Nuts and Bolts

What is nuts and bolts anyway, you ask? This recipe for nuts and bolts will answer that question for you: It’s a delightful snack. Savory, crunchy, salty and buttery, this is a recipe you might want to double if you want to be sure you get a decent serving size.

Nuts and bolts (the food) recipes make the perfect finger food for casual parties or a great after-school snack for the kids. This is an easy to make and even easier to enjoy treat for the whole family, so let’s get to work!

Nuts and Bolts Ingredients

• Cheerios: Cereal forms the bedrock of this tasty treat, with Cheerios, the classic morning rings, being first among equals.
• Shredded Wheat: Use bite-sized Shredded Wheat pieces, and try to avoid those that are broken down too much into crumbly bits.
• Pretzel sticks: You can use salted or unsalted pretzel sticks, with the latter potentially being a better idea, given all the various salts in this recipe.
• Salted peanuts: Use 1-1/2 cups of salted peanuts, and you can consider lightly crushing them if you want.
• Butter: The butter should be cubed for quick melting, so dice it shortly after removing it from the refrigerator.
• Worcestershire sauce: Don’t worry about the spelling or the pronunciation of Worcestershire sauce. Just use plenty of the tasty stuff for your nuts and bolts recipe.
• Celery salt: Celery salt is quite potent in flavor, so don’t use more than the recommended 1/2 teaspoon.
• Onion salt: The same goes for the onion salt; measure it carefully!
• Garlic salt: If you don’t have garlic salt, you can use traditional garlic powder, which is much more often found in the pantry.
• Paprika: You can use a smoked paprika if you want things extra savory, or a more classic take on the deep red spice.

Directions

Step 1: Make the seasoning

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Preheat the oven to 250°F. Then, in a large bowl, combine the cereals, pretzels, and nuts. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and stir in the Worcestershire and seasonings.

Step 2: Toss the ingredients

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Pour the melted butter over the cereal mixture, and toss everything to coat. Next, spread the blend out in an ungreased 15×10-inch baking pan.

Step 3: Bake and serve

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Bake the nuts and bolts for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Finally, let the nuts and bolts cool completely and store it in an airtight container.

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Nuts and Bolts Variations

• Try it with cashews: If you don’t have peanuts, or if you don’t like them or are allergic to them, you can use cashews instead, just consider chopping the larger nuts in half.
• Make it vegan: You can swap a vegan-friendly butter substitute or oil for the butter and the recipe will still be just great.
• Halve the salts: You can use 1/4 teaspoon of each of the three salts instead and the recipe will still be a winner.

How to Store Nuts and Bolts

You can store nuts and bolts in an airtight container for up to a week. Keep it at room temperature.

Can you freeze nuts and bolts?

You can freeze nuts and bolts, yes, and it will extend the life of this snack food for up to two months.

Nuts and Bolts Tips

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What other cereals can you use in this nuts and bolts recipe?

You can give it a hint of sweetness by using Honey Nut Cheerios instead of regular Cheerios, or make the recipe gluten-free by using rice Chex. There are tons of ways to use your favorite cereal. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

What is the best way to cool the mixture before storage?

Cool it directly on the pan, or on a wire rack lined with paper towels (although you may lose some of the buttery goodness this way). Just make sure the mixture cools completely before you store it.

How can you make this nuts and bolts recipe spicy?

Add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the butter mixture before baking if you prefer spicier nuts and bolts (try mixing in one of our favorite hot sauce brands). If you liked this recipe for nuts and bolts, try more of our other snack mixes next.