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    Home » Recipes » Savoury and snacks

    Nuts and Bolts Recipe

    Published: Aug 2, 2023 · Modified: Feb 26, 2024 by Libby Hakim · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The snack that keeps everyone coming back for more. This Nuts and Bolts recipe has been around for a while but never gets old!

    Make it for parties, Christmas, to enjoy with a cold one or whenever you feel like a quick and easy snack.

    Jump to:
    • Nuts and Bolts?
    • The recipe
    • Ingredient notes
    • How to make Nuts and Bolts
    • Variations, tips and storage
    • Other edible gift ideas
    • Nuts and Bolts Recipe

    Nuts and Bolts?

    It's a crazy name, but this popular snacking mix is said to have got the name since the cereal bits fit into the pretzels a bit like nuts and bolts.

    The first references to this recipe appear in the mid 1900s, and in Australia at least it appeared to become increasingly popular during the recession of the early 1990s.

    Remember the recession we had to have?

    It wasn't much fun, but people got on with it and The Canberra Times ran a story just before Christmas in 1992 about the ways people were adapting their Christmas menus for tighter times – and highlighted the budget-friendly Nuts and Bolts recipe.

    The recipe

    This Nuts and Bolts recipe is inspired by the above recipe and a few I've used in the past.

    I've adapted everything to create what I think is the best Nuts and Bolts recipe.

    Follow my recipe or use it as inspiration to create your very own ideal nuts and bolts recipe.

    Ingredient notes

    This recipe is super adaptable, and I'll add some variation ideas below.

    If you want to make it just like pictured above, you'll need:

    • Nutri-Grain
    • pretzels 
    • roasted and salted peanuts/mixed nuts 
    • French Onion Soup mix
    • paprika
    • curry powder
    • light olive oil.

    Ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    ingredients for making nuts and bolts recipe.

    What is Nutri-Grain?

    Nutri-Grain is a breakfast cereal that is sold only in Australia and New Zealand.

    Not very helpful if you've landed here from overseas.

    But, as I mentioned above, this recipe is very adaptable. Use Cheerios or Chex or whatever else it is you put in your bowl at breakfast over in your part of the world.

    Back here in Australia, I do fancy Nutri-Grain for breakfast and it was sold as "iron man food" as I was growing up.

    And before my time, it seems to have been the way cricketers start the day! Pictured below is an ad from the mid 1970s featuring Tony Greig.

    How to make Nuts and Bolts

    You can absolutely have this nuts and bolts recipe done and dusted in 10 minutes flat.

    Start by pre-heating the oven to moderate (180 degrees celsius/355 degrees fahrenheit) and greasing a large baking tray.

    Place the Nutri-Grain, pretzels and nuts into the greased tray.

    Sprinkle the soup mix and spices over the top of these ingredients and then drizzle with the olive oil.

    Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon (while in the tray) and then shake tray gently to ensure the mixture is distributed evenly.

    Bake for 12 minutes.

    Allow to cool completely before enjoying.

    Variations, tips and storage

    This recipe can easily be varied by:

    • subbing Nutri-Grain with another breakfast cereal
    • subbing pretzels with rice crisps or another salty treat 
    • using cashews, macadamias or pistachios instead of roasted and salted peanuts/mixed nuts 
    • using Chicken Soup mix instead of French Onion Soup mix
    • using garlic powder instead of paprika
    • adding cumin instead of curry powder (though I've got to say I love my nuts and bolts recipe with curry powder)
    • subbing light olive oil for peanut, vegetable, coconut or macadmia oil.

    Store in an airtight container for six weeks or more.

    Nuts and Bolts is a great gifting idea. Add to a jar and use some Christmas ribbon for a festive and affordable gift.

    nuts and bolts in a jar for Christmas gift.

    Other edible gift ideas

    There's no better gift than a homemade one!

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    nuts and bolts in a bowl.

    Nuts and Bolts Recipe

    Libby Hakim
    The more-ish and budget-friendly snack that's salty-sweet and always a favourite.
    4.41 from 5 votes
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    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 12 minutes mins
    Total Time 17 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American, Australian
    Servings 24 servings
    Calories 117 kcal

    Equipment

    • large baking tray

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups Nutri-Grain (120 grams)
    • 2 cups pretzels (80 grams)
    • 1 ½ cups roasted and salted peanuts/mixed nuts (220 grams)
    • 40 gram packet French Onion Soup mix
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon curry powder
    • 3 tablespoons light olive oil

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to moderate (180 degrees celsius/355 degrees fahrenheit).
    • Grease a large baking tray.
    • Place Nutri-Grain, Pretzels and nuts into the greased tray. Sprinkle the soup mix and spices over the top of these ingredients and then drizzle with the olive oil.
    • Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon (while in the tray) and then shake tray gently to ensure the mixture is distributed evenly.
    • Bake for 12 minutes.
    • Allow to cool completely and then store in an airtight container.

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container for six weeks or more.
    Nuts and Bolts is a great gifting idea. Add to a jar and use some Christmas ribbon for a festive and affordable gift.
    Variation ideas
    This recipe can easily be varied by:
    • subbing Nutri-Grain with another breakfast cereal
    • subbing pretzels with rice crisps or another salty treat 
    • using cashews, macadamias or pistachios instead of roasted and salted peanuts/mixed nuts 
    • using Chicken Soup mix instead of French Onion Soup mix
    • using garlic powder instead of paprika
    • adding cumin instead of curry powder (though I’ve got to say I love my nuts and bolts recipe with curry powder)
    • subbing light olive oil for peanut, vegetable, coconut or macadmia oil.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 117kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 274mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 4IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?If you love it, let me know!

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    Hi, I'm Libby, a recipe collector and writer. I love everything about home cooking and share modern classics and recipes that have been passed down for generations – I hope you find a few that bring back treasured memories.

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