Fun Chex Mix Party Recipes for the Holidays

This is one of those sides that everyone loves.

You can include all kinds of fun mix-ins like M&Ms, raisins, nuts, dried fruits, candy, pretzels, chocolate chips, etc. and then each guest can pick and choose exactly what he or she wants to eat out of the mix.

I am asked every year to bring Chex Mix to our family functions and every year I try to do something different with it.

Sometimes I even change the flavor notes, making it spicy one year, sweet the next, savory another, and so on.

This is also one of our favorite party go-tos when we get together for someone's birthday, celebrate the Fourth of July, New Year's, Halloween, or even the Super Bowl.

In fact, even if we end up with extra after the party is over, we have something fun to munch on throughout the day until we run out.

My husband takes it to work, I take it with my to babysit, and we even eat it when vegging in front of the TV at night.

It's so easy to change up and make your own by switching out, omitting, or adding one or two ingredients, it was really hard to come up with so many different recipes, so I fell back on some traditional varieties, with my own twist of course.

I know you'll enjoy each and every one of them, or will find a way to make your own version. You really can't go wrong! Enjoy!

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Corn Chex
• 3 cups of Wheat Chex
• 1 cup of Cheese Nips
• 1 cup of Cracker Jacks
• 1/2 cup of small pretzels
• 1/2 cup of peanuts
• 3/4 cup of dark chocolate chips
• 1 small bag of Rolos
• 3 tablespoons cheddar cheese popcorn topping

Instructions

1. In a very large bowl, large enough to mix a great amount of snack mix, dump your 2 cups of Corn Chex.

2. Now dump in your 3 cups of Wheat Chex.

3. Add in your Cheese Nips. The amount can really be within your judgment. If one cup seems like too much, don't add as much, but feel free to add as much as you would like to get the right mixture.

4. Now add in your Cracker Jacks. 1 cup is approximately 1 package, peanuts and all.

5. Toss in your pretzels, peanuts and dark chocolate chips. The amounts can vary based on your preference. I really like tons of dark chocolate chips in my mix!

6. Unwrap and toss in your Rolos, one at a time.

7. Finally, sprinkle your whole mix with your cheddar cheese popcorn topping. You will want to toss it all together to evenly coat everything.

8. Either serve your mix immediately, or pour into storage bags to serve within at least a day or two.

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Rice Chex
• 3 cups of Chocolate Mini Wheats
• 1 1/2 cups of popped Kettle Corn
• 1 cup of small pretzels
• 1/2 cup of almonds
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, dump your 2 cups of Rice Chex and 3 cups of Chocolate Mini Wheats.

2. Pop your popcorn and add it to your bowl.

3. Now add in your pretzels, almonds, and raisins. How much you add of each ingredient is strictly up to you. Just combine until you get the right mixture for you.

4. Mix everything up really well and then spread it on a large cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.

5. In a small saucepan, melt your butter, olive oil, and brown sugar together on low heat. Stir until well combined and easily drippable.

6. Drizzle your brown sugar mixture over the top of your Chex mix until evenly distributed. You don't have to add in all if you don't want to.

7. Once drizzled, set your oven to low broil and broil your Chex mix for 5-8 minutes. Watch it carefully. You're simply trying to set the brown sugar and dry the mix, not brown or cook it.

8. Let cool completely before serving or storing.

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups of Chocolate Chex
• 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex
• 1 cup of dark chocolate covered pretzels
• 1 cup of chocolate covered peanuts
• 1 cup crumbled Oreo Chocolate cookies (sans the creamy middle)
• 1 cup of M&Ms
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, large enough to mix a great deal of snack mixes, dump your 3 cups of Chocolate Chex.

2. Then dump in your 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex.

3. In a small saucepan, melt your butter olive oil, cocoa powder, and cinnamon.

4. Pour your cereal onto a large cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil and set your oven to low broil.

5. Evenly drizzle your cocoa powder and cinnamon mixture onto your cereal and mix lightly with your hands.

6. Broil for 5 to 8 minutes, just to set your mix and dry it out a tad. Allow to cool before adding in your other ingredients.

7. From here, the amounts of each ingredient you add will be up to you. Just eyeball how much you think is just enough. Toss in your dark chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate covered peanuts.

8. Open up each of your Oreos,eat or set aside the creamy insides, and crumble the cookies. Add them to your Chex Mix mixture.

9. Finally add in your M&Ms. Either serve immediately or store in storage bags to serve within a day or two.

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups of Chocolate Chex
• 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex
• 1 cup of chocolate covered pretzels
• 1 cup of popped popcorn
• 1 cup of mini marshmallows
• 1 cup of chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup of M&Ms

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, large enough to mix up your snacks, dump in your 3 cups of Chocolate Chex and 2 cups of Cinnamon Chex.

2. Add in your chocolate covered pretzels, the amount can vary based on your preference.

3. Now, pop your popcorn and add it into your mixture.

4. Toss in your mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. These are our two favorite ingredients! Add as much or as little as you would like to obtain your ideal mixture.

5. Finally add in your almonds and M&Ms.

6. Either serve immediately or store in storage bags to serve within a day or two. Enjoy!

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 5 cups of Rice Chex
• 1 small bag of Reese's Pieces
• 1 1/2 cup of peanut butter chips
• 1 cup of peanuts
• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, dump your 6 cups of Rice Chex.

2. Add in your Reese's Pieces. The amount can vary if you feel like you need more than just one bag.

3. Finally, add in your peanut butter chips and peanuts.

4. In a small saucepan, melt your butter, olive oil, and peanut butter on low heat. Stir until creamy and thoroughly melted through.

5. Cool just slightly before drizzling it over your mixture, stirring all the while through to distribute evenly.

6. Mix everything well and then spread your mixture out on a large cookie sheet lined in aluminum foil.

7. Pop into the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes until hardened.

8. Break apart into pieces and either serve immediately or store to serve later.

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Corn Chex
• 2 cups of Wheat Chex
• 2 cups of dried fruit
• 1 cup of small pretzels
• 1 cup of yogurt covered raisins
• 1/2 cup peanuts
• 1/2 cup of M&Ms
• 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, big enough to mix a great deal of snacks, dump your 2 cups of Corn Chex.

2. Next, add in your 2 cups of Wheat Chex.

3. And then, add in your 2 cups of dried fruit (mix of your choice, we love the tropical mix).

4. Add in your pretzels and yogurt covered raisins. Feel free to change the amounts of any of these ingredients in order to obtain your idea mixture.

5. Add in your peanuts and M&Ms.

6. And finally, add in your raisins.

7. Either serve immediately, or store to serve within a day or two.

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups of Rice Chex
• 2 cups of Wheat Chex
• 2 cups of popped popcorn
• 1 cup of peanuts
• 1 cup of peanut M&Ms
• 2 cups of caramel sauce
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil (separated)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small bag of white chocolate chips

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, dump your 2 cups of Rice Chex.

2. Now add in your 2 cups of Wheat Chex.

3. Pop your popcorn and add it to your mixture with your peanuts.

4. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt your caramel sauce (you can also use caramel squares), olive oil, and butter, stirring frequently.

5. When melted thoroughly and creamy, slowly drizzle over your Chex mix mixture and stir throughout, spreading the sauce evenly over everything.

6. Gently mix in your peanut M&Ms and then spread your mixture onto a large cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.

7. Immediately pop it into the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes to set the caramel sauce.

8. In the meantime, melt your small bag of white chocolate chips with your tablespoon of olive oil in another small saucepan on low, stirring constantly.

9. When your chocolate is ready, pull out your cookie sheet and drizzle your melted chocolate evenly all over your Chex Mix mixture. Pop back into the refrigerator for another 5 minutes or so to set.

10. Break your mixture into pieces and either serve immediately or store in airtight containers to serve within a day or so.

Prep time: 15 min

Ready in: 15 min

Yields: Makes about 18 (1/2 cup) servings

Ingredients

• 3 cups Rice Chex
• 3 cups of Wheat Chex
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, big enough to mix a good deal of snacks, dump your 3 cups of Rice Chex.

2. Add in your 3 cups of Wheat Chex.

3. In a medium saucepan on low, melt your chocolate chips, peanut butter, olive oil, and butter.

4. Stir constantly until creamy and smooth, and then mix in your vanilla extract.

5. When ready, gently drizzle your melted mixture over your cereal, stirring throughout to evenly distribute.

6. When all is poured and mixed in, transfer your mix into two separate storage bags, pour half of your powdered sugar into each, seal your bags, and shake.

7. You want to do this while your liquid mixture is still wet so that the powdered sugar will evenly coat all of your pieces.

8. Pop into the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes to cool completely before serving.

A couple of the best things about taking Chex Mix to parties is that they are so incredibly easy to make, especially if you don't use a liquid mix-in, and you can make them so different every time.

In fact, I'll probably take a couple of types to my husband's grandparents' house for Thanksgiving, and then take a couple more to his parents' house for Christmas.

It never gets old and everyone always loves it! You can even make a gluten-free Chex Mix without telling anyone.

Just use one of their 7 gluten-free cereal varieties and make sure that your other ingredients are gluten-free or made in gluten-free environments.

I hope you enjoy the recipes in this article, or any variation you come up with on your own. Enjoy!