Caramel Cheetos

Caramel Cheetos (yes, really): Sweet and salty snacks you didn’t need

So let’s get weird for a moment. Do you know the moment when you’re eating something salty and your brain knows it’s a bit lacking in sweetness? Input: Caramel Cheats.

No, I’m not losing my heart. No, this is no cruel snack joke. Caramel-coated cheats are the ultimate snack mashup that brings together a nostalgic, cheesy crunch, served with a buttery cheesy caramel glaze, and like a symphony of flavour, it hits every craving note in the body.

What is Caramel Cheats?

Think about Chicago style popcorn. A delicious blend of cheddar popcorn and caramel corn you get at Garrett meet Cheetus. These are not your classic cheese dust snacks – instead, we’re talking about a caramel shell that coats each puff perfectly with a golden, shiny, and perfection. It’s a little sweet, a little salty, and 100% will you crave more.

And the best part? You will need some ingredients to make them at home (more details in 1 second).

Why do you like this snack?

In addition to the fact that they are the most unexpected and delicious things that happen in your snack drawer, here’s why you need to make caramel cheats as quickly as possible:

Sweet + salty combo that hits all the right notes. It resembles the caramel corn (iykyk) crunchy texture in my puff, reaching for “just one more”. Perfect for parties, games days or Netflix nights. It’s a strange snack flex that you won’t be able to see your friends coming.

Necessary materials

For a complete ingredient list and recipes, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom. However, let’s disassemble it immediately.

Crispy Cheetos “Family Size” Bag 1 cup Light Brown Sugar 1/2 cup Salt Butter 1/2 cup Light Corn Syrup Flakes Sea Salt

Tips for making homemade caramel cheats

Preparing for this is mega-quick, but it takes about 65-75 minutes in the oven. Don’t try to speed up baking time by baking at a higher temperature or not going full time. You want to make your cheats crispy, not chewy! Mix every 15 minutes! This will prevent the cheats from being too concentrated together and evenly baked! Don’t skimp on flaked sea salt! I like to use Maldon salt and put it in a big box on Amazon. You’d think the cheats are salty enough, but I think there’s more to be added to balance the sweetness of the caramel sauce! Really try to tear the chunks apart! Do this, stirring every 15 minutes, especially when you last remove from the oven! Once cooled it still falls apart, but it’s difficult to do and the cheats break!

Final Thoughts

Telling people that you made caramel cheetos might give you a funny look, but trust me – a bite and they get it. It’s the kind of snack that makes you feel like a crazy snack scientist (in the best way).

Now, lean on something strange. And when your friends ask what on earth, which has just devoured a handful, you can proudly say: caramel. Cheats.