I Tried Candied Cheez-Its, and I Can’t Believe I’m Saying This, But They’re Amazing

Published on October 22, 2025

When I first saw the recipe for Candied Cheez-Its, I was both skeptical and intrigued. I happen to love the "Chicago Mix" of cheddar and caramel popcorn made famous by Garrett Popcorn (I buy a tin full of it every Christmas). So I immediately asked our Test Kitchen pros to make a batch. The result is a savory-meets-sweet snack that totally works. Every single one of our recipe tasters loved it.

How to Make Candied Cheez-Its

To make these brown sugar-glazed crackers, you only need a handful of ingredients and just a bit of cook time. Here's a quick look at how to make a batch at home.

1. In a saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and light corn syrup. Cook over medium-low heat until the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in baking soda.
2. Pour a box of Cheez-It crackers onto a baking sheet that's lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the caramel mixture over the top.
3. Bake for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool completely before eating.

Tips for Making Homemade Snack Mix

Keep these tips from the BHG Test Kitchen in mind when you try this viral snack recipe.

• Don't just stick to standard-size crackers. We used a mix of jumbo and regular size Cheez-Its. I bet it would also be delicious with other variations like white cheddar, toasted, or pepper jack.
• Add a bit of heat. Our recipe tasters liked the flavor best with a generous pinch of crushed red pepper flakes in the caramel drizzle. Cayenne pepper would work well too.
• Try making a mix. If you want a bit of variety, add in pretzels, mixed nuts, or cereal to the snack mix. Play up the sweet factor a bit more by adding a handful of chocolate chips or candy-coated chocolate pieces to the cooled Cheez-It mixture.
• Store the caramel cheese crackers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

The Verdict on Candied Cheez-It Crackers

Now is the perfect time to make a batch of caramel candied crackers. It's the ultimate make-ahead party recipe that's easy to customize, store, and serve. Set a bowl out during your next party, movie night, or afternoon football-watching session, and be prepared for it to disappear. If you're anything like us, you'll be going back for handful after handful.