Make this addicting Christmas crack Chex mix to share with all of your family and friends this holiday season.
Are you looking for an easy party treat to share with all your guests? Look no further than this delicious Christmas crack Chex mix recipe. This scrumptious snack, made with just a few simple ingredients, is sure to bring joy to your taste buds.
You'll love the combination of sweet, salty and buttery flavors in every crunchy bite. Plus, it's a no-fuss dish that can be made in less than half an hour. Ready to indulge on a tasty treat? Let's dive in and make one of the best recipes for holiday Chex mix.
I confess, this mouth-watering, sweet and salty snack mix is a regular at our table every Christmas season. Maybe more than once, depending on how fast we fly through it. It's that good. And it's the perfect mix for this time of year when you are going to holiday parties and need a fun munchie to take.
Why You'll Love This Christmas Snack Mix
- Easy to make
- Can last for quite a while if you don't eat it in one sitting
- Perfect combination of sweet and salty mix
- Feeds a lot of people
- Customize according to your preferences.
This recipe is awesome for taking to large gatherings or for hosting your own Christmas party because it makes a big batch. My toffee dip recipe and yummy cheese ball dish are also great choices for serving at holiday parties.
Ingredients for Christmas Crack Chex Mix
- Chex cereal - I like using corn Chex, rice or a mixture of both
- Corn syrup - I am using the light version
- M&Ms
- Vanilla extract (see this homemade version here)
- Butter
- White sugar
- Salt
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Tools Needed
- Sauce pan for stove top
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Very large bowl for mixing
How to Make Chex Mix Christmas Crack
1. Prepare Cereal Mixture
First, take your box of Chex cereal and pour the whole thing into a large mixing bowl. Set it aside.
2. Melt Ingredients Together
Next, take your butter and melt it in a medium size sauce pan over the stovetop. When the butter is melted, stir in the corn syrup and white sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil at medium-high heat for about 2 minutes, while stirring continuously.
Once your mixture resembles a puffed up, creamy texture like this, remove your pan from heat and stir in the vanilla, baking soda and salt.
Place your pot back on the heat and let it boil while stirring continuously for 1 minute.
3. Pour Sauce Over Cereal Mixture
After your sauce is done boiling, you can pour the whole thing over your large serving bowl of Chex. Use your rubber spatula to thoroughly stir the gooey Chex mix. You'll want to do this as the sauce is hot while it is easier to mix and hasn't hardened.
Once your sauce is all mixed in, allow the mixture to cool for about 10 minutes.
4. Add Toppings to Christmas Crack Chex Mix
When your Chex Christmas mix is cooled, go ahead and add your favorite things to use as toppings for the holiday season. I like to add the Christmas M&Ms for a colorful holiday theme.
Tip: If you want a hint of melted chocolate added to the mix, don't worry about waiting the full 10 minutes for your mixture to cool down. Add your chocolate candies to melt directly into your Chex for a yummy taste of chocolate.
Variations for Christmas Crack Chex Mix
You can easily make alterations to this Christmas Chex mix recipe, based on your tastes and preferences.
- Use rice Chex, wheat Chex or corn Chex
- Change up your cereal and use a mixture of Golden Grahams, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Chex
- For more of a salty snack mix, add pretzel sticks or almonds
- Add dried coconut flakes
- Use white chocolate chips or regular chocolate chips
- If you don't love it super sweet, you can change out M&Ms for something like holiday sprinkles
- Add pieces of candy canes for a peppermint twist, or add a drop of peppermint extract into your sauce mixture
What to Do With Leftovers
Store your sweet Chex mix recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for at least few days. However, chances are that it will be gone long before then!
Top Tips
- Stirring constantly will be the key to your success for this recipe. Make sure to always stir the sauce so it doesn't stick and burn on the bottom of your pan.
- We love to throw this in a big bowl for all to grab, but you can also serve this in portions. Instead of leaving your mix to cool in a bowl, spread out the mixture onto a large rimmed cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. It will form into smaller clumps that are easy to break apart. From there, once your mixture is cooled down you can package separate portions into small goody bags or even a mason jar. They make for easy treats to pass out or neighbor gifts!
Easy Recipes for Entertaining
Looking for other recipes great for hosting? Try these:
Chex Mix Christmas Crack With M&Ms
Equipment
- Sauce pan, medium size
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Butter
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- ½ teaspoon Baking soda
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 box Rice Chex cereal - family size
Instructions
- First, add a box of Chex to a bowl and set aside.
- Next, melt butter in a sauce pan on the stove. Then add corn syrup and sugar. Bring it to a boil for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in vanilla, baking soda and salt.
- Place pan back on heat and bring to a boil, stirring continuously for 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and pour sauce mixture over Chex cereal. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
- Wait 10 minutes and then toss in holiday M&Ms to the mixture. Eat and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use a variety of substitutions for the ingredients. Add Golden Grahams or Cinnamon Toast Crunch for a different mix of cereal with the Chex.
- Swap out M&Ms for other candies if you don't love chocolate.
- For a version with no candy, use shredded coconut and sliced almonds.
- Put it into smaller portions and give away as gifts.
Nutrition
This beloved Christmas crack Chex mix is an irresistible treat that can be thrown together effortlessly in a matter of minutes. It's a perfect combination of sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy that always brings joy to holiday gatherings. With this simple mix of ingredients you can enjoy a delicious holiday snack that won't break your budget. Try making your own Christmas crack this holiday season!
Happy Entertaining!
Brooke
Leave a Reply