Old Bay Party Mix

Make this zesty snack mix for your next party, or keep a batch on hand for a pick-me-up. Throughout parts of the Chesapeake Bay, the scent of Old Bay seasoning, a heady combination of paprika, celery, black pepper and other secret herbs and spices, is synonymous with summer and seafood. But Old Bay can be used on so much more than crabs and shrimp, including baked into snacks for a crispy party mix. The mix-ins featured nod to sides you might find alongside blue crabs or clam chowder — potato chips, corn (in the form of corn nuts) and oyster crackers — but feel free to use 8 cups of whatever cereals, crackers, chips and nuts speak to you.

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice, corn or wheat Chex or Crispix cereal
• 2 cups potato chips
• 1 cup raw nuts
• 1 cup mini pretzels
• 1 cup oyster crackers
• 1 cup corn nuts
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cayenne (or more to taste)

Steps

1. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together the cereal, chips, nuts, pretzels, crackers and corn nuts. To the melted butter, stir in the Old Bay, garlic powder and cayenne until combined. Pour the butter over the cereal mixture and toss until well coated.
2. Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet pan and spread into an even layer. Bake, stirring halfway through, until golden and toasted, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely on the sheet pan. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.