Christmas Chex Mix

Christine Gallary
Christine GallarySenior Recipe Editor
After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, I worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW's test kitchens. I've edited and tested recipes for more than 15 years, including developing recipes for the James Beard-award winning Mister Jiu's in Chinatown cookbook. My favorite taste testers are my husband, Hayden, and daughter, Sophie.
updated Nov 24, 2024
christmas
Christmas Chex Mix
Credit: Photo: Nicole Wolf | Food Stylist: Catrine Kelty

This sweet and savory mix is a guaranteed hit at parties or as gifts for Christmas.

Serves15

Makesabout 15 cups

Prep20 minutes

Cook3 minutes

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Christmas Chex Mix
Credit: Photo: Nicole Wolf | Food Stylist: Catrine Kelty

Christmas Chex Mix is one of my favorite holiday treats that offers a welcome change from all the cookies and candy canes fighting for attention. This crispy, salty-sweet mixture even looks like Christmas — everything is coated in white chocolate, and red and green M&Ms peek through!

My favorite Christmas Chex Mix blend is pretty simple — cereal, pretzels, and candy — but the sprinkle of flaky salt at the end is what takes it over the top. It makes a wonderful holiday gift and is a great party food to have around.

Why You’ll Love It

  • It’s the easiest no-bake party treat. The best part is that you don’t have to bake it, making it one of the easiest big-batch treats to throw together.
  • It’s the perfect holiday food gift. Christmas Chex Mix stays wonderfully crisp for a long time, making it a perfect holiday gift and something you can make ahead of time before things get too busy.
Credit: Photo: Nicole Wolf | Food Stylist: Catrine Kelty

Key Ingredients in Christmas Chex Mix

  • Chex cereal: Use rice, wheat, or corn Chex cereal, or a combination.
  • Pretzels: We use mini pretzel twists here, but feel free to use mini pretzel sticks.
  • M&Ms: Red and green Christmas M&Ms makes this mix extra festive.
  • White chocolate: The best and most flavorful coating for Christmas Chex Mix is white chocolate bars or discs. These higher-quality products contain cocoa butter, which ensures smooth melting and coating. Although they melt beautifully, white candy melts don’t taste as good so I take a hard pass on them.

How to Make Christmas Chex Mix

  1. Combine the cereal mixture. Place the Chex cereal, mini pretzel twists, and Christmas M&Ms in a large bowl and stir until combined.
  2. Melt the white chocolate. Place the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
  3. Pour the white chocolate over the cereal mixture. Gently fold with a rubber spatula, going around the edges of the bowl and scraping down to the bottom, until evenly coated. Transfer to the baking sheets and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with flaky salt.
  4. Let sit at room temperature. When the chocolate is set, break into pieces with your hands.

Helpful Swaps

  • White chocolate chips: Only white chocolate chips which contain cocoa butter, such as Guittard Choc-au-Lait, will melt smoothly enough for this recipe. If you can’t find white baking chips with cocoa butter, opt for bars or discs of white chocolate instead. Don’t use white candy melts, which aren’t as flavorful as white chocolate.
  • Gluten-free: To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free mini pretzel twists and corn or rice Chex cereal.

Christmas Chex Mix Variations

Here are some mix-ins that you can add for variety:

  • Nuts: Try roasted peanuts, almonds, or pistachios.
  • Sprinkles: These Christmas sprinkles are a fun addition.
  • Mini marshmallows: Gives the Chex mix a nice contrast of textures.
  • Cereal: Use a combination of cereal, like Cheerios or Golden Grahams.
  • Candy: Add some chopped toffee or peppermint bark to the mix.

What’s the Difference Between Traditional Chex Mix and Christmas Chex Mix?

  • Traditional Chex mix: A savory snack mix made with Chex cereal, nuts, and other salty goodies like bagel chips and pretzels. Everything’s tossed with melted butter flavored with garlic and onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoned salt before it’s baked up in the oven until crisp.
  • Christmas Chex mix: This mix falls firmly in the sweets camp. The base is mostly cereal and pretzels, but festive candy-covered chocolate M&Ms swap in for the nuts and everything is coated with melted white chocolate. Instead of baking, Christmas Chex mix just needs to sit at room temperature or chill in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.

Storage Tips

Store it in an airtight container or zip-top bag for up to one week at room temperature, two weeks in the refrigerator, or a month in the freezer.

Credit: Photo: Nicole Wolf | Food Stylist: Catrine Kelty

More Christmas Treats to Try

Christmas Chex Mix Recipe

This sweet and savory mix is a guaranteed hit at parties or as gifts for Christmas.

Prep time 20 minutes

Cook time 3 minutes

Makes about 15 cups

Serves 15

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) box

    rice, wheat, or corn Chex cereal, or 10 to 11 cups of a combination

  • 2 cups

    mini pretzel twists

  • 1 1/2 cups

    Christmas M&Ms (10 to 11 ounces)

  • 1 1/2 pounds

    white chocolate bars or discs (see Recipe Notes if using white chocolate chips)

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    flaky salt

Instructions

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  1. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, wax paper, or silicone baking mats.

  2. Place 12 ounces Chex cereal (10 to 11 cups), 2 cups mini pretzel twists, and 1 1/2 cups Christmas M&Ms in a large bowl and stir with a rubber spatula until combined.

  3. If using bars, coarsely chop 1 1/2 pounds white chocolate (no need to chop discs or chips). Place the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until melted, about 1 1/2 minutes total. (Alternatively, place in a medium heatproof bowl, fit the bowl over a saucepan containing an inch of simmering water, and melt over low heat, stirring often, 5 to 7 minutes.)

  4. Pour the white chocolate over the cereal mixture and gently fold with the rubber spatula, going around the edges of the bowl and scraping down to the bottom, until evenly coated. Transfer to the baking sheets and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon flaky salt.

  5. Let sit at room temperature until the chocolate is set, about 1 1/2 hours. (Alternatively, refrigerate for about 45 minutes.) Break into pieces with your hands.

Recipe Notes

White chocolate chips: Only white chocolate chips which contain cocoa butter, such as Guittard Choc-au-Lait, will melt smoothly enough for this recipe. If you can’t find white baking chips with cocoa butter, opt for bars or discs of white chocolate instead. Don’t use white candy melts, which aren’t as flavorful as white chocolate.

Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 1 month.