And it is Christmas Eve!!
Personally, I am just a tad sad.
My very favorite time of year if almost over and it seems like Thanksgiving was just yesterday. I think the month of December needs to be like a whole sixty days and not just thirty-one. Really, the Christmas holiday deserves a whole two months of celebration in my opinion.
So this is the last of my mom’s recipes.
She only has a handful of recipes, and I’ve already shared three. Maybe next year I will share possibly one of my very favorite things she makes. We only have it once a year and it is amazing. And yes, it is totally all about chocolate and a little booze too. What? Yep, booze in Christmas desserts are a must.
Right now though we are talkin’ Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix. In our family, this too, is only made on Christmas Eve. You walk in the house, take a deep breath and you know right away it’s Christmas Eve at the Gerard’s. It’s one of the best smells ever.
I have to say, it was really weird making this before Christmas. It felt totally wrong and I will probably never do it again. Chex mix is a Christmas Eve only thing around here, and you better bet I will be making another double batch today.
Just gotta have that smell and something to munch on all night.
So, Mom’s recipe is really not a secret, it is just smart.
Basically, she added more of the good stuff. You know, the stuff everybody always picks for. The pretzels, bagel chips and nuts. And then the most important thing she upped? The butter and seasonings. Yup, she is pretty smart.
Gotta have lots of butter on Christmas. Well, really just lots of everything good on Christmas!
Also, Mom has always baked her chex mix in the oven.
Seriously, do not try to make this in the microwave. Eww, that is just not good. Go for the oven.
Nothing is better than chex mix baking in the oven, the Christmas music + movies going and people just about everywhere! Mom and I in the kitchen, the brothers hanging around eating, the brother’s friend joining them and the cousins telling stories and just plain making thing so much better!
Mom’s Secret Christmas Eve Chex Mix.
Ingredients
- 3 cups corn chex
- 3 cups rice chex
- 2 cups whole wheat chex
- 2 cups mixed nuts
- 2 cups bite-size pretzels
- 2 cups garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular bagel chips
- 2 cup sticks salted butter melted, 1
- 4 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
-
Pre heat oven to 250 degrees F.
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In large bowl, mix the chex cereals, mixed nuts, pretzels and bagel chips. Set aside.
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Melt the butter in a bowl (I normally do the full 2 1/2 sticks) and mix in the worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder and a good pinch of pepper. Pour the butter over the cereal mixture, tossing well for 3-5 minutes or until the cereal mixture is evenly coated.
-
Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes (or just start eating!!). Store in airtight container.
Merry Christmas Eve!! It is my favorite night of the year!! 🙂
Oh, and I almost forgot to announce the winner of the KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway. First, can I just say I was BLOWN AWAY by the incredible comments you guys left. WOW! Pretty much every comment was not about a gift for you, it was about making your family happy, healthy and together for the holidays. I read every single comment and really, you guys that is what Christmas is about. Family, happiness and being together. I am simply in awe of all of you! Ok and the winner is Kortnie Madison-King! Congrats!! Shoot me an email as soon as possible (like by Thursday night)!
Merry Christmas Tieghan – thanks for sharing your recipes. This Chex Mix will soon be made at our home – too late to make today/tonight but for sure New Years! Hope you and your family have a fun filled Christmas.
Thank you, Judith! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas girl! This looks so easy and delicious, I love me a good Chex Mix (and so does my hubby!) I hope you have a fabulous Christmas stuffing your face with all kinds of delicious-ness! 🙂
Thanks Taylor! Merry Christmas to you as well! I hope you have a great one!
Oh goodness – your Mum’s recipes are amazing. So decadent and so more-ish!
Hope that you have a great Christmas – and next year two months of festive recipes!!! x
Yes!!
Thanks Skye! 🙂
This looks so good!! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas to your and your family Tieghan!
Thanks Kathy!!
Merry Christmas, Kathy! 🙂
I’d venture that this article has saved me more time than any other.
Thanks!
Love your easy recipes lately. Seriously girl, I really love the easy, foolproof, fast stuff. Your complicated and uber creative recipes are just so over the top AMAZING but the chances of me getting around to them aren’t likely; but the past week or so, I can and hope to make some of this stuff 🙂 I have a recipe for Parmesan Ranch snack mix that I posted this time last year (on vacation and needed something fast!). So I know I’d love your version! Pinned
Thank you, Averie!! I totally know what you mean! 🙂
Hope you had an awesome Christmas!
I’m not easily imrepssed. . . but that’s impressing me! 🙂
That’s an expert answer to an interesting question
I need to hop on the holiday chex mix tradition! This stuff looks like lots of fun to snack on while hanging with the family tonight. It’s probably amazing at absorbing booze…not that I’m drinking booze this evening or anything… 😉 Happy Xmas eve!!
Thanks Julia! Hope you had a great Christmas!
You’re mom must be so proud to take over this little space for a few days! 🙂 Her recipes are so foolproof–I could definitely use more of those in my life. I tend to over complicated things, if you know what I mean.
Merry Christmas Tieghan!! Hope you have a relaxing (and work free) day to relax with your family. And enjoy the new house 🙂 No stress allowed, haha.
YOUR mom. Sorry, major typos going on today.
I do that same thing. Over complicate everything. It killed not to mess with these recipes! LOL!
Thanks Laura! Hope you had a great Christmas!
Oh my goodness that sounds delicious! I do love a good chex mix, definitely is the perfect snack for the holidays. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you! Chex mix is my favorite!
Oh I love the idea of 60 days in December! Christmas really does need 2 months of celebrating! I love homemade chez mix – it is so good! Your mom’s version sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Thank you, cate!
Thank goodness for simple, delicious recipes like this! And it’s super special since it’s from Mom 🙂
Thanks!
This looks SO good and reminds me of making chez mix with my grandparents when I was a kid. We always added extra butter and spices, too!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Kristin! And I hope you had a great Christmas!
Merry Christmas Tieghan! This mix sounds delicious! And so does your Monkey bread you posted yesterday (I think!) I’ve never cooked a mix like this in the oven, I bet it makes it nice and crispy/crunchy!
Thank you, Chelsea!! Hope you had a Merry Christmas!! 🙂
It’s New Year Day mix in my family–my mother always made a lovely batch, and we would eat it while watching the Rose Parade (and Rose Bowl), so Chex Mix has good associations for me, also! This looks like a good one (a couple years ago, I rounded up a variety of recipes, but I think classic is best). Going to print this, and think I better add you to my blog feed!
Thank you, Rebecca! 🙂
Hope you love this recipe and thanks for adding me to your feed!
Thanks for sharing your mom’s secret recipe! I will be trying this chex mix recipe for new years.
Thanks Layla!
The bagel chips are my favorite part of Chex Mix so I just love this. Wish I was snacking on some right now!
The bagels chips are the best!! My favorite too! 🙂
Thanks Laura!
Question – Do you bake it in the bowl or spread it out on a baking sheet? Thanks!
Spread it out on a cookie sheet. Hope you love this!
I make this all the time with just rice chex (that’s the only thing I ever go for in the store bought version lol!) My mom also used to make this around Christmas but I have taken to making it quite frequently. My mom used to make it in the oven but I actually make it in the microwave. Not only is it much quicker, but, call me strange, but I actually really like the pieces that get kind of soft haha! Every time I’ve made it in the oven it’s almost TOO crunchy and it tastes slightly burnt. I am in Colorado though so the altitude could have something to do with it (cooking here can often be a pain in the you know where!)
Yikes!
Original Chex Mix recipe calls for 6 Tablespoons butter.
You use 20 Tablespoons!!
Yes it was way to much butter. Mine didn’t turn out 🙁 The original recipe for chex mix only calls for 6 tbsp. I wish i would have seen your comment. Wasted food 🙁
So sorry you had trouble Krissy!!
Just made this in time to watch Super Bowl 49. The recipe is perfect as written. Thank you for posting this recipe.
…rhat’s of lot of boxes of cereal to buy…
when I make my chex mix I add cashews,and cheese fishys, and it turns out great.
I’m so glad I found this recipe. This was a holiday staple in my home as a child and never really knew how my mom made it. All I know is that I loved it. Will be making this as a weekend snack for movies as well as the holidays!
Normalkly I do not learn post on blogs, but I wish to say that
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Yoour writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice post.
Tieghan – I see that this string is almost two years old but I just came across the recipe today (June, 2015). The recipe looks delicious – I love the idea of adding more of the good stuff. I am anxious to try it to bring to the cottage for our family vacation.
One thing, though…I was surprised no one has let you know that in your instructions it says 2 1/1 sticks of butter (instead of 2 1/2) and there is no mention of adding the Worcestershire sauce. Just thought you might like to know. Thx.
Hey Barb!!
Thanks for letting me know about those mistakes, I will fix them. Also, I hope you all love the chex mix!
Tieghan, your mom’s secret recipe has become a family favorite .. soon to be a tradition! I’ve baked this chex mix numerous times over the past year (I know, a sacrilege from your Christmas Eve tradition) because family and friends keep asking me to bring a bowl! Yesterday it was on my Thanksgiving tasting table and because of the ratio, people take spoonfuls rather than ‘picking through’ the mix. Hazelnuts, almonds, and Planter’s honey roasted peanuts are my favorite ‘mixed nuts’. Best to your mom!
SO happy you are loving this recipe, thank you!! Love your mixed nuts combo!! Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!
late to the party but looking at this for a large gathering this weekend…do you know how long this would stay fresh in an airtight container? I want to bake ahead of time but don’t want to sacrifice the awesomeness. thanks!
Hi!! I think this is best within two days of making. Hope you love the recipe!
Oh, and by the way, store it in Ziplocs and it lasts a long time. It’s never stale before we run out.
I make mine the same way. More butter, more seasoning, and more of the good stuff. Grandmothers know best!
I just made this and had my doubts that it would get crispy. However, being more patient, I let it bake for the suggested time and it is crispy, buttery and WONDERFUL! Thanks for this great snack recipe.
It’s funny, because pretzels are considered the not-so-good stuff at my house… They never seem to soak up enough flavor! Otherwise, your mom and I have the same secret recipe! I always double (or even triple!) the butter and spices! It’s so bland if you follow the recipe. This one is a Christmas tradition around my family get-togethers too!
Ah, the pretzels are A must in our family! So funny we have similar tradition!
This recipe looks amazing. I’ve read through the comments and I am going to print this one off 🙂 I am going to make some chex mix for my Gilmore Girls revival watching next weekend 🙂 and some to bring to work. So can’t wait !!! and bagel chips????? This is pure genius.
I am go glad I came across this thread 🙂 thank you
Ah that sounds so perfect! I hope you and your friends love this one Anj! Thank you!
I am SO glad I found this recipe! I went searching and the one on the Chex site said mix in the microwave and all I could think was ‘If I did that my grandmother would roll in her grave’! I get that all these companies think we want “quick-n-easy”…..but the holidays are NOT about that! The time it takes to make this is what makes it so good!! I cannot wait to share this with my 3 sons, it will be to first time they’ve had it and I hope to make it a tradition of ours, like it was for me when I was young! Thank you!!!!
Hi Kevin!! SO happy you made this Chex mix!! Its seriously my family’s favorite too!! So happy you loved it and I hope your kids do too!! Thanks so much!!
My uncle used to make Chex mix every year during the holidays so when I saw a packet of “Free, take one!” seasoning mix at the grocery store, I grabbed it! It’s in the oven right now and I knew before even putting it in there that it wasn’t going to be what I remembered. So off to the interwebz I went and found your recipe. Guess what’s going on the oven next?!? I knew that packet recipe didn’t have enough butter… or seasoning! Thank you for posting (3 years ago!) and Happy Thanksgiving!!
YES!! Such an old recipe!! But still one of my favorites!! So happy you liked it!!
Hope your home is filled with love and Jesus this Holiday Season!
Thanks!! Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving!
did you ever post the chocolate alcohol recipe of your mom’s that she makes once a year?!!?!
HI Margaret! I am sorry, I have not posted that. Maybe later this month, but I might hold onto her recipe for a bit. If you want to email me I can send it to you!
Nossa que prato diferente, adorei, vou fazer no Natal.
Making Christmas gifts ,putting into containers with a bow.I give these to my neighbors and my mailman.Already wrote down ingredients for grocery tomorrow.
Thanks somuch and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
11-30-16.
That is so thoughtful of you to do! I may just have to start that!! Thank you Salley!
We also put Cheerios in our mix. Great stuff!
Sounds delish!!
Frustrated with this recipe…used less butter, (because I don’t want soggy chex mix) and your temperature for baking? Way off! I had to stir mine after 5 minutes of baking and it was already burning! I’ve turned down my oven now to 200°, but I think this batch is too late to fix. Wasted food & money ?
I was frustrated too. I even added some buffalo wing sauce and it was still bland and flavorless. If I make it again I will use less butter and double the seasonings.
Sorry you did not like this.
Hey Lynette, I am really sorry this recipe is not for you. My family truly loves it, but again. I am sorry it did not work out for you.
Lynette, you may be leaving out the most crucial step in this process. COOLING on a blanket of paper towels! The chex retain their heat, and any left over moisture evaporates, the flavor dries to the Chex, and Voila!! I did however lower the about of butter I used to 2 sticks, increased my worcester by 1-2 TBLS (because I love it) and rounded the seasonings up to whole numbers just to remember it easier!
In my opinion the point of looking for recipes like this is to try them and use them as a base for your own taste. I made this once exactly as instructed, then the second time I tweaked it a little bit and made it my own.
The original post is a great platform. Having said all that, this is the perfect foundation for ANY chex mix, what you do with it from here is ALLLLLL up to you and your tastebuds!!
Thanks for everything you said here Kevin! All sounds great to me!!
Great recipe that I’ve made for years with one addition…Cheerios. ,
Cheerios sound delicious!!
So much of that butter was wasted….. when I got the chexmix out to cool it was just left in the bottoms of the pans. Half would have been sufficient. That being said, I added a few things not listed here and i was a hit…I just need to buy another stick of butter to make more 😐
So sorry it was too much butter ): Hope you still enjoyed!!
Mine came out burnt, unfortunately, but I’m going to try again and just cook either on a lower temp or less time because, otherwise, it came out great!
So sorry it burned! Hopefully it works better next time!
If you double the recipe, does your cooking time increase?
No, but you will need to use 3-4 pans. It is important not to over crowd the pans. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this and Merry Christmas!
I tripled the recipe, baked it all in one pan (I used my big silver roasting pan) and let it cool in the same pan. It worked out perfect. I ended up making a 2nd batch because people loved it so much.
The cereal combo I used was shreddies, cheerios and chex. Tasted great !!!
SO happy that you liked it! Thanks Anj!
Great recipe. I have to tell you, I have used the microwave for the last few years and it is so much faster and easier; and absolutely no sacrifice in quality! Everybody loves it!
SO good to know! Thanks!
Great recipe!!!~~~not crazy about pretzels tho so left them out. Used lots of thick garlic toast from the deli section broken up and added some honey nut chex. Made batches of it and gave away at Christmas. My shopping cart was full. Fun day at mom’s. Wasn’t quite sure about the amount of butter but used all of it in recipe and it was super great!! Honey nut chex was a nice addition. I loved the sweet crunchy taste.
Thanks Cindy! Leaving the pretzels out is no biggie! Sounds like an amazing day! Couldn’t be happier that you liked it!
Horrible recipe!!! DO NOT USE 2 STICKS OF BUTTER FOR CHEX MIX! Melt the butter & drink it instead!
Seriously, most recipes call for 6 tablespoons of butter. Try another one!
So adjust the recipe to suit your needs. Geez calling it horrible is uncalled for.
Hi, so sorry you did not enjoy this. I hope you enjoy other recipes, though! Thanks for trying it!
Hi, I tried this recipe but there was waaay too much butter. The cereal wouldn’t crisp properly and everything was very oily. If you make this recipe I suggest you halve the butter called for.
Hi Courtney! So sorry this did not turn out too great for you. I hope you make this again, with half the butter and love it. Thanks!
Thanks for saying how much butter 1 stick is. I have been in England 30 years and cannot remember what a stick of butter is in real terms!
I have been making a version (lateral thinking from something my mom sent that is Not the real stuff she used to make) from what I get here and always up the butter because it doesn’t seem enough. So, thank you for confirmation.
No Chex except wheat, unless you go to a posh store somewhere. So, I use the store brand wheat Shreddies or whatever they chose to call them. Very good because they are thick. and I put in honey nut loops (store brand honey Cheerios) because I usually can’t find pretzels. The kind I grew up with had pretzels, not bagels. So, anyway…up the nuts and with those two cereals still pretty good.
Just came on here to remind myself how much the original called for in things as I can’t find the recipe mom sent that was new-fangled.
I have two small children with autism it is very hard to find things they like! We don’t buy chips, but since they are still on the WIC program we get so much cereal we don’t know what to do with! They like store bought Chex mix and so tonight at midnight I’ve prepped 3 batches of your moms recipe and hope to have some snack bags for diaper bag and car ready to go! Thanks!
WOW! SO awesome they like it! Thats the perfect snack. Thanks for making it Sasha (:
I read through most of the comments and am excited to try a batch of this as my family has been on a Chex mix kick lately. However, I do have a question regarding the salt/sodium. I have a major salt sensitivity and wonder how salty this turns out with this mix of season salt and worchesshire sauce. Do you have an idea on how to adjust the seasonings without it coming out bland? I like cooking and trying new recipes but I admit I’m timid about experimenting (I’ve had some MAJOR fails over the years) if not given explicit instructions to follow. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks for posting this recipe!
Hey Lisa! I would reduce the amount of seasoned salt to 1 or 1 1/2 teaspoons. You can always add more salt if you feel it is needed. Hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions. Enjoy!