Caramel Chex Mix

Hosting a party? Want a holiday homemade-food gift idea for friends, neighbors and co-workers? Caramel Chex mix is the perfect treat! Whether it’s a little something to give others or a salty-sweet treat to feast on at home, this is the perfect crowd-pleasing snack that everyone will enjoy. Plus, it’s truly easy to make! Simply cook down a sugary butter sauce, toss it with the Chex mixture and bake it all in the oven until crispy. Your homemade Chex mix will last for weeks in an airtight container, but we have a feeling it won’t last that long in your house. It’s just that good!

Ingredients for Caramel Chex Mix

• Chex mix: This recipe calls for a combination of different Chex cereals—Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Wheat Chex—in equal measure.
• Miniature pretzels: We find that mini pretzels work best for this recipe, but pretzel sticks also work well.
• Pecans and cashews: Get salted nuts for that ideal salty-and-sweet snack combo.
• Butter: Butter is cooked down and used as the base for the sauce in this caramelized Chex mix recipe.
• Brown sugar: To make the sauce sweet and give it that caramel-like taste, brown sugar is cooked with butter to create a sweet and sticky sauce.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients

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In a large bowl, combine the cereal, pretzels and nuts.

Step 2: Make the butter sauce

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, cooking and stirring until it’s thickened, about two minutes.

Step 3: Pour on the sauce

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Pour the sauce over the cereal mixture and toss to coat.

Step 4: Bake the Chex mix

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Spread the cereal mixture onto two greased 15x10x1-inch baking pans. Bake for eight minutes. Give the mix a good stir, then bake it for another six minutes. Transfer the Chex mix to a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet and let it cool completely.

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Caramel Chex Mix Variations

• Add some candy: When your Chex mix is finished, feel free to toss in chocolate candies, like M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces.
• Sub in corn syrup: Some find that adding corn syrup to the butter and brown sugar helps to thicken up the sauce and creates a crispy candy-like coating on the Chex mix.
• Use the nuts you have on hand: While our recipe calls for cashews and pecans, this caramel Chex mix recipe is also great with all kinds of salty nuts, including peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and more.
• Add popcorn: For even more bulk in your snack mix, add lightly salted popcorn to the cereal mixture before tossing it with the sauce and baking.

How to Store Caramel Chex Mix

Caramel Chex mix is best stored in an airtight container. This ensures that the cereal mixture stays crispy and doesn’t grow soggy when exposed to moisture in the air. As long as the mix is not exposed to moisture, caramel Chex mix can last for three to four weeks in an airtight container. Remember, the fresher the better.

Can you freeze caramel Chex mix?

Unfortunately, no. Caramel Chex mix will not freeze well. The cereal will get soggy when you defrost it, losing that crunchy texture we all know and love when eating this sweet snack.

Caramel Chex Mix Tips

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How do you keep Chex mix from getting soggy?

The sauce poured over any Chex mix, including this caramelized Chex mix recipe, can make the cereal and other crunchy snacks get slightly soggy. This texture changes when the mix is thoroughly toasted in the oven, so if it still feels soggy when you’re finished baking it, stir it and bake it another five minutes. Continue until the mix is crispy. Keep in mind, the mix will also get slightly crispy when it cools as well.

Why did my Chex mix burn?

This means you either didn’t stir it in the middle of baking, or you cooked it too long. Stirring the mix ensures that the entire snack thoroughly cooks, and it prevents certain spots from burning compared with others.

How do you freshen stale Chex mix?

If your caramel Chex mix is tasting a little stale, spread the mix in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake it at 300° for five minutes to bring the crunch back.