cup. Stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup, bourbon, and Worcestershire sauce. Pop it back in the microwave and heat for about 2 minutes until it’s hot and bubbly. Whisk in the chipotle powder and keep stirring until the mixture thickens into a sticky, light caramel.

Step 4

In a big bowl, mix together the nuts, rice squares, corn cereal, pretzels, and oatmeal squares. Crumble the cooled bacon into the bowl and give everything a good stir. Pour the caramel sauce over the top and gently fold it all together with a spatula, making sure every bit gets coated.

Step 5

Spread the mixture out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping the pieces halfway through so they crisp up evenly. Once it’s out of the oven, let it cool completely on the pan—this will take about 30 minutes.

Step 6

When cool, lift the parchment paper on the edges to pour the mix into a large bowl. Break up any big clumps, then transfer the treat mix to airtight containers or resealable bags for storing.