Description
This festive Christmas Chex Mix combines the perfect crunch of Rice and Wheat Chex cereals, Bugles snack chips, and sourdough pretzel nibblers with the sweet touch of white chocolate candy melts and colorful holiday mini M&M’s. Finished with crushed peppermint candies and red, white, and green nonpareil sprinkles, this snack mix is an irresistible holiday treat perfect for sharing or gifting during the festive season.
Ingredients
Scale
Snack Mix Base
- 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
- 2 cups Bugles brand snack chips
- 2 cups sourdough pretzel nibblers (Snyders of Hanover brand)
Sweet Coating and Toppings
- 10 ounce bag white chocolate candy melts (Ghirardelli brand recommended)
- 1¼ cups mini M&M’s candies (Christmas red and green variety)
- 22 Starlight peppermint candies, unwrapped and finely crushed (approximately ½ cup)
- 2 tablespoons nonpareil sprinkles (red, white, and green holiday blend), plus additional for optional garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Mix Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Rice Chex cereal, Wheat Chex cereal, Bugles snack chips, and sourdough pretzel nibblers. Stir gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
- Melt White Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate candy melts in 30-second intervals, stirring well between each until smooth and fully melted. Be careful not to overheat to avoid burning the chocolate.
- Coat Mix: Pour the melted white chocolate over the cereal and snack mixture. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold the mixture gently to ensure that all pieces are evenly coated with the white chocolate.
- Add Candy and Toppings: Sprinkle the mini M&M’s candies evenly over the coated mixture. Then add the finely crushed Starlight peppermint candies and 2 tablespoons of the red, white, and green nonpareil sprinkles. Gently toss the mixture to incorporate these toppings without breaking the pieces.
- Set and Cool: Spread the coated mix onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper in an even layer. Optionally, sprinkle additional nonpareil sprinkles over the top for extra festive decoration. Allow the mix to set at room temperature until the white chocolate hardens and pieces are no longer sticky, approximately 30 minutes.
- Store Properly: Once set, break into clusters as desired and store the Christmas Chex Mix in an airtight container at room temperature. The mix will stay fresh for up to 1 week and is perfect for holiday parties or gifting in decorative bags or tins.
Notes
- Use good quality white chocolate candy melts for a smooth coating and best taste.
- If desired, the mix can be refrigerated briefly to speed up the setting process of the white chocolate.
- Adjust the amount of peppermint candy to taste if you prefer a stronger or milder mint flavor.
- For a nut-free version, ensure all ingredients are free from cross-contamination and check the labels carefully.
- This recipe is not baked or cooked but relies on melting chocolate and mixing, making cleanup easy.
Keywords: Christmas Chex Mix, holiday snack, white chocolate mix, festive snack, peppermint, M&M’s, Chex cereal mix