My Favorite Sweet Chex Mix
on Dec 21, 2021, Updated Mar 15, 2024
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Sweet Chex Mix is a sweet mix that will keep you coming back for more. It is fun to bring to a party or to set it while you are playing games with your friends or family this holiday season.
This sweet and sticky mix is so dang good. It is made with Chex cereal, coconut and pecans. Then you make a simple syrup to cover the mixture. It is so easy and will be done in 15 minutes.
Holiday Chex mix makes a big batch so it is fun to share with the people you love. It’s also REALLY addicting. So good that you can’t have just one handful. Add this to your goodie plates along with my favorite Gingerbread Cookies.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Super quick and easy – it takes less than 15 minutes to make this from start to finish.
- No baking or oven needed!
- Makes wonderful holiday gifts for neighbors, social groups or classrooms. My favorite ways to package it include mason jars, cellophane bags, paper cones, or even red and green Ziploc containers.
- I think this is the perfect treat to munch on while playing games or watching your favorite Christmas movie. You might also consider making hot chocolate to go with it.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chex cereal: you can use rice, corn and the wheat varieties
- Pecan: I love to use pecan halves
- Coconut: looks for shredded and sweetened coconut near the chocolate chips
- Butter
- Light corn syrup
- Sugars: we’re using both brown and granulated sugar for this recipe
- Vanilla Extract
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Make Sweet Chex Mix
Step #1. Add all of your dry ingredients to a large bowl and stir well to combine.
Step #3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once bubbles are forming across the entire surface of the sauce, boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
Step #2. Add the sugars, butter, corn syrup, and other ingredients for they syrup into a pan.
Step #4. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Pour the syrup over the dry mix and toss gently to evenly coat.
Recipe FAQs
An extra large bowl sprayed with cooking spray and using a wooden spoon to stir the mix will be your best friend when working with gooey recipes.
The coconut is subtle in this mix but it makes a big difference. I would leave it in because it is not overpowering and adds a lot to the overall flavor. Unless you REALLY don’t like coconut-then just leave it out.
Of course! Make this mix your own. If you have cashews, slivered almonds, or peanuts on hand feel free to use any of those instead.
Expert Tips
- Patience Pays Off: When boiling the syrup, make sure it bubbles across the entire surface for 3 minutes. This precise boiling time ensures the perfect texture and a beautiful shine on your Chex mix.
- Substitutions Welcome: Feel free to experiment with different nuts or even use a mix for variety. If dealing with nut allergies, pretzels are a fantastic substitute, adding that beloved sweet and salty flavor combo.
- Coconut Considerations: While the coconut adds a unique flavor and texture, it’s not essential. If you’re not a fan or are catering to specific tastes, you can omit it without compromising the overall deliciousness of the mix.
How do I store Holiday Chex Mix?
Simply store in an airtight bag or a container with a lid. Store at room temperature and it will stay good for about a week but I doubt it will last that long.
More Sweet Treat Recipes To Consider
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My Favorite Sweet Chex Mix
Ingredients
For the Dry Mix:
- 4 cups corn Chex
- 4 cups rice Chex
- 4 cups wheat Chex
- 2 cups sweetened, shredded coconut
- 2 cups pecan halves
For the Syrup:
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In an extra large mixing bowl, combine corn Chex, rice Chex, wheat Chex, coconut and pecan halves. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium low heat.
- When the butter is melted, add the corn syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar and salt to the saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Once bubbles are forming across the entire surface of the sauce, boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Pour the syrup over the dry mix and toss gently to evenly coat.
- Spread the mix out on parchment paper and allow to cool.
- After cooling, break into bite-sized pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
- If you prefer to divide the dry mix between 2 large bowls, and split the syrup between the 2 bowls, so that it’s easier to mix, that would be fine. I have also added the syrup to the mix in one bowl, and then, as it gets coated, add more dry mix a little at a time until it’s all incorporated.
- The syrup is pretty forgiving. It’s not like a popcorn ball syrup or a rice krispie treat marshmallow mix where you have to work fast before it all starts setting up. It remains soft, even after cooling.
- The boiling of the syrup is important. Boiling for 3 minutes heats the syrup to just under the temperature for soft ball stage. This allows the syrup coating to remain soft, but not runny and too sticky; it also gives the mix a pretty shine.
- Any nuts or even a mix, can be used. Pecan halves are nice because of their size. Other good choices would be cashews, almonds or peanuts.
- Don’t like nuts or making it for someone with a nut allergy? Pretzels are a great substitution for the pecans. And they will achieve that sweet and salty mix. The coconut can be omitted, even though the flavor isn’t overpowering in this recipe.
- Salted butter can be used. Omit the additional kosher salt.
- As the mixture sits, it tends to stick together, even after being separated. This is normal and it can easily be separated again for easy snacking.
So true! best sweet mix ever!!