Holiday Praline Crunch Mix

Your friends will beg for this recipe!
8 cups of firm cereal, such as Oatmeal Squares, Chex, or Cherrios
2 cups pecan halves
1/3 cup dried cranberries
Oil spray
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 
 Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Combine cereal, nuts, and cranberries.  Spray a 13 x 9-x 2-inch Pyrex baking pan with oil, and then pour cereal mixture into pan. Set aside. In a deep microwave safe bowl, combine the corn syrup, brown sugar, and butter. Microwave mixture on high until boiling, about 2 to 3 minutes. Mixture will foam. (For stove top cooking, heat in a small saucepan until boiling, stirring occasionally.) Using potholders, remove mixture carefully from microwave. Stir in the vanilla and baking soda. Pour syrup over the reserved cereal mixture and stir gently to combine. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Spread crunch bits out on a sheet of waxed paper placed on a heatproof surface. Mixture will be very hot. When completely cooled, break up and place in a serving bowl or store covered until ready to serve. Makes about 10 cups.

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