Nuts and Bolts Trail Mix Slow Cooker Recipe

Day 8.

I had to hurry and take this picture before the kids gnawed my arm off to reach the rest. It's okay to eat trail mix for all meals for 2 days, right? I think I read that it was okay in some parenting magazine.

Being gluten-free and all, it's difficult for our family to find a store bought trail mix that we all enjoy and isn't reminiscent of guinea pig food. This did the trick.

One of my library finds was America's Best Slow Cooker Recipes by Donna-Marie Pye. I may just have to buy this book when the library figures out that I keep renewing it. I followed this recipe to a T. Except for that I didn't have all the stuff she told me to have and I apparently read the directions wrong so I didn't actually follow what she said to do. How on earth did they ever let me out of school? Seriously.

Oh! If you get the book, it is called Winter Trail Mix. But growing up my mom and grandma called stuff with pretzel sticks Nuts and Bolts, so I changed the name.

The Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of unsalted nuts (I used almonds and walnut halves)

1 1/2 cups pretzel sticks (Glutino makes these awesome gluten free ones; Whole Foods carries them or you can buy from Amazon)--1 cup dried fruit (I used only cranberries because that's all we had. I would have loved to include dried blueberries and apricots)

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons water

The Directions:

--Dump dry ingredients in the stoneware.

--Mix the melted butter, water, vanilla and sugar in a bowl.

--Pour butter and sugar mixture on top of the dry ingredients and stir well to coat.

--Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or so.

Dump out on a prepared cookie sheet (I used Release foil) to cool.

I was worried that the pretzels would taste stale after being coated, but once they dried and cooled they regained their rightful crunch.

Quick, go hide some.

It will disappear.

other fun crockpot snacks:

Rice Krispie Treats

Cracker Jacks

Brownie in a Mug

roasted pumpkin seeds (flop)

roasted garbanzo beans

Rocky Road Candy

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Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at January 08, 2008

Labels: appetizers, gluten free, slow cooker, snacks,

What they say about this article

Stephanie C.1/08/2008
Who ever imagined trail mix in a crock pot? Not me, that's for sure! Did you use your small or your large pot for this one?
Stephanie ODea1/08/2008
I used the large one. I would probably double everything next time, because it was gobbled so quickly. Even with this-sized recipe the small crockpot would be too tiny.

I never would have imgagined making a trail mix in a crockpot, either! My mind is being expanded by this here experiment, I tell you!
xoxo
steph
Stephanie ODea1/08/2008
imgagined. hmph. now I'm making up words.
Kim -today's creative blog1/08/2008
Stephanie, I just found your blog from Laura's and I love it! I have made you my feature today on Today's Creative Blog.
Please email me for your blinkie code that all featured bloggers get.
krjdemmon@comcast.net
jillskict1/08/2008
I found you through Today's Creative Blog and I love the recipes, I also featured you on my recipe of the week! Thanks and I have a new crockpot to use this year too!
Amy1/08/2008
Wow how cool is this! I found you from TCB, congrats! and I just love all your recipies!
Jennifer P.1/08/2008
I'm coming on over from the Today's Creative Blog crowd. Put that blinkie up and get ready for the love :)!

This is a fabulous site! I couldn't live without my crockpot. I actually named her Alice cause she's kind of like our maid! I also have friends with gluten allergies, so I'll have to let them know where you're at.

Thanks for your sharing your creativity!
-Jennifer
Jennifer P.1/08/2008
oh, and if you ever run out of recipes, I have a fabulous one for a pulled Jerk (Jamaican) pork. It's yummy!!!
Denise ~ Paper Ponderings1/08/2008
Ooooh...yummo...I just discovered you from Today's Creative Blog. I've already put you on my reader and am really excited about using my crock pot!!! I have a pork roast in it at the moment...but hope to find some fantastic uses for it...the nuts and bolts will definitely be one, and yes, I'm sure it's okay to eat it for two days straight at every meal!!!
Stephanie C.1/12/2008
Made this today, with a few modifications of my own. I switched the proportions of the pretzel sticks and the nuts, as nuts aren't a big favorite around here (except for me). I used pecans and a handful of walnuts and for the dried fruit I used half craisins and half blueberries. I doubled it; yummalicious.
Stephanie ODea1/12/2008
that's great, stephanie! I'm so happy it worked out well for you! We really enjoyed it a lot, too.
xxo
steph
MaryLu7/02/2008
No, way!
Really?

No. Way!
Have to try this one!
Anonymous12/16/2009
Amazing!!! My husband and I ate this for like a week straight. You know a trailmix is good when you like the pretzels!
Audrey Jensen--12/16/2010
Wow, This looks amazing. Can't wait to try it.
Ginny the Sock Monkey3/13/2011
This recipe just blew my mind. I'm so excited to make this. Thank you!
Air Made to Order12/10/2011
Um, YUM! I just made this! Sooo Good! I'm going to make more and put them in goody bags for x-mas presents. So easy to make!