Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (2024)

Appetizers | Christmas Recipes | Recipes | Snack

ByJo-Anna RooneyPostedUpdated

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This Easy Nuts and Bolts is a delicious salty and garlicky mixture of cereal, pretzels, nuts and chips! Makes a big batch.

Nuts and Bolts is a staple snack in our home during the holiday season! Made with 15 cups of different cereals, crackers, chips and nuts, this delicious snack will disappear quickly!

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (1)

A Classic Nuts and Bolts Recipe

My Mom has been making Nuts and Bolts at Christmas for as long as I can remember. It’s one of those snacks that has become associated with the holidays and it doesn’t feel like Christmas without them! So this year because we won’t be seeing my parents for Christmas, I decided to make a big batch of Nuts and Bolts for my own family and wanted to share the recipe with you.

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (2)

Make it your way!

The great thing about Nuts and Bolts is how easy the recipe is to change to suit the tastebuds of your family. We definitely have our own favourite additions, and things we don’t like, so I made this batch to reflect that. I used 4 different kinds of cereal: Chex, Crispix, Cheerios and Life. I also added 2 cups of mini cheese crackers, 2 cups of salted nuts, 1 cup of pretzels and 2 cups of Bugles. But you can add all of your favourites…some people love Shreddies in their Nuts and Bolts, others leave out the nuts. The key is to have 15 cups total…how you get there is up to you!

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (3)

Salty and Garlicky!

These Nuts and Bolts are the perfect balance of salty and garlicky. We don’t like our Nuts and Bolts too garlicky, so I have only added 2 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder to this recipe. If you love garlic, feel free to bump that up to 3 or more teaspoons. And for saltiness, I use a seasoning salt like Lawrys or Hys.

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (4)

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (5)

For the Holidays and Beyond

Not only are Nuts and Bolts a holiday staple, but they’re perfect for game day parties too! This recipe makes a pretty big batch (and it’s easily doubled), so it’s great for feeding a crowd. Enjoy!

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (6)

Nuts and Bolts Recipe Tips:

  • Cereal: I have listed cereal options below, but honestly, you can add what ever cereal you like. Chex, Shreddies, Life Cereal, Cheerios, Crispix.
  • Sweetness Tip! If you want a little sweetness in your Nuts and Bolts, try adding Honey Nut Cheerios or Honey Chex to your mix.
  • Crackers: I used mini cheese crackers and sticks in this recipe, but you can use any mini cracker.
  • Nuts: I like to add salted mixed nuts to this recipe.
  • Seasoning Salt: I use either Hys or Lawrys seasoning salt for this recipe.
  • Spices: Love garlic? Feel free to add more!
  • Baking: Make sure to stir the mixture every 15 minutes or so during the baking process.
  • Other delicious additions: Substitute any of the ingredients below with things like Shreddies, Fritos Corn Chips or Hoops. The key is to have 15 cups total.

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (7)

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Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (8)

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This recipe takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to make, but make sure to let the Nuts and Bolts cool for at least 30 minutes before snacking!

  • Author: Jo-Anna Rooney
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 75 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 14 cups 1x
  • Category: Snack

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 4 cups bite-size corn and rice square cereal (like Crispix or Chex)
  • 2 cups Life Cereal
  • 2 cups cheerios
  • 2 cups small crackers (or cheese crackers)
  • 1 cup small pretzels
  • 2 cups Bugles
  • 2 cups mixed salted nuts
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp seasoning salt (like Lawrys)
  • 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl combine all of the cereals, crackers, pretzels and nuts. Set aside.
  3. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
  4. Then whisk in the garlic powder, seasoning salt and Worcestershire sauce. Stir until well blended.
  5. Drizzle the butter mixture over the cereal mixture, and mix until the cereal is evenly coated with the seasoned butter.
  6. Spread the cereal mixture onto a baking sheet so that the mixture is in a single layer…you don’t want the layer too thick or the mixture won’t bake evenly. If you have too much, use 2 baking sheets.
  7. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes making sure to stir every 15 minutes.
  8. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before snacking!

Keywords: no nuts and bolts

More Delicious Snack Recipes:

  • No Bake Peanut Butter Cheerio Squares
  • No Bake Chocolate Cereal Squares
  • Even Better Than Starbucks Oat Bars
  • Chewy Date Oat Bars
  • Caramel Popcorn

Have a delicious day!

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (9)

Easy Nuts and Bolts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do you use for nuts and bolts? ›

Cereals: In this nuts and bolts recipe I use five kinds of cereal! Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Kix, and Cheerios. Other brands work just as well, and you can mix and match your favorites. Crackers and Snacks: The combination of Cheez-Its, bagel chips, pretzel sticks, and peanuts, is incredible.

What can I use instead of bugles in nuts and bolts? ›

If you don't have Bugles or prefer an alternative for your Nuts and Pretzels snack mix, you can substitute them with another type of crunchy snack or chip. Some good alternatives to Bugles include corn chips (such as Fritos), mini ice cream cones (without the ice cream, of course), or even rolled tortilla chips.

What does it mean when you say nuts and bolts? ›

phrase. If you talk about the nuts and bolts of a subject or an activity, you are referring to the detailed practical aspects of it rather than abstract ideas about it. He's more concerned about the nuts and bolts of location work.

How long is homemade Chex Mix good for? ›

Make Ahead Instructions: Chex mix tastes freshest when served within 2-3 days of making it, but it will last stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Freezing Instructions: Chex mix freezes great! Store in freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.

What lubricants to use on nuts and bolts? ›

A multipurpose lubricating spray packaged in 450ml aerosol cans, with a tube attached for ease of application. Nut Jobb acts as a highly effective penetrating oil, formulated to assist with the release of rusty nuts and bolts that are proving difficult to dismantle.

How do you use nuts and bolts and washers? ›

To use your washer and bolt properly, first insert the bolt into the washer. Next, slide the bolt and washer into the mounting hole. Once the bolt is threaded into the hole, begin turning the head of the bolt using the appropriate sized wrench. Tighten the bolt down to the washer until the head contacts the washer.

Why were Bugles banned? ›

Bugles were discontinued in Canada in early 2010 due to a decrease in customer demand, but were soon brought back in November 2011 due to a renew in demand.

What can I use if I don't have a nut? ›

Seeds – a nut-free source of roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) or sunflower seeds makes a great replacement for nuts in granola bars, breads, and “butters”.

Why are Bugles so unhealthy? ›

Contains a high level of saturated fat

Saturated fat is not an essential nutrient and with increasing intakes there is a increased risk of coronary heart disease (IOM 2005a; USDA and DHHS 2010). For this reason it has long been known as a "bad" fat that raises the "bad" cholesterol, LDL.

Why are balls called nuts? ›

There are multiple slang terms for the testes. They may be referred to as "balls". Frequently, "nuts" (sometimes intentionally misspelled as "nutz") are also a slang term for the testes due to the geometric resemblance.

What does a nut and bolt look like? ›

The bolt consists of a head and a cylindrical body with screw threads along a portion of its length. The nut is the female member of the pair, having internal threads to match those of the bolt. Washers are often used to prevent loosening and crushing.

What is the saying soup to nuts? ›

"Soup to nuts" is an American English idiom that conveys the meaning of "from beginning to end", derived from the description of a full course dinner. Soup to nuts may also refer to: Soup to Nuts, a 1930 feature film starring the trio who later became the Three Stooges. "Soup to Nuts," a 1986 episode of Mama's Family.

Is it cheaper to buy Chex Mix or make your own? ›

Homemade Chex Mix is cheaper AND better tasting than anything you can buy at the store. Does homemade Chex Mix need to be refrigerated? You can store homemade Chex Mix at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Is it OK to eat Chex Mix? ›

It's only fattening if you eat enough of it that you go over your daily calories burned. One day of overeating is not going to harm you. It's high in carbs and fat, and salt, with some protein - it's actually not a terrible snack, but not something I'd choose to eat every day either.

Why is my Chex Mix soggy? ›

Using too much liquid. Don't go over the recipe's suggested liquid amounts; that is a sure way to get soggy mix (which, again, nobody wants). Follow this tip: If you need to make a change in liquid ingredients, just keep the amount the same.

What are the different types of nut snacks? ›

Types of nuts
  • almonds.
  • Brazil nuts.
  • cashew nuts.
  • hazelnuts.
  • macadamias.
  • pecans.
  • pine nuts.
  • pistachios.

What material are Bugles? ›

These have a heavy copper body, which has the optimum tonal qualities required in this instrument. Bugles are the simplest brass instruments and can usually be seen in military camps for indicating schedules and routine activities.

What are Bugles made with? ›

Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Coconut Oil and/or Palm Kernel Oil, Sugar, Salt, Baking Soda. Freshness Preserved by BHT. MAY CONTAIN MILK AND WHEAT INGREDIENTS.

References

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