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!
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