This Chex Caramel Corn Snack Mix is a crunchy sweet and buttery snack mix that is addictive. There’s an easy-to-make caramel coating, peanuts, popcorn, crunchy Chinese noodles, and Chex cereal. These make great gifts for the holidays, but be sure to make more for movie snacking at home!
A few years ago, one of my co-workers presented each of us with a bag of this Chex® Caramel Snack Mix. Just like I was seduced gifted with a Christmas plate of Peanut Butter Chewies, I couldn’t stop eating these! I asked her for the recipe, which she readily agreed to do. Then, we both forgot about it and a few Christmas seasons came and went.
Fast forward to this Christmas, when she mentioned she was making her Chex Mix. My eyes lit up, and asked if she’d still share it with me. Sure enough, she handed the recipe to me and I made this (after Christmas). My husband loves snacks that are crunchy, and I had a feeling he’d love this one as well. I was really excited to make this!
Craig and I enjoy having a Netflix night, with some freshly made kettle popcorn. I figured this would be the perfect chance to make this for my family. The ingredients are completely interchangeable– I used freshly popped corn, Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Cheerios, Chinese Crispy Noodles and cocktail peanuts.
…which is then heated to a boil. The directions said to add the vanilla with all the ingredients, but I’m old school– and I try to add extracts to hot ingredients at the very end. Why? I don’t want to dilute the potency of the vanilla– so that’s what I did. Last, and best of all, this buttery and caramel hot lava is poured over all the dry ingredients and gently mixed.
Chex® Caramel Corn Snack Mix
Ingredients
- 7 cups Chex® cereal corn, rice or combination
- 2 cups Cheerios cereal
- 6 cups popped corn 1/3 cup popcorn kernels = about 6 cups popped corn
- 3 cups Chinese crispy noodles
- 2 cups peanuts cocktail style
- 1 cup butter don’t use margarine or tub spread products
- 6 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 1/8 cup brown sugar packed
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Heat oven to 250°F.
- Remove and discard unpopped kernels from popped popcorn.
- Mix cereals, popcorn, Chinese noodles and peanuts in a large roasting pan; set aside.
- Heat butter, sugar, corn syrup and to boiling in a 2-Quart saucepan* over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- *or you can heat in a microwave, if you prefer.
- Add the vanilla (I prefer to add this once the caramel is hot, to keep the vanilla flavor more intense.)
- Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
- Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Spread on waxed or parchment paper to cool, stirring occasionally to break up.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
I spent most of college snacking on Sweet and Salty Chex Mix which was chock full of caramel. It was the best! I'm sure this is even more awesome.
I remember something like this from my youth, but it didn't have popcorn. I can see how this will be very addictive.
Sam
I remember something like this from my youth, but it didn't have popcorn. I can see how this will be very addictive.
Sam