Description
A festive and crunchy Christmas Chex Mix featuring a delightful combination of Rice, Corn, and Wheat Chex cereals, pretzel sticks, mixed nuts, and holiday-themed candies, all coated in a buttery, sweet cinnamon glaze and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Cereal Mix
- 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
- 1 cup pretzel sticks
- 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts)
Sweet Coating
- 1 cup butter (melted)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup M&M’s or holiday-themed candies
- 1 cup chocolate chips or white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 225°F (107°C) to prepare for baking the mix evenly and gently.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, pretzel sticks, and mixed nuts. Stir gently to mix everything without crushing the pieces.
- Prepare Sweet Coating: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the brown sugar, corn syrup, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir continuously until the mixture is well combined and begins to bubble slightly.
- Coat the Mix: Pour the hot buttery mixture over the Chex and nut mixture. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to gently fold everything until all ingredients are evenly coated with the sweet glaze.
- Spread on Baking Sheet: Evenly spread the coated mixture onto a large rimmed baking sheet to ensure uniform baking.
- Bake and Stir: Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure the mix toasts evenly without burning.
- Cool the Mix: Remove the pan from the oven and allow the Chex Mix to cool completely on the baking sheet, finishing the crisping process.
- Add Candy and Chocolate: Once cooled, gently stir in the M&M’s or holiday candies and chocolate chips to complete your festive Chex Mix.
- Store Properly: Store the Christmas Chex Mix in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks to maintain freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Be careful when stirring the coated mixture during baking to avoid crushing the cereal and nuts.
- Ensure the mix is completely cooled before adding candy and chocolate chips to prevent melting.
- Feel free to substitute nuts or candies based on preference or dietary restrictions.
- Use white chocolate chips if you want a different flavor profile and a more festive look.
- This mix makes a great homemade holiday gift when packaged in decorative bags or tins.
